Take sterling silver off before you shower. If you forgot once, a brief shower is unlikely to ruin a plain sterling silver piece. Dry it with a soft cloth. If the piece has beads, a coating, or a cord, check the maker's care instructions before you rinse or polish it.
An open cuff is easy to slip off before you turn on the water. You'll find examples among the silver bracelets in the Maresi collection.
The Nostras Silver Bracelet is an open 925 sterling silver bangle. If you notice a damp band beneath it after washing your hands, slip it off and dry your wrist and the inside of the cuff before putting it back on.
NOSTRAS SILVER BRACELET
Can sterling silver get wet?
A few drops from the sink or a walk in the rain usually call for a wipe with a dry cloth. A shower adds soap and shampoo, which can leave a film around chain links and in the grooves of a cuff. If your tap water is hard, it can leave pale mineral spots as it dries.
Tarnish can look gray, brown, or nearly black. It develops as the metal reacts with sulfur compounds, and humid air can speed that reaction. If the piece still looks dark after you've removed the residue, see how to recognize sterling silver tarnish.
| When it gets wet | What to do |
|---|---|
| Rain or a splash at the sink | Wipe the piece dry, including the side that touches your skin. |
| A shower with soap or shampoo | Dry it after you take it off. If it's plain silver and the maker allows washing, rinse away any residue first. |
| A pool or hot tub | Take it off before you get in. Chlorine can speed up tarnishing. |
| A swim in the ocean | Leave it somewhere dry before you swim. Seawater can leave salt on the piece as it dries. |
Check the whole piece before you rinse it
A 925 mark refers to sterling silver's 92.5 percent silver content. You still need to check for a surface coating, a stone setting, or a cord. Silver plate is a thin layer of silver over another metal. Use a soft cloth for routine wiping, and follow the maker's directions before using a silver polish that could wear the coating.
The White Howlite Bracelet Silver has stone beads, silver accent spacers, and an adjustable cord. If it gets splashed, blot the beads and cord with a soft, dry cloth. Give the cord time to dry at room temperature before putting the bracelet in its pouch.
WHITE HOWLITE BRACELET SILVER
The same check helps with earrings or a pendant. If you know the metal but you're unsure how the stone was treated or set, start by blotting away the moisture. Ask the maker what cleaning method suits the whole piece before you soak it. See Maresi's guide to washing and polishing silver jewelry safely.
What to do if you already wore it in the shower
- Take it off and check for soap. If it's plain, uncoated sterling and the maker permits washing, a quick rinse with clean, lukewarm water can remove the film. Close the drain first or use a small bowl so a ring or earring can't slip down the sink.
- Blot it with a soft cloth. Turn a cuff over to dry the inside. Open a chain clasp and dab around it, where drops can collect.
- Wait until it's fully dry before you put it away. If you still see dark marks, check the finish before you polish. A darkened recess may be part of the design.
If you wore your silver in a pool or the ocean, take it off when you get out. For plain sterling silver that the maker says can be washed, rinse away the pool water or salt with clean water. Blot it dry, paying attention to the clasp and any grooves. If the piece has stones, plating, or cord, follow the maker’s care instructions before rinsing.
On the Pinna Silver Bracelet, the feather pattern is engraved into a solid 925 cuff. Use a corner of a soft cloth to dab along those lines. For a piece with deliberately darkened details, ask the maker before using a polishing cloth in the recesses.
PINNA SILVER BRACELET
Where to put it before a shower
Sterling silver can be part of what you wear every day. Keep a small tray or pouch in the bedroom, away from the steam. If you shower at the gym, tuck your ring or bracelet into a zipped pouch in your bag before you head to the locker room showers. Use the same spot each time so you know where to find it when you're dressed.
Maresi recommends removing its jewelry before showering, swimming in a pool, or going into the ocean. See Maresi’s care directions for bracelets.
FAQs
Can I put my silver back on right after showering?
Wait until your skin is dry and any lotion has absorbed. If the jewelry got wet too, check the underside of the piece and any clasp or cord before you put it back on.
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