Hi folks,

  I bought what was a gorgeous wood ring.  But as a physician, I wash my hands with soap and hot water all the time (without removing the ring), and within a few months the wood of the ring split and cracked.  It came with what I now realize was a flimsy wax finish. 

  I’m going to buy a replacement, but this time I want to protect it with an optimal finish right from the start.  Question is… what should I use as that finish?  This is a wedding band, so I don’t expect to take it off much, if ever.  I can remove it when I think of it for swimming or showering, but for my day to day work as a physician, I wash my hands just way too often to remove it frequently (and come to think of it, why should I remove it, if hands and ring have germs, hands and ring should have sudsy wash together).

  So you folks are experts.  What finishes would you recommend?

Thanks!

— Josh