Summer Jewelry Care: Can You Wear Jewelry in the Pool or at the Beach?

Summer has arrived, and there’s nothing quite like a perfect day by the pool—the sun shining brightly, the scent of sunscreen in the air, your favorite hat on, and an ice-cold drink in hand.

Of course, no pool day is complete without the perfect swimsuit and a pair of strappy sandals. And naturally, you might reach for your favorite jewelry to finish off the look—but should you?

As stunning as your pool outfit looks, there are some things you should know before diving in wearing your diamond wedding band, your gold hoop earrings, or your gemstone necklace. Summer may be fun, but it isn’t always friendly to your jewelry. Let’s take a closer look at why—so you can plan your next pool party outfit with confidence, knowing exactly which pieces to wear and which ones to leave safely tucked away in your jewelry box.

Jewelry and Pools = Not A Great Combination

The truth is that jewelry and pools don’t go very well together. A quick dip in the pool might not seem like a big deal, but consider how chlorine dries out your skin and hair—now imagine what it can do to your jewelry.

Pools have more than just chlorine in them. They usually contain a cocktail of chemicals to keep the water clear and (mostly) free of harmful bacteria. When chlorine specifically comes into contact with precious metals like gold, the metal can become discolored. It can also cause texture differences and cause pitting in the surface of the metal.

Chlorine has other effects. It can cause sterling silver to tarnish faster and harm precious gemstones such as pearl and opals. These stones can be discolored or even crack from the chemical exposure. So yes, those pink pearl earrings may match your swimsuit perfectly, but they may not make it home in the same condition as when you put them on. 

What Chlorine Actually Does to Your Jewelry

We’ve given you an overview of chlorine's effect, but now let’s break it down by jewelry type—so you’ll know exactly how chlorine can damage each piece in your collection.

Gold can crack and the alloys used to make 10kt, 14kt, and 18kt gold can break down, which can weaken the metals. This can cause prongs to break, which leaves you vulnerable to losing your gemstones. 

Sterling silver will tarnish when exposed to most moisture, but when you add chlorine to the mix, it happens even faster. When this occurs, the metal will turn dark and lose its luster. Yes, tarnish can be polished off, but the metal may experience lasting damage from the chlorine exposure. 

Platinum is more durable than gold or sterling silver, but it can still become dull and lose its luster when exposed to chlorine. 

Gemstones can lose their luster or discolor completely. This is more common in soft stones such as pearls, opals, and turquoise because the moisture can more easily seep into the stone. Gemstones that have been treated to improve their color or clarity are more susceptible to damage because they are usually treated with oils, which can break down when exposed to chlorine. Once the oil has broken down, the moisture can more easily enter the stone in those open spaces and cause the stone to crack and even break. 

Costume jewelry such as imitation gemstones or gold-plated jewelry can lose their plating in chlorine, which renders the jewelry incapable of being worn and enjoyed.

Sunscreen, Sweat & Tanning Oil

It’s not just chlorine that can damage your jewelry. In fact, all things summer can be a bit hazardous. 

Sunscreen, tanning oil, and even your own sweat can damage your jewelry. All of these contain oil that can stay on your skin and end up on your jewelry. If exposed to these often, the residue will build up over time on your jewelry and cause the metal and gemstones to lose their shine. Pearls specifically can be easily damaged by these products, because they can strip away the nacre (outside layer) of the stone. This means they will lose their color (and protection).

And your diamond ring? It can end up looking more like a plastic stone if you wear it while putting on sunscreen. Diamonds could be left looking dull and sad, so consider taking them off before applying any sun protectant to your skin.

When It’s Okay to Wear Jewelry Poolside

So far you may be thinking that our guidance is overly strict. But, rest assured, we aren't here to ruin your fun in the sun. We realize that some of you may not be willing to compromise your amazing pool outfit just to protect your jewelry. So let’s discuss which jewelry materials are less likely to get damaged. This way we can empower you to make smarter choices, without ruining your style.

Solid gold (18K or higher) and platinum

Both gold and platinum are less prone to damage because they don’t have as much alloy in them. Chlorine is less likely to affect pure platinum and metals containing a higher percentage of pure gold. That being said, higher karat gold is softer so it can be scratched and dented more easily. You'll want to be careful in the pool–especially when doing things such as hoisting yourself out of the pool. Pushing your jewelry against cement can result in pitting marks. 

Diamonds

Diamonds are fairly durable, especially when compared to most colored gemstones. They won’t get easily damaged from water or chlorine, however try to choose a platinum or high karat gold setting to keep the diamond safe. 

Silicone rings

These have been flooding the market over the past 10 years or so and are especially popular with gym sharks. Silicon rings are a great summer option and come in a variety of designs and colors. They are very inexpensive and won’t get damaged by the pool chemicals or sunscreen. 

Beach Jewelry Care

While the beach may seem less harmful to your jewelry than the pool, it’s not really any better. Between the saltwater and the sand, it can truly damage your jewelry.

Saltwater can eat away at metals and also suck moisture out of porous stones like pearls and opals. Another way of thinking of it: imagine taking sandpaper and rubbing it all over your jewelry. That’s essentially what you’re doing when you wear jewelry– a ring for example–and run it through the sand. It creates small scratches all over the metal and gemstones in your jewelry, causing damage that may be difficult to see with the naked eye, but over time it gets worse and will dull your jewelry. 

If you must wear jewelry to the beach, preferably keep it around your neck or on your ears, where it’s less likely to have direct contact with the sand. And please clean it properly when you get home to remove any salt or sand that may have gotten stuck to it. 

Final Thoughts

Again, we don’t mean to ruin your whole summer of outfits. But we do want to save you the stress of damaging or losing your favorite jewelry. Our recommendation is to minimize the jewelry you wear to the pool or beach, and to be smart about the pieces that you do choose to wear.