Ring Guards

There are two types of ring guards, with a combination of three uses. They can contribute to the safekeeping of your engagement or wedding ring until you're able to get it resized, or protect the mounting of your solitaire style ring from becoming scratched or broken off (a cathedral set stone, for example). Some styles are meant to give your wedding set an updated look—without having to permanently alter the original setting.

Ring guards can be used on almost any type of ring. There are actually two types: the thin metal band that goes on the inside of your band to solve the problem of a too-loose fit and the type that encases your ring to protect the center stone and surrounding metal. There's nothing more worrisome than an expensive or sentimental ring that's too big or likely to be damaged, especially a piece that you really want—or feel you need—to wear, such as wedding jewelry.

There are two types of ring guards:

When your ring is too large or slips too much: You need the type of guard that will fit inside of your current band, attaching via prongs on either side on the bottom edge of the ring. These are good temporary fixes for rings that need to be resized later, or for those individuals who have temporary weight loss (in sickness, for example) that results in their rings being too loose for a while but not in need of a permanent resizing. For people who have large or swollen knuckles, ring guards can be perfect. They cut down on the slippage but allow the ring to fit over the knuckle with ease.

When you need to protect the stone from damage or breakage or you just want to enhance your current set: If you believe you are running the risk of having your stone break off or get scratched, you'll want the type of guard that encases the whole ring. These are, of course, not hidden as the other type is, so they tend to be decorative, and generally they're designed with solitaires in mind. You'll also need to put more care into selecting one. Things to consider when choosing a ring guard of this type:

• Type of metal: You'll want it to match unless you're looking for a two-toned look
• Style: Does it mesh well with your overall look and match your regular everyday jewelry?
• Durability: Select something that can hold up to your lifestyle. After all, you're buying it at least partially to protect your ring. You don't want to purchase a ring guard that will be so delicate you need to leave that at home, too.
• Stones: Do you want to jazz up your wedding set with more diamonds or add a splash of color to your left hand? This is one way to do it.

In addition to being referred to as ring guards, this second type is often called a ring enhancer because it spices up your current set without much effort. Your ring will slip into the opening, then you slide the whole combination onto your finger as one ring. Your original ring will remain unchanged, but you'll get a new look. This is perfect for those sentimental types who tend to get bored with their jewelry but don't want to change the original piece.

The bottom line is, ring guards are mainly used for protection of one type or another for your rings, but that doesn't mean that they can't look pretty when they show.

• Stellar Jewelry has a great selection of solitaire enhancers. You can choose from yellow or white 14 karat gold and a majority of them have diamond accents.

• View It Here has ring guards for temporary resizing that come with instructional videos, but it's really simple to put them on. You just need to have a pair of pliers handy to bend it around your ring. You can get white or yellow gold filled.

• Ring Guards Plus offers a pack of ten plastic ring guards that are even easier to apply than the metal ones. They slip right over the band via a slit in the plastic.

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