As it gets hotter, more and more people flock to the pool for a cool-down. You can’t get much more relaxed than when you’re sipping a cool drink on a pool float with loved ones at your side. But just like any other activity, there are precautions to consider when swimming.
You already know about using sunscreen and staying hydrated. But something you may not have thought of is what might happen to your fine jewelry in the water.
The silver and gold found in jewelry isn’t as pure as that found in investment-grade bullion, but pieces of jewelry are still quite valuable—both in metal content and sentimental value. You wouldn’t want to lose or damage your jewelry while trying to partake in summer fun.
As you might know, jewelry will undergo damage over time from normal wear and tear, oxidation, and exposure to the elements. This damage often occurs slowly over the years. But water—and more importantly, the minerals and chemicals found in water—can quicken the pace of oxidation and other damages.
Washing your hands or showering with your jewelry generally won’t hurt it. The chemicals found in tap water aren’t harsh enough to cause reactions with the metals found in your jewelry. In fact, washing while wearing jewelry can even remove skin oils and dirt particles to restore shine. However, it’s not a good idea to submerge jewelry, like when taking a bath. This is especially true if your jewelry contains gems and/or crevices that water can become trapped in.
Swimming exposes jewelry to more chemicals like chlorine or salt, which can interact with jewelry in negative ways. Chlorine can cause color changes in silver, can dissolve some metals, and can damage gemstones. When it comes to hot tubs, the higher temperature can even speed up the chemical reactions that damage jewelry.
Swimming in saltwater isn’t quite as damaging as chlorinated pool water, but it can still be corrosive. Not to mention, losing a piece of jewelry in an ocean makes it much harder to recover than in a pool where it would be visible through the water. Additionally, hot springs are a major problem for jewelry due to the naturally occurring sulfur, which is used by jewelers to intentionally oxidize silver.
The best way to keep your jewelry safe is to not wear it while in or near bodies of water. This prevents the damages listed above, and also prevents the possibility of losing a piece of jewelry in the water. It’s best to leave your precious jewelry safely tucked away at home or in your hotel safe while you go enjoy a summer day out by the water.
What’s your favorite summertime activity? Commenting below will serve as your entry for our June giveaway. But remember to keep it classy; inappropriate comments will be deleted and disqualified. Submit your comment (one comment only please) by June 24, 2018. One winner will be randomly selected on June 25, 2018 to receive a 2018 2 oz Australian Silver Koala Mother and Baby from the Perth Mint’s new Next Generation series.
Good luck and enjoy the summer!
Taking my tribe out in the desert shooting and digging on the stars in the night sky.
Hiking through the woods with my dog.
When not working in garden, cooking out with the family and swimming.
Camping and Geocaching. Our family loves to get out there and just have fun!!!
Going to the beach or mountain streams.
In the mountains….looking for gold.
Slurpees, popsicles and pools! Gotta stay cool in that summer heat!
Summertime is the best of seasons to be outside getting to know neighbors and renewing old friendships!
I am an avid photographer. The warm weather and full foliage scenery begs for illumination and I search for that perfect representation of nature in all of my photos.
We enjoy Cedar Point Amusement park in Ohio. And the southeast coast line.
Trap and skeet are how I like to enjoy summer days.
Working hard so I can enjoy winter, which last year included a trip to the Perth mint!
Backyard BBQ with family and friends
Whether I’m swimming, watching a swim meet, or coaching my daughter’s swimming, I love anything connected with a pool during the summer.
Go to minor leauge baseball games and enjoy top notch baseball without paying to much like Yankee stadium lol
Vacation to Europe.
Fishing and camping!!
Since the kids are out of school I like to spend as much time as I can with them. Time is a vapor and the best thing to do with my time is spend it with my kids.
Watching my child play.
Slow cooking barbecue pork shoulder in the smoker for hours bland hours while I sip a beer in the sun!
Summer time fun to me is playing paintball. It teaches teenagers how to work with a group and be able to lead and take orders. It also teaches how to operate firearms in a safe way. It gets you outdoors, and gives plenty of exercise. Best of all it gets you away from the phone.
Spending a week on vacation at the beach with my family.
Sunrise walks on the beach
I love being out in my back yard and gardening. Growing my own good and preserving it are some of the best thing things about summer!
Spending time with my family beating the heat! Swimming and snow cones is the routine for me!!
Making memories with my granddaughter.
My wife and I always look forward to getting together with our grown children and planning our summer vacation. The planning is as fun as the trip.
Gotta love being on the river kayaking
BBQ at the park with family and friends.
I enjoy canoeing up the St. Croix River, then starting a fire on a Sandy Beach to make S’mores, Peace