I love the styles of these three rings with a small band of diamonds for the wedding band but I am worried about it getting cloudy or faded( since I hope to wear it for 50+ years). If you have a gemstone ring please let me know how often you have to clean your gemstone ring, how much it has faded or become cloudy, and how many years you have had it.
http://www.zales.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3298289
http://www.zales.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3460177
http://www.zales.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3264953
aquamarine and blue topaz
I have a gorgeous blue topaz ring surrounded by sapphires (not my engagement ring). Sometimes I will wear it for months on end (in the shower, washing dishes, etc.) and it hasn’t faded or become cloudy. I’ve had it about 8 years now. I give it a 30 second cleaning about every other week.
The stones should be fine. Just go in once a year to have to ring inspected and cleaned.
“Aquamarine has good hardness (7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale) and a wonderful shine. That hardness makes it very tough and protects it to a large extent from scratches.”
HARDNESS 7.5 – 8
WEARABILITY* Excellent
******
blue topaz
WEARABILITY* Very Good
HARDNESS 8
You and I have very similar tastes!
I have an aquamarine (and I actually looked at that exact blue topaz ring in the middle while I was at Zales. It was my second choice) and I do not regret the decision. I had many people tell me that it was a bad idea but really, I’ve had only a positive experience.
You clean your ring as much as you would any other ring, if not, less. Clear stones look very dirty very quickly. Color stones actually conceal that muggy look.
I’m required by the jeweler to visit every 6 months to insure my warranty. So I get it cleaned and inspected then. There has been no damage or cloud added to my ring. It’s perfect every time it comes out from the cleaner.
I don’t think you’ll regret the decision and I commend you on your ability to step outside of what has been made “traditional.”
Gemstone rings last forever, so no worries there!
However, I think you need to watch out for the style of ring/band though – for those you have chosen, a regular straight band won’t go with them at all.
I have an aquamarine and I clean it once every couple weeks.
As far as fading or becoming cloudy – - that is a result of stuff coming in contact with the ring – - like wearing it while I wash my hands will leave a little soap residue – - but once I clean it, it is just as crisp and sparkly as the day I got it.
I will just give you a bit of advice with the rings you are looking at – - think about what wedding band you will want next to it when the time comes. My fiance & I didn’t think about that and my ring has a shape that really needs a custom wedding band to be made to sit properly with it. I am disappointed that we can’t afford it right now so I will be moving my e-ring to my right hand and wearing just a wedding band on my left hand ring finger when we get married.
I love my gemstone engagement ring and wouldn’t trade it for anything, but I do wish we would have gotten it in more traditional engagement ring cut & setting so a regular wedding band would sit next to it.