Wearing Jewelry at the Beach: The Do’s and Don’ts

Summer is here and many of us will be heading to the beach to enjoy rays of warm sunshine, fun in the sand and cool dips in our lakes, rivers, oceans and local swimming holes. A typical excursion to the sandy shoreline usually involves at least a little planning, if not a full-blown checklist to make sure food, entertainment, extra clothes and beach-ready accessories are all included in the planning. But often, there is one thing that gets overlooked: jewelry. Most of us wear it every day, but what do we do with our jewelry when we’re bound for the beach?

Of course, we can leave our jewelry at home, but looking good and feeling good go so well with a happy day at the beach. After all, who doesn’t enjoy accessorizing a summer-chic bracelet, necklace or ring with their stylish swimwear. But if you want your fine jewelry collection to continue to sparkle and shine like it does now, there are 3 Big S’s to consider on beach day. You can read all about them in today’s blog, Wearing Jewelry at the Beach: The Do’s and Don’ts.

SUNSCREEN

Ahhh… sunscreen. The instant scent of a tropical paradise, fragrant with coconut oil, cocoa butter and fresh jasmine! It is certainly a beach day essential and protecting our skin from overexposure is always a wise choice. However, potent potions like sunscreen, suntan lotion, tanning oils and body sprays should probably not come in contact with your jewelry. While not always the case, many of these can cause discoloring or even erosion of the common metals found in jewelry.

SWIMMING

Let’s just dive into this one, shall we? While some jewelry can handle being fully submerged, many cannot. This is especially true if there are gems, beads or other stones set into the jewelry. Typically, basic designs crafted of gold, silver, platinum, stainless steel or titanium are okay to wear while swimming. Other metals like copper, brass and bronze could have adverse effects. Among them, your skin could turn green. Plus, if the water happens to be cold, it’s easy for rings, especially, to come off since the fingers constrict at lower temperatures. So, if you plan on going swimming while at the beach, it’s always a safer bet to remove all your jewelry before doing so.

SAND & SALT

When you’re at the beach, sand and salt could be everywhere. Sand is on the beach, obviously, but it’s also in the air, given the amount of activity on the surface. Not to mention the gusts of wind coming off the water. Salt is the same way. Especially if you are near the ocean. The bottom line is that both of these elements can be abrasive. So, as perfect as that combination is when indulging in the joys of the beach, they could potentially wreak havoc on your jewelry. Again, there are exceptions. Certain materials are made to withstand the elements. But if you’re not sure, it’s best to take the necessary precautions and protect your jewelry in advance.

Can you hear the beach calling? Hopefully there’s a day of sun and fun in your near future. We trust our jewelry tips help with your planning too. Don’t forget, The Bradford Exchange has an awesome selection of unique fine jewelry to help you stay fashionable wherever you go, from the beach to the ballroom