Caring for Your Jewellery at the Beach: What to Wear and What to Leave at Home
There’s nothing like a day at the beach - sunshine, salty air, and glistening waves. If you’re planning to take your favourite jewellery along for the ride, it’s important to know how to keep it safe and in good condition. While some pieces can handle the elements, others are better left at home.
Here’s a handy guide to help you sparkle responsibly at the shore.
What’s Safe to Wear at the Beach
Gold and Silver: Solid gold and sterling silver are durable metals that can stand up to saltwater and sand, though it’s best to rinse them with fresh water after your beach day to prevent tarnish or dullness. Avoid gold-plated pieces, as the coating can wear off with exposure.
Diamonds, Sapphires, and Other Hard Stones: These gemstones rank high on the Mohs scale of hardness, meaning they’re less likely to scratch or chip. Their brilliance will stand out beautifully in the sunshine!
What to Leave at Home
Opals: Known for their delicate composition, opals are porous and sensitive to water. Exposure to saltwater can cause them to crack, discolour, or lose their signature play of colour.
Pearls: These organic gems are particularly vulnerable to salt, which can erode their lustrous surface. Sand can also scratch their nacre, dulling their natural beauty.
Why Jewellery and the Beach Don’t Always Mix
Beyond concerns about damage, the beach is one of the easiest places to lose jewellery. Cold water can cause your fingers to shrink more than you'd think, enabling rings to slip off unnoticed. Bracelets and chains can also unfasten, and once a piece is lost in the sand or sea, it’s often impossible to recover.
Our Top Tip? Less is More!
The safest approach is to leave your treasured pieces at home in a secure place. That said, if you simply can’t resist adding a little sparkle to your beach look, stick to sturdy, simple designs, no loosely fitting rings—no dangling earrings or loose clasps—and consider pieces you won’t mind getting a little weathered.
Caring for Your Jewellery Post-Beach
If you do wear jewellery to the beach, rinse it thoroughly with fresh water as soon as possible to remove salt and sand. Gently dry each piece with a soft cloth before storing it away.
With a little extra care, you can enjoy the best of both worlds—your jewels and the sea. Have a safe and sparkly beach season!
There’s nothing like a day at the beach - sunshine, salty air, and glistening waves. If you’re planning to take your favourite jewellery along for the ride, it’s important to know how to keep it safe and in good condition. While some pieces can handle the elements, others are better left at home.
Here’s a handy guide to help you sparkle responsibly at the shore.
What’s Safe to Wear at the Beach
Gold and Silver: Solid gold and sterling silver are durable metals that can stand up to saltwater and sand, though it’s best to rinse them with fresh water after your beach day to prevent tarnish or dullness. Avoid gold-plated pieces, as the coating can wear off with exposure.
Diamonds, Sapphires, and Other Hard Stones: These gemstones rank high on the Mohs scale of hardness, meaning they’re less likely to scratch or chip. Their brilliance will stand out beautifully in the sunshine!
What to Leave at Home
Opals: Known for their delicate composition, opals are porous and sensitive to water. Exposure to saltwater can cause them to crack, discolour, or lose their signature play of colour.
Pearls: These organic gems are particularly vulnerable to salt, which can erode their lustrous surface. Sand can also scratch their nacre, dulling their natural beauty.
Why Jewellery and the Beach Don’t Always Mix
Beyond concerns about damage, the beach is one of the easiest places to lose jewellery. Cold water can cause your fingers to shrink more than you'd think, enabling rings to slip off unnoticed. Bracelets and chains can also unfasten, and once a piece is lost in the sand or sea, it’s often impossible to recover.
Our Top Tip? Less is More!
The safest approach is to leave your treasured pieces at home in a secure place. That said, if you simply can’t resist adding a little sparkle to your beach look, stick to sturdy, simple designs, no loosely fitting rings—no dangling earrings or loose clasps—and consider pieces you won’t mind getting a little weathered.
Caring for Your Jewellery Post-Beach
If you do wear jewellery to the beach, rinse it thoroughly with fresh water as soon as possible to remove salt and sand. Gently dry each piece with a soft cloth before storing it away.
With a little extra care, you can enjoy the best of both worlds—your jewels and the sea. Have a safe and sparkly beach season!