UNISEX & MEN'S RINGS

While we do everything we can to make each ring as durable as possible, they are made using natural and meaningful materials which are more susceptible to damage from water, impact, chemicals, scratching and other outside forces than solid metal rings would be.

The protective coating/sealant we use will protect your ring against damage from water and the natural elements as long as the sealant remains continuously intact around the entirety of your ring. It should also provide a more secure barrier for the natural materials in your ring from impacts and scratching but still cannot be expected to be as strong as a solid metal ring. Though this sealant provides your ring with an extra level of protection and durability, it does not provide a guarantee or warranty against water damage or breakage due to impact and other forms of abuse. We still advise that you remove your ring for any manual labor as well as when coming in contact with water or any chemicals like hand sanitizer, lotions, etc. This is especially important if your ring is open-ended, meaning the antler or wood does not have a metal edge on one or both sides. Because these things can cause the sealant to deteriorate over time, the less the sealant is exposed to these substances the longer it will last.

Lastly, please be conscious of potential impact damage. If you hit your ring on a hard surface this may cause a crack or chip in the sealant, and the sealant will no longer protect the natural materials of your ring. Even if the sealant doesn't look cracked, it may have caused separation between the seal and the metal, allowing for moisture to get under the sealant and cause a cloudy effect or even damage the materials themselves.


WOMEN’S ENGAGEMENT RINGS 

Wearing Your Ring:

We understand that you love your ring and want to wear it at all times! Wearing your ring in some situations can cause unwanted damage including loose prongs, impact damage which can cause the stone to chip or break, or even cause scratching of the stone. For this reason, we recommend removing your ring at times to protect it, including:

  • When doing any manual labor (including sports, going to the gym, gripping items with force such as bicycle handlebars, luggage, etc.) 
  • While doing household chores including washing dishes, laundry, and cleaning. 
  • Avoid contact with chemicals such as chlorine and household bleach, extreme temperatures, perfumes, cosmetics, and other substances which may cause damage to your one-of-a-kind ring.

Because gold is a softer metal, the prongs on them can be worn down over time and may need to be re-tipped. Depending on how well cared for the ring is, this re-tipping may need to be done every 3-6 months, or you could go years without needing to re-tip your prongs! There are things you can do to help protect the prongs and ensure they last as long as possible, such as:

  • Removing the ring for showering
  • Being conscious of not catching the prongs on things such as clothing or hair
  • Removing the ring while sleeping, as the ring rubbing on surfaces such as sheets or blankets will cause the prongs to be worn down quicker 

The better cared for, the longer the prongs will remain intact and secure your stone(s). Please note that there will be a charge to re-tip prongs and we also do not cover any stones that become lost due to the prongs being worn down.

For details regarding the treatments and qualities of your gemstone, review our gemstone guide.

Inspecting Your Ring:

Inspect your ring regularly to ensure nothing looks out of the ordinary with your ring band, the stone, or the prongs securing your stones. As prongs wear down they become rough or sharp, so to catch this early on it's best to inspect and feel them regularly. We recommend getting your ring inspected at least annually, and if you purchased the Extended Protection Plan you can file a claim with them in order to get that sent in. If you didn’t purchase the Extend Protection Plan we do offer these services in-house so please reach out for more information on pricing and how to send your ring in. 

If you notice a bent prong, a loose stone, or anything unusual with your ring please remove it immediately in order to avoid any gemstones or small diamond accents from falling out. 

Cleaning Your Ring:

Daily wear and tear of your ring can cause dulling of the stones and the metal band. To clean your ring at home, mix one part dish soap and five parts warm water and let your ring soak in the solution for 5 minutes. Take the ring and gently scrub it with a soft bristle brush, rinse it, and dry with a soft cloth and your ring should be sparkling clean again! For rings which contain crushed or set natural materials (crushed turquoise, antler, wood, etc.) we recommend NOT soaking the ring in water. Brushing it with the solution will be fine, just as long as there’s no prolonged exposure to the water. For a more detailed tutorial and video, please visit our guide on How to Clean Your Custom Wedding or Engagement Ring.

Please note that we do not recommend using steam cleaners, since the heat can cause damage to the stone or the inlays of natural materials in the ring.

If you would like to send your ring in for inspections, cleaning, or polishing please email us and put "Attention Repairs" in the subject line

REPAIRS

In order to ensure your ring is protected and covered in case of damage and loss, or whether it is just in need of its annual inspection and maintenance, we have partnered with Extend to offer an Extend Protection Plan which offers extensive coverage to your ring. The warranty can be purchased to cover repairs, reseals, the loss of gemstones in your ring, and more! You can purchase the Extend Protection warranty within the listing of any qualifying ring, and you will be provided the option to select the duration of coverage on your ring (3 years, 5 years, or lifetime).

Please read the full details and coverage offered on Extend’s website HERE.

If no warranty is purchased we still offer repair and maintenance services, please reach out for additional information. Please keep in mind when sending your ring in for repair that we may have to replace some or all of the damaged materials contained in your ring (wood, turquoise, etc.). While we do our best to save the original materials used in your ring, sometimes they need to be replaced in order to ensure its long-term durability.

*If you purchased our in-house Staghead Warranty prior to us offering the Extend Protection Plan please contact us for information on what is covered*

 

GEMSTONE TREATMENTS & QUALITIES

While many of these stones have a Moh's scale rating below 7-8, we have been extremely pleased with the durability of all of the stones that we offer. For almost a decade, we have found that all of the stones described below are suitable for engagement rings.

GEMSTONE COMMON TREATMENTS QUALITIES
Moss Agate None Ranks 6.5-7 on the Moh's scale (fair to good hardness). Lacks defined cleavage, resistant to fracturing.
Sapphire Heat Ranks 9 on the Moh's scale (excellent hardness). No cleavage, high fracture resistance. Heating enhances/removes colors, minimizes inclusions, or creates uniform coloring (may occur naturally).
Salt and Pepper Diamond None As hard as eye-clean diamonds. Avoid unnecessary force/impact (inclusions may increase damage risk) and extreme temperature changes (causes stress).
Turquoise None Ranks 5-6 on the Moh's scale (fair to good toughness). Stable to light but discolors/damages under high heat. Dissolves slowly in hydrochloric acid; discolored by chemicals, cosmetics, skin oils, or perspiration.
Lab-Grown Alexandrite None Scores 8.5 on the Moh's scale (superior toughness, no cleavage). Stable in regular conditions, resistant to heat, light, and common chemicals.
Opal None (Some: Oil/wax/plastic impregnation, sugar/smoke treatment) Ranks ~6.5 on the Moh's scale (soft, similar to glass). Handle with care to prevent damage. Stable generally, but heat causes "crazing" or fractures; vulnerable to hydrofluoric acid and alkaline solutions.
Moissanite None Hardness of 9.25 on the Moh's scale (high scratch resistance, suitable for everyday wear). Avoid harsh chemicals (household cleaners, chlorine) to preserve brilliance.
Moonstone None Rates 6-6.5 on the Moh's scale (poor toughness due to cleavage). High heat/sudden temperature changes cause breaks. Stable in light but harmed by hydrofluoric acid.
Sunstone None Ranks 6.5-7.2 on the Moh's scale (poor toughness due to two-way cleavage). Avoid excess heat; color stable in light. Vulnerable to hydrochloric acid (avoid bleach-based cleaners).
Labradorite None Ranks 6-6.5 (poor toughness due to cleavage). Generally stable in light, but prolonged intense sunlight may affect colors. Sensitive to acids and harsh chemicals.
Morganite Heat & Irradiation Scores 7.5-8 on the Moh's scale (durable, needs care to avoid scratches/impacts). Avoid heat; color stable in light. Damaged by hydrofluoric acid.
Natural Emerald Oiled Ranks 7.5-8 on the Moh's scale (relatively durable but brittle, especially with heavy inclusions). Avoid abrupt shocks (thermal/physical). ~90% of market emeralds are oil/resin-enhanced.
Aquamarine Heat Ranks 7.5-8 on the Moh's scale (durable). Avoid heat; color stable in light. Affected by hydrofluoric acid.
Green Beryl Oiled Ranks 7.5-8 on the Moh's scale (relatively durable but brittle, especially with heavy inclusions). Avoid abrupt shocks (thermal/physical). Green hue from iron; no vanadium/chromium (distinguishes from emeralds).
Rose Quartz Heat Ranks 7 on the Moh's scale (no cleavage, low breakage risk). Stable under normal wear (resists heat, light, common chemicals). Handle with care to avoid scratches/hard blows.
Garnet None Hardness varies (6.5-7.5 on the Moh's scale; Almandine/Pyrope/Spessartine/Tsavorite harder, Demantoid softer). Fair to good toughness. Avoid hard blows/rough wear. Stable to light/chemicals; vulnerable to hydrofluoric acid.
Amethyst Heat Ranks 7 on the Moh's scale (good toughness). Avoid abrupt temperature changes (causes fractures) and prolonged intense light (may fade colors). Susceptible to hydrofluoric acid, ammonium fluoride, and alkaline solutions.
Prasiolite Heat Ranks 7 on the Moh's scale (good toughness). Avoid abrupt temperature changes (causes fractures) and prolonged intense light (may fade colors). Susceptible to hydrofluoric acid, ammonium fluoride, and alkaline solutions.
Citrine Heat Ranks 7 on the Moh's scale (durable, suitable for various jewelry). Avoid scratches and abrupt temperature changes (causes fractures). Prolonged intense light may fade colors. Susceptible to hydrofluoric acid, ammonium fluoride, and alkaline solutions.
Peridot None Ranks 6.5-7 on the Moh's scale (fair to good toughness). Rapid/uneven heat causes fractures. Stable in light; susceptible to sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, and long-term acidic perspiration.
Jade None Jadeite: 6.5-7; Nephrite: 6-6.5 on the Moh's scale (needs care to prevent scratches). Exceptional toughness (resists breaking/chipping). Stable in light; affected by warm acids.
Lapis Lazuli None Ranks 5-6 on the Moh's scale (fair toughness). Keep away from harsh chemicals (household cleaners, beauty products). Prolonged direct sunlight may cause fading.
Tourmaline Heat Ranks 7-7.5 on the Moh's scale (fair toughness). Stable in light/chemicals but vulnerable to heat damage (color alteration, fractures from sudden temperature changes). Some undergo heating/irradiation (heat-treated changes are stable; irradiation changes may fade).
Spinel None (Some: Heat treatment) Ranks 8 on the Moh's scale (good toughness, durable for jewelry). High heat may fade some colors; stable in light/chemicals. Heat treatment (if used) is stable under normal wear.
Zircon Heat Ranks 6-7.5 on the Moh's scale (fair to good toughness, brittle). Avoid rubbing/hitting. Blue/colorless stones are commonly heat-treated. Generally stable in light (heat-treated stones may revert color with prolonged bright light) and chemicals.
Tanzanite Heat Ranks 6-7 on the Moh's scale (fair to poor toughness, cleavage). Stable under normal conditions (resists heat, light, common chemicals); avoid very high temperatures/sudden changes. Vulnerable to hydrochloric/hydrofluoric acids. Routinely heat-treated to enhance blue/purple color (stable treatment).
Topaz Irradiation Ranks 8 on the Moh's scale (hard but not tough, basal cleavage). Prone to splitting from hard blows or extreme pressure/temperature changes. High heat causes breaks. Color stable generally (prolonged heat/sunlight may fade some shades). Minimally affected by chemicals. Treatments: Irradiation and heat.
Pearl Dyeing, Coatings, Impregnation Moh's hardness of 2.5 (very soft, easily scratched; good toughness generally, but aging/dehydration/excessive bleaching increases fragility). High heat burns/damages. Stable to light (intense light/heat causes dehydration/cracked nacre). Vulnerable to chemicals/acids (hair spray, perfume, cosmetics, perspiration). Treatments may alter over time; bleaching/irradiation stable in normal wear. Wipe with soft cloth after wearing.
Ruby Heat Ranks 9 on the Moh's scale (hard, tough, no cleavage; suitable for daily ring wear). Stable under normal conditions (resists heat, light, common chemicals). Boric acid etches surface. Fracture-filled/cavity-filled/dyed stones damaged by mild acids (lemon juice). Untreated/heat-treated corundum is very durable.