How often should an engagement ring be professionally checked?

Every 6 to 12 months for a ring worn daily. Rings with more settings, such as pavé designs or tennis bracelets, benefit from checks toward the more frequent end of that range.

What is checked during a professional ring inspection?

Prong tightness, stone security, band integrity, clasp function where applicable, and rhodium plating wear on white gold pieces. It's a visual and tactile inspection under magnification, not a visual glance.

Is cleaning a ring at home the same as a professional check-up?

No. Home cleaning keeps a ring looking good but doesn't reveal whether the setting itself is sound. A stone can appear clean and secure while a prong has been gradually loosening, which only a professional inspection under magnification will catch.

What signs mean I should get my ring checked immediately rather than waiting?

A stone that feels loose when pressed gently, the ring snagging on fabric more than usual, a visible gap between a prong and the stone, a clasp that opens too easily, or any noticeable impact or knock to the ring.

Ring Servicing Schedule: How Often to Get It Checked

Cleaning at Home and Professional Checking Are Different Things

We've written separately about cleaning fine jewellery at home — soap, water, a soft brush. That keeps a ring looking its best, but it doesn't tell you anything about whether the setting itself is still sound. A stone can look perfectly clean and sparkly while a prong holding it has quietly been loosening for months. Professional checking catches that; home cleaning can't.

How Often

For a ring worn daily — which describes most engagement rings and wedding bands — every 6 to 12 months is the standard recommendation. Rings with more settings to monitor, like a tennis bracelet or a pavé-heavy design, benefit from checks toward the more frequent end of that range, since there are simply more individual points that can loosen. A simple solitaire with one centre stone and a handful of prongs can usually sit at the 12-month mark comfortably, provided nothing feels off in between.

What Actually Gets Checked

A proper check is a visual and tactile inspection under magnification, not a glance. It typically covers:

Prong tightness — each prong is checked individually for movement or wear, since prongs thin and loosen gradually with normal wear and don't always give an obvious warning sign before a stone comes loose.
Stone security — gently testing whether the stone moves at all in its setting, which it shouldn't, even slightly.
Band integrity — checking for thinning at points of repeated flex or contact, particularly on rings worn for physical work.
Clasp function, for bracelets and necklaces — clasps are mechanical parts that wear out through repeated daily use well before the rest of the piece shows any wear.
Rhodium plating, for white gold pieces — checking whether the plating has worn thin enough to need re-doing, which shows as a warmer tone appearing where the white finish has thinned.

Warning Signs Worth Acting On Immediately

Don't wait for the scheduled check-up if you notice any of these — book a check as soon as practical instead:

A stone that feels like it moves even slightly when you press on it gently
The ring catching or snagging on clothing, hair, or fabric more than it used to
A visible gap between a prong tip and the stone, even a small one
A clasp that springs open more easily than it used to, or doesn't sit flush
Any noticeable impact — the ring caught on something hard, was dropped, or took a knock during sport or exercise

None of these mean something is definitely wrong, but they're worth a look rather than waiting out the calendar.

Why This Matters More Than It Seems

A loose prong caught early is a quick, inexpensive fix. A stone that's actually fallen out — because a loose prong went unnoticed — is a completely different, much more stressful and costly situation, and depending on where and when it happens, the stone may not be recoverable at all. Regular checking is the cheapest insurance against the single most preventable way to lose a diamond.

Keep Records for Insurance

If your ring is insured, keeping a record of professional check-ups — even informally, a note of the date and what was checked — is useful documentation alongside your original appraisal. It demonstrates the piece has been properly maintained, which can matter if you ever need to make a claim.

How Often Should You Get Your Ring Professionally Checked? A Servicing Schedule