Waterproof Jewellery: What Can You Actually Wear in the Shower, Pool & Sea?
You’ve found the perfect necklace, ring or pair of earrings. You love them. You wear them every day.
Then comes the question…
Do I really need to take my jewellery off every time I shower?
And what about swimming, holidays, the sea, perfume, sweat and that accidental jump into the pool when you completely forgot you were wearing your favourite necklace?
The answer depends largely on what your jewellery is made from.
At Let’s Jam, we love jewellery that can actually be lived in. So here’s our simple guide to waterproof jewellery — what you can wear, what you should be a little more careful with, and how to keep your favourite pieces looking fabulous for as long as possible.
First things first: what does "waterproof jewellery" actually mean?
When jewellery is described as waterproof, it generally means that normal contact with water shouldn't immediately damage the base metal.
But there’s an important distinction:
Water is not necessarily the problem.
Chlorine, salt, chemicals, perfume, cleaning products, cosmetics and even the finish or plating applied to a piece can all affect how jewellery ages.
That's why two pieces of jewellery can react completely differently to exactly the same shower.
Stainless steel: the everyday hero
There's a reason we use stainless steel for so much of our jewellery at Let’s Jam.
It's durable, practical and highly resistant to corrosion — making it a brilliant choice if you're someone who likes to put jewellery on and forget about it.
Many of our charm bracelets, earrings, necklaces and rings use stainless steel as their base.
For normal everyday wear, stainless steel is therefore one of our favourite low-maintenance jewellery materials.
Can I shower with stainless steel jewellery?
Generally, yes.
Plain stainless steel handles ordinary water exposure extremely well.
That doesn't mean you should deliberately expose your jewellery to every chemical in your bathroom, though.
Shampoo, conditioner, soap, perfume and other products can leave residue on jewellery over time, so giving your pieces an occasional clean is still a good idea.
What about gold-plated jewellery?
This is where we need to make an important distinction.
A piece can have a stainless-steel base while also having a gold-plated finish.
At Let’s Jam, for example, many of our pieces combine stainless steel with real 24k gold plating.
The stainless steel underneath may be extremely resistant to water, but plating is a surface layer. Like any plated jewellery, that finish can gradually wear depending on how the piece is treated and how frequently it is exposed to friction, chemicals, chlorine or salt water.
So while getting your jewellery wet isn't necessarily a disaster, a little care will help the finish stay beautiful for longer.
Our philosophy is simple:
Wear it. Love it. Enjoy it. But look after it too.
Can I swim in my jewellery?
Here's where we'd be more cautious.
Swimming pool
Chlorinated swimming-pool water is very different from the water coming out of your shower.
Chlorine is a chemical, and repeated exposure isn't something we'd recommend for plated jewellery or delicate pieces.
If you're heading for a proper swim rather than just accidentally getting splashed, taking your jewellery off beforehand is the safest option.
The sea
We know.
You're on holiday. The sun is shining. Your jewellery looks amazing with your tan. The last thing you want to do is remove everything before running into the sea.
But salt water can be harder on jewellery finishes than ordinary fresh water.
An occasional dip doesn't automatically mean your jewellery is ruined, but repeated exposure can affect certain metals, plating, gemstones and finishes.
If you do wear your jewellery in the sea, rinse it afterwards with clean fresh water and dry it thoroughly.
And what about 925 sterling silver?
Sterling silver is beautiful, timeless and one of our favourite materials — but it behaves differently from stainless steel.
925 sterling silver can tarnish.
Tarnishing doesn't mean your jewellery is fake or ruined. It's a natural chemical reaction that can happen as silver reacts with substances in its environment.
The good news?
Sterling silver can usually be cleaned and brought back to its beautiful shine.
We have a complete guide dedicated to How to Care for 925 Sterling Silver Jewellery if you'd like to learn how to clean and store your silver pieces properly.
What about crystal and gemstone jewellery?
This deserves extra care.
At Let’s Jam we absolutely LOVE crystals, and you'll find everything from amethyst and rose quartz to labradorite, tiger's eye and raw rock quartz throughout our collections.
But not every stone should be treated the same way.
Some crystals and gemstones tolerate water much better than others, while softer, porous or treated stones can be damaged by prolonged exposure to water or chemicals.
So if your jewellery contains a real crystal or gemstone, our advice is simple:
Check the stone before you swim or shower with it.
When you're unsure, take it off.
Your crystal won't be offended. Promise.
The biggest jewellery enemies aren't necessarily water
If you want your jewellery to stay beautiful, pay particular attention to:
Perfume
Try applying perfume before putting your jewellery on rather than spraying directly over it.
Beauty products
Creams, fake tan, hairspray, make-up and skincare products can build up on jewellery.
Chlorine
Swimming pools and cleaning chemicals can be particularly harsh on metals and finishes.
Salt water
Repeated exposure can affect certain metals, finishes and gemstones.
Friction
Even waterproof jewellery isn't friction-proof. Bracelets rubbing against desks, rings rubbing against other rings and chains constantly rubbing against clothing can gradually affect a finish.
So… do I have to take my jewellery off every time I shower?
For plain stainless-steel jewellery, normal contact with water generally isn't something we'd worry about.
For plated jewellery, we'd be a little more careful if you want to preserve the finish for as long as possible.
For 925 sterling silver, occasional water exposure isn't necessarily a problem, but tarnishing can occur and proper care is important.
For crystal and gemstone jewellery, it depends on the individual stone.
And for swimming pools and the sea, removing your jewellery beforehand is always the safest choice — particularly for plated, silver or gemstone pieces.
Jewellery is made to be worn
At Let’s Jam, we don't believe your favourite jewellery should spend its entire life sitting safely inside a jewellery box.
We make and source jewellery to be worn, loved and lived in.
That's why stainless steel features so heavily throughout our collections and why durability matters to us.
Just remember that waterproof and indestructible aren't quite the same thing.
Give your jewellery a little love, keep it away from harsh chemicals when you can, clean it occasionally and store it properly — and you'll help your favourite pieces stay fabulous for much longer.
Because life is too short to save your favourite jewellery for special occasions.
Wear the damn earrings. ❤️
Fabulous, Just Like You.
— Let’s Jam, Camden Market, London