If you have an engagement ring, you likely never want to take it off. But is it safe to always wear the ring, especially if you are in the shower and regularly exposing it to water and soap? The short answer is yes, you can wear your rings in the shower. But that doesn’t necessarily mean it suits your white gold jewelry.
Today we will look at the makeup of white gold, how plating can help protect it, and how to care for white gold rings. Let’s get started.
What is White Gold?
White gold is not something that is naturally mined. It is an alloy of gold mixed with another metal, such as manganese, palladium, or nickel. White gold is highly durable, and although valuable, it is less expensive than other high-end metals, such as platinum or rhodium. Many people choose white gold for their wedding and engagement rings.
While yellow gold is stunning, it is also very soft. On the other hand, because white gold is mixed with other metals, it tends to be more durable. Remember that unless it is plated, it will always have a bit of a yellowish hue since it is made from yellow gold. It must be plated with rhodium to get that natural white finish.
Does Rhodium Plating Wear Off?
Rhodium is a precious metal belonging to the platinum family. It is rare and very valuable, along with being highly durable. This reflective metal provides white gold jewelry with a brilliant shine. That being said, it does wear off over time.
White gold requires maintenance to retain its brilliance. The rhodium plating will prevent rings from scratching, whereas yellow gold jewelry is not scratch-resistant. Rhodium plating does stand up for a long time but wears off. Luckily, it can be reapplied. This will cost around $100, but keeping your rings looking beautiful in the long run is worth it.
Wearing White Gold in the Shower
While water alone won’t damage a white gold ring, removing your rings before showering is still recommended. There are several reasons for this.
First, there is the chance your ring may slip off your finger, and you could end up losing it down the drain. This would be heartbreaking, especially if the ring is sentimental, such as a wedding or engagement ring.
Also, it is pretty safe to say you will use soap while in the shower. Many soaps and body washes are made for exfoliating skin. So, they contain abrasive ingredients, which could cause your rings to become scratched or dull.
Caring for White Gold Rings
One of the great things about white gold is that it requires so little maintenance to look beautiful. You can wear it all the time, and it will retain its brilliance and shine for many years. But this doesn’t mean you can simply ignore your white gold rings and other jewelry because it will begin to dull over time.
As mentioned, removing your rings before taking a shower or bath is an excellent idea to ensure that the white gold remains shiny.
In addition, it is recommended that you never wear quality jewelry in a swimming pool or while using household cleaners, as bleach, ammonia, etc., can cause damage over time. If you want to keep your rings on while cleaning, wear rubber gloves to protect the white gold from harmful chemicals.
Get Into the Habit of Regularly Cleaning White Gold Rings
Getting into the habit of regularly cleaning your white gold rings is a good idea. You don’t need to use any special cleaners. In fact, many chemical jewelry cleaners can do more harm than good in the long run.
It isn’t recommended that you clean your rings daily or even weekly. Once every month will suffice. Put some mild dish detergent in a bowl with warm water.
Soak the rings for about half an hour or so. Then, use a soft-bristled toothbrush to clean any dirt and residue from the tiny spaces throughout the setting. Dry the ring with a soft cloth (we recommend the cloth used for cleaning camera lenses, as they do not have any chemicals).
You can also clean your white gold rings with baking soda. This may sound odd, as baking soda is abrasive, but it is ideal for safely cleaning jewelry. Here are a few methods to clean your rings with baking soda.
Baking Soda Paste
The first method involves making a baking soda paste. You only need one tablespoon of baking soda and one cup of water. Make a paste with the baking soda and water, and apply it to your white gold (yellow gold, sterling silver, or silver-plated jewelry). Allow the jewelry to sit with the paste on it for a few minutes, then rinse clean with clear, running water. Buff the jewelry dry with a soft cloth.
Baking Soda and Vinegar
Another method is to use a mixture of baking soda and vinegar. However, do not use this method on jewelry with softer gemstones, such as pearls, opals, and emeralds. Make a paste with one tablespoon of baking soda, one tablespoon of white vinegar, and one cup of water. Apply the paste to your jewelry and allow it to sit for a few minutes. Rinse clean with clear, running water, and buff dry with a soft cloth.
Baking Soda and Boiling Water
You can also clean jewelry with baking soda, boiling water, and aluminum foil. Line a glass baking dish with foil. Place the jewelry on top of the foil, and sprinkle enough baking soda on top to cover the jewelry. Next, pour boiling water over the jewelry.
You can soak the jewelry in this solution for up to five minutes, but in most cases, it will do the job nicely in under one minute. Rinse the jewelry with clear, running water, using a soft-bristled toothbrush to clean away any baking soda residue. Dry with a soft, clean cloth.
Conclusion
Can you wear a white gold ring in the shower? The answer is yes, but it is recommended that you do not if you want to keep your ring looking new for many years. The rhodium plating will wear off over time, and exposure to water will make this happen even faster.
So, it is better to be safe than sorry and take off your rings before showering or using any household cleaners. You will find that your rings retain their shine and do not need to be cleaned nearly as often when they aren’t regularly exposed to water and soap.
