Why You Shouldn’t Wear Jewelry to the Beach

Ring Lost at the Jersey Shore

The idea of a priceless piece of diamond jewelry sitting at the bottom of the Atlantic might have seemed romantic in the movie Titanic. In real life, no one wants to lose their rings or bracelets to the sea. That’s why it’s a smart idea to use caution when taking your diamond jewelry to the beach.

Here are five questions to ask yourself before you head to the shore this summer:

1. How well does my ring fit?

Cold ocean water makes your hands shrink, which in turn can make your rings become loose. Your rings should come off before you go in the water, unless you never take them off and they’re very tight.

And water isn’t the only thing that can make your ring come loose: tanning oil, sunscreen or sweat all create a lubricant. To avoid losing a ring at the beach, you may want to take it off and put it in a safe place before you hit the sand.

2. What sort of metal is it made from?

Stronger metal like platinum can withstand sea air, but other metals aren’t as lucky. Sea salt is especially corrosive to metals like copper, which is found in rose gold jewelry. And materials like coral and turquoise are very absorbent, and will eventually rot due to sea salt exposure.

3. Will you be going in the pool?

If you’re staying at a resort, you might find yourself swimming in the pool as well as the beach. Remember that the chlorine found in pools can cause gold jewelry to eventually degrade. You also wouldn’t want your loose jewelry to sink to the bottom of a pool and get sucked into the drain.

4. Are there gemstones?

Lost Jewelry at the BeachGemstones are tough, but some of them aren’t as tough as sand. Harder stones – diamonds, sapphires and rubies – should be OK, but more fragile stones such as amethyst are more likely to be scratched. The ocean is no friend to gemstones either; swimming with a ring could cause the stones to become loose and fall out of their settings.

5. Planning on getting some sun?

A lot of people go to the beach to get tan. If you’re in that group, consider leaving your jewelry at home. Wearing jewelry in the sun can leave tan lines. If you take it off at the beach, you may accidentally leave it behind. And if you leave it on, remember that direct sunlight can bleach some materials.

If you have lost a piece of diamond jewelry at the beach – or anywhere else – you may want to check out The Ring Finders, a directory of independent metal detecting specialists who have recovered more than 3,000 pieces in the past seven years.

And if you need to replace a lost piece, or want to have damaged jewelry repaired, visit Doylestown Gold Exchange. For years, customers have trusted us to provide expert jewelry repair in Bucks County. Pay us a visit, and we’ll do everything we can to make sure your precious items aren’t lost to you.

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