If you’re reading this article, it’s most likely because you’re guilty of hopping in the shower with your jewelry on. You’re probably wondering, “should I always remove my jewelry before going in the water?” or “how does treated water affect my jewelry?“ For starters, you need to know that the water we use in the shower usually comes from local facilities that filter out debris. In most cases, it also has traces of chlorine, chloramine, and other chemicals that sanitize our drinking supplies.
From affecting luster and shine to the possibility of losing your diamonds, here’s everything you need to know about exposing your jewelry to water.
Effects of Water on Different Jewelry Pieces
While water is essential to preserving and maintaining life, it also cuts deep into the earth over time. In the case of jewelry, water can manipulate your pieces if you’re not careful. After all, the metals used to create your jewelry are from the earth itself.
One mistake many of us jewelry owners make is misidentifying or not knowing enough about the precious metals in our earrings, rings, bracelets, and necklaces before we expose our jewelry to the elements, including the sweat and oils our bodies produce.
Let’s discuss some of the most popular types of metals and how water affects jewelry, as well as touch on how certain chemicals affect precious metals.
What Happens When You Shower With Diamond Jewelry
As elegant as you may look with your diamond earrings, ensure not to wear them in the shower, pool, or ocean. Your diamonds will lose their alluring shine, and if the setting is loose, you risk losing your diamonds forever.
The same rule applies to diamond rings, necklaces, bracelets, and other pieces. Keep your girl’s best friends dry by removing them before you set foot in the shower or submerge yourself in water.
What Happens When You Shower With Sterling Silver Jewelry
Sterling silver jewelry, including pieces from a luxury brand like Tiffany & Co., tarnishes faster with repeated exposure to water. If you’re wearing any on the daily, remember to remove them before taking a dip in the pool.
The traces of chlorine, salt, and chemicals in water and certain hygiene products may not be an immediate threat to new sterling silver pieces, but they will damage your jewelry over time.
Take a few minutes each month to clean and polish your sterling silver with special solutions for silver. You’ll thank yourself later.
When it comes to maintaining sterling silver jewelry, the best piece of advice we can give you is to avoid exposing it to water as much as possible. Many people living in tropical climates can’t even wear such pieces, as sweat and water cause silver to oxidize (darken) quickly.
When Happens When You Shower With Gold Jewelry
For gold-plated jewelry, it’s recommended to avoid water while wearing it. Gold-plated pieces are prone to chipping, scratching, and becoming dull the more they’re exposed to water.
If your jewelry is solid gold (yellow, white, or rose gold), you’re in the clear. This is generally true for 10K to 18K gold pieces. However, to maintain their luster, remember to dry your jewelry using a soft cloth after swimming or bathing.
As for gold-filled jewelry, it should do just fine in the water since the layer of gold plated onto the base metal is usually thick and sturdy.
When Happens When You Shower With Costume and Fast-Fashion Jewelry
Showering with costume jewelry is not advisable. Although costume jewelry may be affordable, manufacturers typically use cheaper metals, materials, and techniques to produce their pieces. For example, some fast-fashion jewelry manufacturers use heavy-duty glue instead of proper setting techniques to affix “gemstones” onto a piece of metal.
Another example is the presence of nickel, which is a popular metal used in affordable jewelry pieces. As a consumer, you may not know that you can develop a nickel allergy with prolonged skin contact. Exposure to water does nothing but amplify this potential threat. Therefore, avoid wearing nickel-laden pieces when showering, swimming, and exercising, since sweat and nickel combined can cause a severe allergic reaction. Lastly, keep in mind that costume jewelry may chip and flake off in the water.
When Happens When You Shower With Stainless Steel and Palladium Jewelry
Stainless steel and palladium are some of the metals you can wear in the shower without fear of too many heartbreaking consequences. However, always remove these pieces before jumping in the pool or ocean, as they react negatively with chlorine (as do most metals, including gold and platinum). You will also want to know whether or not your stainless steel and palladium jewelry contain additional metals, because the lower the quality or purity, the higher the chances of your jewelry dulling and tarnishing.
Takeaway
In general, it’s best to remove your jewelry before showering or going to the beach. Water can be corrosive to metals, and the chemicals in products we use daily can deteriorate the appearance and overall quality of our favorite jewelry picks.
You don’t want to damage your precious jewelry, and no one likes to escalate family tensions by explaining why the heirloom piece got lost at sea during vacation.
Whether you’re treating yourself or buying a present for your significant other, make it a point to invest in high-quality jewelry. That way, your pieces will stand the test of time.
Trusted Jewelry Buyer in Chandler and Scottsdale, AZ
Over time, it’s easy to become disenchanted with even the finest pieces of jewelry. Engagement rings from failed relationships, gifts, heirlooms, or purchases that were once worn regularly may no longer bring the same excitement. If you’re looking to sell, we are looking to buy. Traditional pawn shops and consignments are often unwilling to pay the true market value for high-end jewelry. As such, they are not the best options. With Biltmore Loan and Jewelry, you can get your money’s worth.
Biltmore Loan and Jewelry is a premier buyer of diamonds and fine jewelry, offering residents and tourists throughout the Grand Canyon State unsurpassed prices on pre-owned pieces. Find out how much your jewelry is worth, then sell it to us at the best possible price or get a collateral loan.