You just got engaged or married, and only a few weeks later, you're noticing scratches on your gold ring. That seems pretty fast - is it normal? Or is something wrong with the ring? For a lot of our clients, their engagement ring or wedding band is the first gold or platinum ring they've worn daily, so the uncertainty makes total sense.
Rest assured - this is normal! The precious metals used in engagement and wedding rings are very soft. 14K gold, for instance, is only a 3.5-4 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness. That means your ring is softer than many household items you could come into contact with on a regular basis, like something made of glass or steel. The larger the surface area of your ring is, the more quickly this will become noticeable.
Over the first few months you're wearing your ring, these little scratches will build up into a sort of patina that creates a subtle sheen on the back of your ring, so each individual one will disappear into the patina.
We personally love the character of a well-worn patina, but if you'd like to remove the scratches, you can. A polishing cloth can buff out the more superficial scratches, or jeweler can re-polish your ring to restore its original shine. We recommend having your ring polished no more than once or twice a year, because a professional polish removes scratches by removing the gold itself. If you do this too often, the bottom of the band will thin out and eventually need repair.
Have more questions on engagement ring durability? Book a consultation with us and we can chat more!
