Congratulations! You're engaged, and are now the proud owner of a beautiful (and hopefully ethical) engagement ring.

After a special proposal, your engagement ring is likely one of the most meaningful pieces of jewellery you've ever owned, and many newly-engaged people find themselves torn between wanting to wear it all the time and wanting to be extra careful.

Should you wear your engagement ring all the time?

Engagement rings should be designed to be both sturdy enough and comfortable enough to wear everyday - and as most people naturally want to wear theirs as much as possible, the good news is that you can do just that.

Still, there may be occasions when taking your ring off your finger is the best thing to do, either because it may be more comfortable for you, to minimise any chance of it getting dirty or damaged, or just for peace of mind.

How often to remove your engagement ring also depends on the materials that have been used to make it, and even the design and settings used. The most robust rings will use extremely hard gemstones (such as diamonds and sapphires) and solid metals; this is always our recommendation when we work on both bespoke designs and our ready-to-wear range.

However, if you have a engagement ring that uses plated metals or softer stones as a result of personal preference or circumstance, then you may want to be more cautious. You may even have a delicate heirloom ring that you're looking to be especially careful with.

So, which activities might it be a good idea to remove your engagement ring for? Let us guide you through some tips on what to consider avoiding when wearing your engagement ring, as recommended by jewellers.

What to consider removing your engagement ring for

Showering

Some jewellers will recommend taking your engagement ring off before showering. While clean water itself shouldn’t damage your ring, products such as shampoo, body wash or soap can get into hard-to-clean areas (such as behind the stone) and cause an unsightly grime build up that dampens your diamond's sparkle. This is perfectly possible to clean, but if you’d rather avoid doing this often, removing it while showering will mean less frequent cleaning is needed.

Swimming

At the pool

There are a couple of reasons that taking your ring off before diving into your local pool is recommended: depending on the materials used, there is a chance that chlorine or other chemicals that might be used to keep the water clean can cause discolouration, tarnishing and even corrosion on your precious engagement ring. Of course, there's also the risk that it could slip off while you swim, leading to your prized engagement ring getting lost at the bottom of the pool or disappearing into a vent.

At the beach

It's also a good idea to leave your engagement ring at home when you head to the beach. It's possible for saltwater to cause erosion of precious metals, which can weaken them. Over time, this can lead to breakage - and while this is highly unlikely even in less durable rings, those who prefer to be careful will find peace of mind in removing it when swimming in the sea.

Sand can also get wedged into the ring's setting, which is not beneficial to the prongs that hold the stone in place.

Plus, much like soap and shampoo in the shower, common beach products like suncream, moisturiser and other types of lotion can cause a grimy build up on your ring or the gemstones within it.

Sleeping

Wearing your rings to bed is really a matter of personal preference: there are some particular scenarios when you might be better off keeping it on, such as if you're away from home and concerned you might forget where you've left it if you take it off overnight.

However, some experts say that wearing your engagement ring while you sleep means you run the risk of catching it on blankets, scratching yourself or your partner with it, or knocking it against the bed frame or bedside table.

Can you wear your engagement ring to sleep in? Absolutely, and the likelihood is that these things won't result in any notable damage. Still, you might find that taking it off might be the better option, even just for the comfort of you and your partner!

It's also worth doing some research into the particular stones that make up your ring, as some are more delicate and prone to scratching or chipping than others. Day to day knocks and bumps can cause wear to softer stones (something such as Tanzanite, for example), so in these cases, removing it when sleeping is a good idea.

Cleaning

Even if they keep their rings on for the majority of household activities, one of the things that many brides choose to take their rings off to do is the washing up.

Harsh chemicals like bleach, detergents and other cleaning products can cause tarnishing and cloudiness to the precious metals in your ring. Even eco-friendly cleaners that are less corrosive can cause a build up of residue on both your engagement and wedding bands, meaning more frequent cleaning may be needed.

Be kind to your hands and your ring by wearing rubber gloves when cleaning and washing up, or even better, wear gloves and place your engagement ring back in your jewellery box for safekeeping until the chores are done.

Exercising

Heading to the gym? You might consider leaving your diamond ring at home if you don't plan on removing it to exercise.

It's best not to take your wedding or engagement ring off after you get to the gym due to the added risk of damage, theft or loss. Play it safe and leave your rings inside the house while you head out to exercise.

If you'd really rather keep your ring on, then cardio is a safe choice, as is anything that doesn't involve placing too much pressure on the hands - there's no need for the discomfort this can cause!

If you're playing contact sports then it's always best to remove it, and of course, if your gym activity of choice is using heavy weights, taking it off while you work out is a sensible choice.

Gardening

If you're a little on the green-fingered side, it might be a good idea to take off your beautiful ring before you head into the garden. Even if you wear gardening gloves over the top, there's the possibility of it getting damaged, and if the stone turns around and ends up between your fingers under the glove, it can be very uncomfortable.

While dabbling in the garden will do no harm, prolonged contact with dirt, rocks and sand that you might find in the garden can be abrasive and could lead to the prongs that hold your diamonds or gemstones in place getting caught. If you're doing a lot of heavy lifting and the metal used for your ring is very delicate, you could also end up with your engagement ring or wedding band getting scratched or even bent.

Cooking

It's good hygiene practice to remove any jewellery when cooking or preparing food, since germs and bacteria can get underneath it, or even into the ring setting.

You also run the risk of it slipping off when rinsing food over the sink, or even disappearing into your prepared dish - and we know nobody wants to have to search through a lasagne to recover their precious gem.

During your beauty routine

Just like the suncream and moisturisers at the beach, cosmetics, hairspray and perfume can all cause a build up of grime on your ring. If this isn't then cleaned, the overall appearance will be a lot less sparkling than it should be! Some beauty products can also cause your ring to become discoloured over time, depending on the chemicals used within them and the way these chemicals interact with the metals used.

Many people also prefer to take off off their engagement and wedding ring to apply moisturiser or sanitiser to your hands, since it avoids the products leaving residue on the rings.

Painting and DIY

Avoid changing the colour of your ring with paint splatters by tucking it away somewhere safe while you redecorate.

DIY projects also offer risks if you're using tools that could potentially lead to damage to your ring. The same applies to tools you might use at work, if your occupation involves the use of machinery.

It's worth doing some research into the stones and metals that make up your engagement ring to find out the durability of each, and then you can decide when it might be safe to keep it on, or if taking it off is the better choice.

Diamonds are famously exceptionally hard and durable, but they can still get damaged or lost without proper care. If your ring contains other stones, such as opals, these can be much more delicate.

Of course, whenever you do choose to take your wedding or engagement rings off, make sure you always put them in a safe, secure and memorable place.

Wild Fawn offers a wide range of beautiful and ethical engagement rings, as well as the option to have your own bespoke engagement ring created in our London studio.