Wearing Jewelry at the Beach and Pool

Pure gold does not react to chlorine. The problem is everything else in the alloy. 14K gold is 58.3% gold and 41.7% other metals such as copper, silver, zinc and, in some white gold, nickel. Chlorine reacts with those metals. Over many swims it can pit the surface, discolor the piece and attack solder joints, which is where clasps and links fail.

Gold	Gold content	Exposure to chlorine
10K	41.7%	Most alloy metal, most reactive
14K	58.3%	Less reactive, still at risk
18K	75%	Least alloy, but softer

Hot tubs are worse than pools. Higher heat and higher chemical levels speed up the reaction. GIA lists chlorine bleach among the chemicals that can damage gold alloys.

Salt water is less aggressive than chlorine on gold, but it dries into crystals inside chain links and under stones. Sand is the bigger problem. It is mostly quartz, about 7 on the Mohs hardness scale, which is harder than gold. Rubbing sand into a chain or ring scratches the polish, and grains packed into a clasp wear the spring.

Waves are the other risk. A wave can snap a thin chain or pull a clasp open, and anything that falls in the surf is usually gone. Every Miami jeweler has heard that story.

Fingers shrink in cold water. A ring that fits at the hotel can slide off in the ocean or the pool without you feeling it. Engagement rings are the classic loss. Diamond rings like the Mixed Lab Diamond Ring 1.05 ct, 10K White Gold ($2,200) sit high and catch on towels and bag straps too.

If you want something on your hand at the beach, wear a simple band and leave the center stone in the safe. Our guide to engagement rings in Miami covers more of the day-to-day side of wearing one here.

Sunscreen does not damage a diamond, but it coats it. A diamond's sparkle comes from light entering the top and bouncing back off the angled facets on the bottom. A film of sunscreen on the underside blocks that, so the stone looks gray. Mineral sunscreens with zinc or titanium leave a white residue in pavé and prongs.

Some chemical sunscreens and bug sprays can also dull plated or soft gemstones. Put jewelry on after your sunscreen has dried, and clean pieces after a beach day: warm water, a drop of dish soap and a soft brush. Our diamond cleaning guide has the full method.

Diamonds and gold do not care about sunlight. Some colored stones do. Amethyst, kunzite and some topaz can fade with long, strong sun exposure, and opals can crack if they dry out and then meet cold water. Pearls dry out and lose luster in heat. In practice that means colored-stone rings and pearl earrings stay in the bag on a beach day, even if you are not swimming. A beach bag left in the sun gets far hotter than the air around it, so carry pieces in a small padded pouch inside the bag, out of direct light.

• Leave it in the room safe: engagement rings, diamond pieces, anything you cannot replace.
• If you wear a chain, wear a solid one with a secure lobster clasp, not a thin box chain. A solid gold chain like the Curb Chain 1.5mm ($300) rinses clean; a hollow chain can trap salt water inside.
• Rinse in fresh water after the beach, then dry with a soft cloth.
• Do not leave jewelry in a hot car. Heat does not hurt gold, but cars are where pieces get stolen.
• Clean after each beach week. Salt and sand trapped in Cuban links act like sandpaper every time the chain moves.

Cuban links are built tight, which means more places for sand to hide. If you are deciding which style to wear year-round, our comparison of Cuban link vs Miami Cuban explains how the links differ, and Cuban link chains in Miami shows what locals wear.

Piece	Beach and pool risk	Why
Solid gold chain, simple link	Low to medium	Rinses clean; clasp is the weak spot
Hollow chain or hollow hoops	Medium to high	Water and salt get trapped inside; dents easily
Diamond studs with screw backs	Low to medium	Secure back; sunscreen film dulls the stone
Solitaire or engagement ring	High	Slips off in cold water; catches on towels
Iced pendant or diamond necklace	High	Sand packs into settings; stones can loosen
White gold anything	Medium	Chlorine and friction wear the rhodium coat
Pearls and emeralds	Very high	Chemicals and sun damage soft and treated stones

The pattern is simple: the more stones and the more hollow space, the more a piece suffers. Plain solid gold is the most forgiving thing you can wear near water, and even that is better off on the towel than in the pool.

If a piece has been worn through a summer of pools and beach days, have the clasp, prongs and solder joints checked. You can bring it to our showroom at 7900 NW 27th Ave, Unit 506, in Miami, in the Northside Shopping Center area, and look at it with us under magnification. If you are coming from downtown, our Miami jewelry district guide explains how the area is laid out, and our showroom page has directions. Thinking about a piece made for your lifestyle? See custom jewelry in Miami.