How to Keep Your Jewelry Safe All Summer
Blue skies ahead! Long days, beach weather, bare legs and shining diamonds against tan skin. Looking forward to basking in the light and enjoying lazy afternoons in the shade with a cool drink? Break out the sundresses, sandals and shorts and get ready to sparkle in the sun.
Your lab diamond jewelry is famously durable, just like mined diamond jewelry. But summer activities can be tough on all your jewelry. But don't stress. With a little bit of care and a few simple rules, it isn’t hard to relax and also keep your jewelry looking great and staying safe in the sun. Here's how to keep your jewelry shining all summer long.
Rule #1: Don't Take Your Jewels for a Swim
As the temperature soars, there's nothing as refreshing as a dip in a pool. Before you dive in or hit the hot tub, make sure you take off your jewelry. While your diamonds won't mind taking the plunge, the metal of your jewelry can react to the chlorine or salt that keeps the pool clean. Pool chemicals could slowly discolor or dissolve the metals like copper in the gold alloy, potentially making the setting less secure. Diamonds are oleophilic: they attract oil. So sunscreen and other lotions will be attracted to the diamonds in your jewelry, dulling their sparkle. No one wants that!
Rule #2 Don't Take Your Sparkle to the Beach
We love to see gorgeous images of beach proposals just as much as you do. But beaches are actually one of the riskiest environments for your jewelry. With the ocean, the sand, and the moving landscape, there are tons of ways to lose or damage your jewelry while having fun in the sun. Remember when Kim Kardashian lost her diamond earring in the water? Don't let that be you.
In particular, the cold ocean shrinks your fingers, allowing rings to slip off and never be seen again. It's distressingly common to lose engagement rings at the beach. Some towns have businesses that specialize in finding jewelry lost in the surf. For example, Courtney Vidrine lost her engagement ring at Jacksonville Beach. She was reaching down and the ring fell off her finder into the water. One year later, metal detector David Sielaff found the ring and returned it to her.
The sand works its way into everything you bring to the beach, including the nooks and crannies of your jewelry. Applying sunscreen in a sandy environment can increase dirt buildup on engagement rings. Sand is abrasive which can also scratch the metal of your jewelry. Exposure to salt water can also react with the alloy metals in your gold. Enjoy the beach but leave your jewelry at home.
Rule #3: Go Take a Hike (But Leave Your Diamonds at Home)
Your jewelry loves to shine during a walk in the park just like you do. But taking a real hike while bejeweled could be more challenging. Not only is it extremely difficult to retrace your steps if you lose an earring, bracelet necklace or ring, the combination of sweat, sunscreen and bug repellant can be harmful to your jewelry. On challenging hikes, wearing rings while scrambling or climbing could result on scrapes on the metal or loosened prongs. To make sure your jewelry stays safe, leave it at home.
Rule #4: Garden Without Your Rings
If you love to get your hand in the dirt, make sure you take your rings off first. Gardening could be a risky activity for your rings. Gripping gardening tools tightly can bend metal and wearing gardening gloves could lead to snags of prongs on the fabric of the gloves. The dirt that gets under your fingernails gets stock in the setting of your rings too. Over time this can loosen the tension of your settings (and also can be tough to clean after a day working in the garden.) Let the flowers shine in the sun and leave your rings inside.
Rule #5: Play Unadorned
We always play to win and so should you. Don't let worrying about your engagement ring or other jewelry slow you down. Leave your jewelry at home when playing sports or working out. Rings, in particular are vulnerable to blows. Hitting your hand against a hard surface could damage your rings. So could a blow from a fast moving ball. (Chris Evert famously lost her diamond tennis bracelet while playing tennis: make sure clasps are secure!) The metal of your ring can also move out of place when you grip weights, rackets and bars. That's why we recommend always removing your jewelry before heading out to play sports. Store it someplace safe, like a jewelry box.
Rule #6: Travel & Sparkle Safely
Jetting off on a relaxing vacation is a perfect summer break. If you travel by plane, make sure you wear your jewelry or keep it in your carry-on bag or purse. For longer trips, a travel jewelry case can help you keep you and your jewelry organized and safe. The basics to look for are a separate area to hold earrings, ring slots or bars and a way to store your necklaces without tangling. This is also a great way to keep your pieces from rubbing against each other and scratching while you travel. Never leave valuables like jewelry in a checked bag. When you arrive at your destination, use the safe in your room to store your jewelry. Get in the habit of always double checking the safe before you return home to make sure you don’t leave your jewelry behind.
