Getting engaged is a big deal. It’s an exciting time in your life, and wearing your engagement ring can make you feel like you’re on top of the world. Naturally, you’ll want to show it off to people and let everyone know you’re engaged, but it’s best to think twice about doing that at work.
Wearing your engagement ring at work is a safety issue
The number one reason to leave your engagement ring at home when you go to work is to avoid injury. If your ring gets caught on anything, it can possibly lead to a serious injury that might even require amputating your finger. It’s a serious danger that many people don’t recognize until it’s too late.
If your workplace policy prohibits rings, a specific and known danger is probably present, like moving parts, machinery, or other hazards. However, even if your workplace policy doesn’t specifically ban wearing rings, it’s still best to leave it at home. Accidents with devastating injuries can happen at random times, even when you’re just walking to the office kitchen for a snack.
Another thing to be aware of is that rings made of metal are conductive, and if you work with energized machinery, you could end up shocking or electrocuting yourself. For instance, simply using a wrench to remove a battery cable can result in an electrical burn if the wrench is touching your ring and the wrench accidentally touches the battery terminal.
If you happen to have a vintage ring and don’t work with machinery, you might be fine wearing it at an office job if all you do is sit at a desk and use a computer all day. Because of the way they’re crafted, some vintage rings are less likely to get caught on something or get scratched at work. To get an idea of what the designs look like, check out the collection of vintage engagement rings from Estate Diamond Jewelers. You’ll see a variety of styles that have flat, thick bands and few diamonds set way up high in thin settings that can get caught on things.
This isn’t to say vintage rings won’t get scratched or caught on things, like clothing or even ledges, but some designs are just less likely to be problematic. It’s still not a good idea to wear your ring at work, regardless of the style.
Work isn’t the appropriate place to show off your ring
While there’s nothing wrong with making friends with your coworkers, having an active social life at work shouldn’t be your main priority. Your boss expects you to get your job done in a timely and efficient manner, and anything that gets in the way of that should be eliminated from your to-do list. This includes showing off your engagement ring to your coworkers.
There are so many things that can go wrong when you have to show everyone your new ring. First, there’s always going to be someone who will get extremely jealous of your ring and possibly even your partner, depending on the situation. This can lead to feelings of resentment between you and another coworker.
Don’t rush into the break room and throw your hand up to show everyone your gigantic new rock. If you’re going to wear your ring at work, which isn’t the best idea, let other people notice it and talk to you about it first. In a few days, they’ll likely forget about it anyway and it won’t be a topic of further discussion.
Try wearing your ring as a necklace
If and only if your job allows you to wear necklaces, and it’s safe to do so, wear your engagement ring on a chain around your neck while you work. This will free up your hands and allow you to perform your work without risking injury to your finger.
This is a great idea if you feel like you can’t leave your ring at home for the day. You may want to tuck it into your shirt so you don’t catch the necklace or ring on anything as you lean over, but as long as your job is simple, like working in an office, you shouldn’t have any problems.
Not wearing your ring to work doesn’t reflect your level of commitment
For some couples, knowing their partner isn’t wearing their engagement ring all the time can make them feel bummed out. However, it’s not worth risking your safety just to keep your partner happy. Don’t feel guilty about leaving your ring at home when you go to work if it isn’t safe to wear it on the job. It doesn’t mean you love them any less, or that you’re trying to appear single. It simply means you value your finger and want to avoid an injury.
