After 6 months of married life, my wedding band is looking a bit scuffed around the edges.
It’s 18c gold which I guess is fairly soft, and it’s the only jewellery I’ve ever worn (being a bloke an’ all!), so I’m still not used to taking care not to bash it.
Can anyone suggest a good DIY method of bringing back some of the lustre and removing the scuffs?
Would also appreciate some tips on how to stop it happening too much in future!
(I guess wearing it while rock-scrambling up Snowdon didn’t help)
You’re worried about scuffs? Heck, I’ve got dents and nicks in my ring. War trophies, they are
But seriously, any jeweler will be happy to polish your ring for you. However this is a slightly abrasive process, so it’s not something you want to do every week (or month).
If the metal is actually scratched (as opposed to just dirty) you probably need to have it buffed. If you bought it from a jeweler who does repairs on site, they may be willing to buff it for you while you wait if they aren’t busy. Sometimes another jeweler will even be willing to do it for free. It isn’t very difficult and it keeps you looking at their merchandise while they are working. If you are very particular about a shiny finish, a professional buffing is your best bet.
Some household metal polishes have a mild abrasive in them. You may find something that will give you a satisfactory finish if the scuffs are light, but it won’t be as shiny as a professional job. I am not sure what brands are available in England. You could try asking some jewelers or places that sell silverware what brands they recommend.
If it is any consolation, I have friends who bought rings with a matte finish, and they got burnished with wear and became shiny. They had to get them re-dulled! The metal tends to find its own level of finish over time. It will be hard to keep it super shiny if you are wearing it all the time.
The matte finish does tend to hide small scratches better. If you are open to something new, you could have a jeweler give your ring a matte or satin finish. I don’t necessarily recommend this, but you can do it yourself with a Scotchbrite ™ type scouring pad. Some people use emery boards. Work carefully, in one direction. Attempt this at your own risk though. If you mess up, it can still be repolished but it will be a bit more work to fix it.
You could also get some jewelers rough and use a little on a soft cloth and just rub it with your hands. It’s messy stuff though. You will probably need to clean the ring afterward with some soapy water (you can add a little ammonia). You also need to be careful you don’t get any grit mixed in or you can wind up with more scratches.
Maas is one of the best products out there. One tube will last you nearly forever, if all you do is buff your rings. We shine our rings on our anniversary each year and this stuff really works well.
