Although we all want to have the perfect engagement ring, there are some costly mistakes we need to be on the lookout for. Whether your wedding is coming up or you’ve been wearing your ring for years, keep the items on this list in mind and make sure to avoid the most common engagement ring issues. You want your engagement ring to last your whole life, so be sure you know exactly how to protect your dream ring!

1. Wearing a Loose Stone
Maybe you’re wearing a family heirloom ring and haven’t taken it to a jeweler for inspection, or perhaps you just notice the prongs are a little loose after a few years. Whatever the case may be, it’s never a good idea to go walking around with a stone that isn’t secured tightly onto the ring. Although it might seem safe and just a “little” wobbly, one wrong move may pop the diamond right off and you could potentially lose your lovely stone.

Be sure to temporarily remove your engagement ring and put it in a ring box or another place where it will be safe, and schedule an appointment with your local jeweler as soon as possible to have the ring inspected and potentially have the prongs readjusted. You’ll feel a lot more secure when that stone is secure in place!

2. Choosing a Fragile Center Stone
Although this might be hard to hear for those who love unique gemstone rings, a fragile center stone like emerald or pearl is usually not the best choice for an engagement ring. Although your ring will look unique and amazing, certain gems like emerald have the potential to chip way too easily, and wearing one on your engagement ring is adding on some additional risk, especially if you wear your ring daily. Similarly, a gem like pearl is extremely soft compared to a diamond, ruby or other precious stones, so it’s best to avoid pearl altogether, or perhaps include them only as accents on the ring.

While other beautiful colored gems like amethyst, aquamarine and garnet can potentially be great engagement ring center stones, most jewelers recommend to stick with either diamonds, rubies, or sapphires, in order to ensure your ring will last for years to come.

3. Keeping Your Ring On at All Times
We know you probably want to wear your ring 24/7, and honestly, who wouldn’t? But doing so would come with some unintended consequences. An engagement ring is your most prized piece of jewelry, and subjecting it to the wear and tear of daily life isn’t the best move. There’s plenty of cases out there where women have bent, chipped or otherwise damaged their engagement ring when working out at the gym, playing sports, or even just cleaning around the house.

It might be a habit to keep your ring on at all times, especially during the more mundane aspects of life like pulling boxes out of the closet or cooking a meal, but it’s usually a good idea to stash away your ring when doing physical activity. In an effort to avoid all potential danger, some women only wear their wedding band and keep their engagement ring stowed away for only the most important occasions. While this will go a long way to protect the ring, your favorite piece of jewelry should be fine for normal wearing as long as you stay aware of your day-to-day activities and put it away when necessary.

4. Not Insuring Your Ring
This is a big one. Although we might not even want to entertain the idea that we may lose our ring, the truth is that it does happen. Although most are fortunate not to have to worry about a missing ring, if you one day find your engagement ring lost or stolen, you’ll definitely want a backup plan. This is why having insurance for your ring is a necessity.

Based on the assessed value of your ring, you’ll be able to file a claim and be compensated accordingly so that you can purchase a replacement ring. Although it’s sad to lose your original ring from your proposal day, having the financial aspect worked out ahead of time will make this stressful time a little easier.

5. Skipping Routine Maintenance
Even if you don’t think your stone is wobbly and your ring looks picture perfect, you’ll still want to visit to your local jeweler for a checkup at least once a year. With an untrained eye, it can be hard to notice any potential flaws or issues that might come up under the jeweler’s loupe. By having your ring inspected before a problem gets out of hand, you can potentially avoid accidental ring damage.

Aside from this, routine maintenance is just a good idea. Perhaps your ring would fit better if slightly resized to adjust for physical changes, or maybe it just needs a good polishing to look brand new. Whatever the case, you’ll be glad you brought in your ring and will have greater peace of mind. Besides, most jewelry stores and studios will allow for free maintenance or resizing appointments for their previous customers, so coming in for the occasional visit is a smart move.

We hope these five tips have been useful and that you learned some new information on protecting your ring. Now that you know these crucial engagement mistakes to avoid, you’ll be much better prepared to take care of your ring for years to come!