How to Spot If Your Engagement or Wedding Ring Needs to Be Replated — (Or Just Cleaned)

Everyday wear on your most precious rings, like your engagement rings can be eradicated with a thorough and gentle cleansing routine. But sometimes, replating can be necessary depending on the type of metal your ring is made of, and its thickness and the quality of the rhodium (that’s the chemical element typically occurring in platinum). Most jewelers note that you should replate your rings every two years to keep their integrity and to ensure your ring maintains its gorgeous sparkle. Replating is done by jewelers and typically costs between $100 and $200.

White gold rings in particular, because white gold is made up of many alloys to help it achieve its white color, should be replated in rhodium every few years to maintain that white finish. Because gold is inherently yellow and white gold is made mostly out of yellow gold, the color can fade over time. Replating every few years can help your white gold ring maintain its signature white finish over time. Platinum rings don’t need to be replated as frequently because platinum is a completely white metal.

So, how do you know if your ring is just dull or if it needs to be replated?

Here’s the Connoisseurs guide to distinguishing the difference.

Signs your engagement or wedding ring needs to be replated:

• You notice dullness or a yellow cast to the metal. 
• Prongs are fading in color, and have a similar yellow cast

Dullness happens, especially on pieces you wear for daily tasks and routines. 

Signs your engagement or wedding ring needs to be cleaned:

• You notice dullness of metal. This can be addressed by cleaning your ring regularly. 
• You notice build up on top of metals. Lotions, oil, dust, even bacteria can accumulate and create a film on the surface of your ring. You can easily remove grime without replating, and simply by stepping up your jewelry cleansing routine. 
• If your wedding ring contains diamonds, and you notice the diamonds are no longer as sparkling as they once were, or perhaps lost some of their brilliance,  it’s time for an at-home cleaning. NOTE: Diamonds in particular, tend to attract oils as their surfaces can dull from everyday routines like hand washing. 
• If your engagement ring is looking cloudy, or the diamonds have dark spots on their undersides, this is a sign that it’s time to clean your engagement ring. 

How to Clean Your Wedding Ring: Gold and Platinum each have their own cleansing routine. 

How to Clean Your Engagement Ring: Discover Brilliance Unveiled 

Meet your diamond’s new best friend.

Tips to Care for Your Engagement or Wedding Ring

• Clean your rings with an at-home routine at least once per week.
• Polish on the go with a dry cleaning UltraSoft cloth, specifically made for gold jewelry (we love this for wedding band maintenance).
• Reddit users report cleaning precious engagement and wedding rings daily—even several times a day, to keep luster and sparkle optimal. With a portable cleansing brush and cloth, this couldn’t be easier. 
• Perform a professional or sonic deep cleaning monthly.