Swimming with your jewellery: beach, sea and pool, what to do?

There is a lovely logic in wanting to wear a piece of sea glass jewellery to the beach: that is where it comes from. This small frosted fragment spent years in the waves before being picked up from the sand. Yet swimming with your jewellery is not without risk, either for the jewellery or for you. Here is how to enjoy the summer without damaging or losing it.

Can you swim with your jewellery?

The wisest answer is simple: it is better to take it off before going into the water. The sea glass itself is not really the issue, since it knows the ocean better than anyone, but rather the whole formed by the setting, the fastenings, the finish and the swimming environment. Salt, chlorine, sand, sun cream and cold water make a demanding mix for any piece of jewellery.

Our settings are made of stainless steel, a metal that copes well with daily life, as we explain in our article on the advantages of stainless steel jewellery. But resistant does not mean invulnerable: repeated swimming remains an ordeal we would rather spare your jewellery.

In the sea: salt, sand and waves

Sea water contains salt which, as it dries, leaves fine deposits on the metal and in the links. Sand, for its part, is abrasive: it is sand, together with the waves, that gives sea glass its frosted look. What beautifies a fragment of glass over several decades can, on the other hand, scratch a finish in a few afternoons.

Above all, there is the risk of loss. A slightly strong wave, a dive, a gesture to tidy your hair, and an earring or a ring can vanish. In cold water, fingers tend to slim slightly, and a ring that fits well on dry land can slip off without you noticing. Finding a piece of jewellery in the waves then takes a small miracle.

At the pool: beware of chlorine

Pool water is treated, most often with chlorine. This product is harsh on metals and finishes, especially gold finishes, which can lose their shine swim after swim. That is why we advise against wearing your jewellery in a swimming pool, a spa or a hot tub, where the water is often warm and treated as well.

Sun cream, sweat and hot sand: the risks out of the water

Even without swimming, a day at the beach puts jewellery to the test:

• sun cream and oils leave a greasy film that dulls the metal and clouds the glass;
• perspiration and salt dried on the skin end up settling on the setting;
• sand works its way into links, clasps and settings;
• a piece of jewellery left on a towel is easily lost when you shake it out.

A tip: apply your sun cream and let it soak in properly before putting on your jewellery, not the other way round.

Our advice for a carefree summer with your jewellery

• Take your jewellery off before swimming, in the sea as in the pool, and for water sports.
• Keep a small pouch or a closed box in your bag, rather than slipping them into a pocket or leaving them on your towel.
• If your jewellery gets wet, rinse it quickly in fresh water, then gently wipe it with a soft, dry cloth.
• Let it air dry completely before putting it away.
• Store it separately, away from damp and heat, never at the bottom of a beach bag.

For the beach, favour the pieces you will put on after swimming, for the return to the sun or drinks facing the sea. An anklet such as the Brume salée bracelet, with its star charms and shells, beautifully complements a summer dress in the evening, on a terrace by the water.

You will find all the care habits in our guide to caring for stainless steel and sea glass.

Frequently asked questions

Is sea glass afraid of water?

No, the glass itself has nothing to fear from water: it spent decades in the waves before being picked up. It is rather the setting, the fastenings and the finish that need care when faced with salt, chlorine and sand. It is to protect the piece as a whole, and to avoid losing it, that we advise taking it off before swimming.

What if you forgot to take your jewellery off?

No need to worry. As soon as you come out of the water, rinse it in fresh water to remove salt or chlorine, then wipe it with a soft, dry cloth, without rubbing. Let it air dry before storing it separately, away from damp. A one-off oversight is nothing dramatic; it is repetition that wears jewellery down.

Can you shower with your jewellery on?

It is best avoided. Soap, shampoo and shower gel leave a film that dulls the metal and clouds the glass, and bathroom humidity is not ideal. Take your jewellery off before showering and put it back on once your skin is dry and your cream applied: this little ritual is enough to preserve its shine.

Which jewellery should you wear for a summer by the sea?

Simple, light pieces that you put on after swimming: an adjustable ring, an anklet, discreet earrings. In our shop, sea glass jewellery in moss green, frosted white or lagoon blue carries the spirit of the beach. To take your pieces on holiday, also read our advice on storing your jewellery well.