jewelry care

Should I shower or swim with my necklace?

Swimming pools are jewelry's greatest enemies

This is one of the most common questions jewelers get from collectors and jewelry owners: is it safe to swim in a swimming pool with fine jewelry like sterling silver, gold, platinum, pearls and the like? And the general answer is no , even if you don't wear expensive jewelry.

Sulfur compounds and chlorine in bathhouses and swimming pools can easily tarnish fine jewelry, so it's best to remove them before swimming.

Some additional scenarios where you would need to remove all of your jewelry are:

• Before applying personal care products such as sunscreen, spray tan, lotions, perfumes and the like.
• When bathing in cold water. It's not like the cold water will tarnish your jewelry. Still, there's a big chance that the skin on your hands will tighten, which can result in you accidentally losing bracelets and rings.
• Direct sunlight over a longer period of time. This is another reminder to keep in mind no matter what type of jewelry you take outside.
• Direct sunlight can aggressively bleach metals and cause them to lose their color. Over time, this can cause even your finest gold jewelry to look older than it is.
• When handling sand, stones and earth. There's a good reason why jewelers always advise their customers to never garden with rings and bracelets. While soil and sand may not be harmful to the skin and you may not feel that they will cause significant damage, garden soil, rocks, and sand all have abrasive properties.

This means that if you continue to work with garden soil, your jewelry will be subjected to a mini-session of rock chips.

In short, your jewelry will look worse every time you do gardening. They will be scratched and weathered until they become duller than they should be with regular use.

If you want to take better care of your jewelry, follow these steps:

• Wipe down all of your jewelry with a dry microfiber cloth every day. This prevents dust, sweat, smoke and dirt from collecting on the surface of your jewelry and between cracks and corners on a daily basis, especially if you have intricately designed jewelry.
• Always keep your jewelry in the right organizer or container. Please don't leave them lying around in the room. Free-floating sulfides in the air can cause jewelry to tarnish and eventually rust. Storing them in an airtight container will help reduce tarnishing and keep them shinier and longer.
• Check your jewelry for loose connections and weak points. Have them checked and serviced annually if you really want to take care of your jewelry.
• The most expensive pieces of jewelry should be insured; in case you lose them or they break unexpectedly.

Finally, it's a good idea to remove your jewelry before going to the beach or showering. Water can be corrosive to metals, and the chemicals we use every day can cause a variety of problems with your favorite jewelry.

Whether you're buying a gift for your best friend or want to treat yourself, you've made the right choice with demi-fine jewelry. This way you won't strain your bank account, but you can also ensure that your jewelry will stand the test of time - and some wear and tear - for years to come.