Your Ring Has Mileage: Understanding Wear & Tear

Photo: @sophiedenisephotos

Your ring is meant to be worn. It likely goes with you to work, on vacation, through busy days, quiet days, and all the little moments in between. And just like a car, the more you use it, the more maintenance it will eventually need.

Think about your tires. Someone who spends most of their time driving on smooth highways will probably get more mileage out of their tires than someone who takes their truck off-roading every weekend. Neither driver is doing anything wrong—they're simply putting their tires through different levels of wear. Your ring works much the same way.

Photo: @courtneyrhian_

Are You a Highway Driver or an Off-Roader?

If you take your ring off for workouts, yard work, cleaning, and other hands-on activities, you're probably more of a "highway driver." Your ring will still experience normal wear, but it may take longer before it needs significant maintenance.

If you wear your ring everywhere—while working with your hands, exercising, gardening, camping, traveling, and just generally living your life—you might be more of an "off-roader." And that's okay! Jewelry is meant to be worn. Just know that an "off-road" lifestyle means your ring may need maintenance more often.

Over time, everyday wear can thin or damage prongs, loosen stones, or wear down other parts of the setting. In some cases, a worn crown or head may eventually need to be rebuilt or replaced. And when the crown holding your gemstones becomes too worn, there is a greater risk of losing the stone.

That's why regular inspections are so important. At FORGE, we can look for signs of wear and catch small problems before they become major repairs. We recommend having your prongs checked every six months, but with FORGE rings, an annual inspection is required to maintain your FORGE Works Warranty! This annual warranty inspection is also the perfect time to give your ring a little TLC. We’ll get it cleaned, polished, and looking shiny and sparkly again - all for FREE! When your anniversary rolls around, stop by FORGE and make your ring’s annual checkup a little gift to yourself!

Insurance Can Help With the Mileage

If you're putting a lot of miles on your ring, jewelry insurance can be especially valuable.

Through FORGE, you can protect your jewelry with Jewelers Mutual insurance. Depending on your specific policy, certain preventive maintenance — including repairs such as prong re-tipping or stone tightening — may be covered. That means a repair your ring needs simply because you've been wearing and enjoying it may not have to come out of your pocket. It's a little like having a maintenance plan for your car: you know wear is going to happen, so you plan for it. Click here for insurance services.

Photo: @lovebrittnyphotography

Your Fingers Have Mileage, Too

Additionally, fingers often don't stay the same size throughout a lifetime. Pregnancy, weight changes, arthritis, aging, and even changes in temperature and weather can affect how your ring fits.

A ring that fit perfectly ten years ago might feel tight today. Or perhaps it's become loose enough that you're worried about it slipping off.

At FORGE, we can help with ring resizing and make sure your jewelry fits comfortably and securely again. You don't have to stop wearing a ring you love just because your hands have changed. At FORGE, we strongly believe jewelry is meant to be worn, so let’s resize it so you can enjoy it!

Photo: @tiarosephoto

Keep Your Ring on the Road

Whether you're a highway driver or an off-roader, your ring is going to experience some mileage. That's part of owning and enjoying jewelry. The goal isn't to prevent every scratch, worn prong, or loose stone. Rather, the goal is to catch wear early, maintain your jewelry regularly, and keep it wearable for years to come. (For more general maintenance tips, read our blog on the Top 5 Jewelry Care and Maintenance Tips)

So wear your ring! Make memories in it. And when it needs a little maintenance, bring it to FORGE. We'll help keep your ring ready for whatever adventures come next.