Summer is here (although the sun seems to be hiding in Dundee) and many if you will be jetting off to warmer climates over the next few weeks. Calendars filling up with pool days, beach trips and outdoor activities. To help you get holiday ready, I've put together a short guide on how to take care of your jewellery over the summer months and keep your pieces sparkling all summer!

When Packing

As with anything valuable take care when packing your jewellery.
It's best to leave anything especially sentimental or of high value at home and only pack pieces you are likely to wear.  When packing, store jewellery individually, use cloth pouches, padded jewellery boxes or store pieces separately in a jewellery travel roll to keep your them safe and reduce the risk of tangling and scratching.  Kirsten Manzi Jewellery pieces are all packed in a foam padded jewellery box with an anti-tarnish square and polishing cloth. If you'd prefer a soft cloth pouch or need any extra boxes, let me know.

At The Beach or Pool

On the whole, wearing solid gold and diamond jewellery at the beach shouldn't do too much damage.   However, gold is an alloy, with many other different metals making up the mix, so chemical or mineral residue from chlorine or salt water could react with these metals causing jewellery to discolour. For example, prolonged exposure to saltwater and salty sea air can be especially harmful to rose gold or copper jewellery. Sea salt and sand can also be very abrasive and may, over time wear off the surface of things like gold–plating, rhodium–plating, vermeil and softer gemstones.

It's also common for people to lose their jewellery while swimming. In cold water, our hands shrink making it easier for rings to slip off and other jewellery like necklaces can get caught and come undone while swimming. To protect against the summer elements and ensure you don't lose anything, avoid wearing your jewellery at the beach or take it off before you swim. To be on the safe side, make sure any valuable jewellery is insured and check that your travel insurance covers lost or stolen jewellery.

In General

While getting ready, be careful with loose clothes and try to keep your jewellery away from any beauty products.  The chemicals in things like sun cream, deodorants and perfumes can cause jewellery to discolour while creams, soaps and lotions can coat the surface and reduce the shine on your pieces. To avoid this jewellery should be the last thing you put on and the first thing you take off. 

If you do wear your jewellery to the beach or the pool, rinse it in lukewarm water afterwards to remove any residues and dry thoroughly, away from direct heat.  You can also pack a polishing cloth and give your pieces a gentle buff after rinsing to bring back the shine and lustre. When not being worn, store your jewellery individually in a soft pouch or jewellery box.

Of course, it's easy to forget all of these things, especially when you're busy enjoying your holiday! Don't worry,  at the end of summer, or after your holiday you can always get in touch to have your jewellery cleaned professionally.  I can clean, polish, and re-oxidise your jewellery pieces to bring them back to life and can send any white gold jewellery to my platers to have it rhodium plated and bring back the shine. And if you’re looking for some pieces to take with you, have a browse at the collections in my online shop.

Click here for more tips on looking after your jewellery.