Some activities put jewelry—especially rings—at higher risk of damage. Prongs can wear down, bands may bend, and stones can scratch or even break.
Diamonds also have what’s called “directional hardness.” Similar to wood that splits when struck in a certain direction, diamonds can chip or break if hit the wrong way.
Here are situations where it’s best to take your rings off.
Remove your rings before exercising and outdoor activities
Opulentiajewels recommends removing your rings at the gym, especially during weight lifting. Weights can scratch or chip gemstones and often distort the back of rings. Other sports where you should take off your ring include tennis, golf, rock climbing, skiing, and more. Essentially, any activity where your ring might endure impact!
Remove your rings before working with tools or gardening
Impact can damage rings. We recommend removing them before using a hammer, moving heavy boxes, or operating machinery.
Gloves offer some protection, but at Opulentiajewels we still see damage from gardening, even when gloves are worn. This includes diamond rings. While gloves may reduce the chance of a diamond chipping, prongs wear down faster and ring backs can become misshaped.
Take off your jewelry before swimming
Pools and hot tubs contain chlorine, which over time makes the metal in rings brittle (and turns sterling silver jewelry black). Hot springs contain sulfur, which can also discolor sterling silver.
When swimming, cool water can cause your fingers to shrink, making it easy for rings to slip off and often impossible to retrieve—especially in the ocean.
Opulentiajewels Tip: To keep your jewelry safe, always remove your rings before swimming or soaking in hot springs.