The Biggest Ring Mistakes We've Seen!

More than a symbol of your union, your engagement ring is an heirloom in the making! If you take proper care of your special piece, it has the potential to be lovingly worn by many generations!

We consulted with the experts from our Service Team, Head Gemologist and Master Goldsmith for their best advice on what you should avoid to ensure your ring looks incredible for years to come.

1. Asking For a Ring With a Band That’s Too Thin

While many brides-to-be seek out engagement rings with the slimmest, barely there bands, the unfortunate downfall of this style is that once your ring has encountered the slightest amount of wear and tear, it quickly loses its structural integrity. Thin and dainty engagement ring bands are among one of the most popular styles at the moment. While we don’t see a decline in demand happening anytime soon, our Master Goldsmith advises to opt for a 2.00 millimetre width to get the best of both worlds: a thin band with structural integrity! If 2.00 millimetres is still not thin enough, he says 1.8 millimetres is the absolute minimum you should consider. Trust us, we’ve repaired many cracked bands!

2. Not Insuring Your Ring

This one is kind of a no-brainer! It is important to protect your financial investments and your ring certainly falls under that category! In the event your ring gets lost, damaged, or even stolen, it is a comfort to know that you are protected. We recommend getting your jewellery appraised every 5 years so you can provide your insurance with a copy of an updated appraisal.

3. Not Getting Your Ring Checked by Your Jeweller Regularly

Maintenance is vital in the longevity of your ring! We recommend regular cleaning and getting your ring checked by a goldsmith to ensure that your prongs are tight, your diamond(s)/gemstone(s) are secure, and there are no cracks in your stones or metal. We offer a complimentary annual Check, Clean and Polish service for every ring purchased from HOWARD!

4. Never Taking Your Ring Off

It’s important to know when to leave your ring on and when to take it off! We advise trying to remove your ring when participating in any hand-heavy activities such as:

- Exercising
- Cleaning
- Washing dishes
- Gardening
- Moving furniture (or something heavy)
- Swimming and all other water activities
- A pro-tip from our Head Gemologist: Avoid wearing your ring (or any jewellery) to sleep. A Lot of wear and tear can happen while you toss and turn!

Be sure to keep your ring ON in public spaces, especially while washing your hands!

5. Wearing a Full Eternity Diamond Band Next to Your Engagement Ring

In our opinion, you can never have enough diamonds! If you’re choosing to wear a diamond eternity band next to your engagement ring it's important to keep in mind that if both rings are not perfectly designed to fit together, the diamonds can rub against each other and break.

6. Trying to Get The Perfect Fit

It is our goal to get as close to perfection as possible. However, one thing that can’t be 100% perfect is the fit of your ring! Believe it or not, your ring will not fit you perfectly every day. Changes in temperature, salt in-take, and exercise can cause your fingers to swell and make your ring feel different (see, you weren’t imagining that your ring felt looser when you were cold!). This does not mean that you should size your ring every season. It is not good for your ring's structure (or your wallet) to size it often. It is best to work with an expert to help you find the size that feels most comfortable, and allows your finger to fluctuate without the risk of your ring slipping off too easily.