What jewellery is waterproof?
Not all jewellery is designed to withstand water. Certain metals are highly resistant to moisture and corrosion, while others can tarnish or fade with regular exposure. Understanding the difference helps you choose jewellery that lasts longer with everyday wear.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is one of the most durable and water resistant materials used in modern jewellery. It contains chromium, which forms a protective layer on the surface of the metal that helps prevent rust, corrosion, and tarnishing.
Because of these properties, stainless steel jewellery can generally tolerate exposure to:
- Daily wear
- Showers, ocean water and swimming
- Active lifestyles and workouts
- Travel and warm climates
At HOS, many of our pieces are crafted from stainless steel and finished with PVD plating to achieve rich gold tones while maintaining durability.
PVD plating is significantly stronger than traditional gold plating, making it more resistant to fading and wear. However, like all gold toned finishes, it is not considered completely permanent. Over time, frequent exposure to saltwater, chlorine, sweat, and harsh chemicals may gradually affect the finish.
Because of its strength and resistance to corrosion, stainless steel remains one of the most practical materials for jewellery designed for everyday wear.
Because of its strength and resistance to corrosion, stainless steel remains one of the most practical materials for jewellery designed for everyday wear.
Sterling Silver
Sterling silver is a classic jewellery metal known for its bright, polished finish and timeless appearance. Pure silver is naturally very soft, so it is combined with other metals to increase strength and durability.
Sterling silver contains 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% alloy metals, usually copper. This combination makes the metal strong enough for everyday jewellery while maintaining the distinctive look of silver.
Sterling silver jewellery can generally tolerate:
- Safe contact with water
- It's bright, reflective finish
- A timeless and classic appearance
- Easy maintenance and restoration
However, sterling silver may naturally tarnish over time when exposed to air, moisture, or certain chemicals. This can create a darker layer on the surface of the metal, but it is a normal reaction and can easily be removed with simple cleaning, restoring the jewellery’s original shine.
With regular wear and occasional cleaning, sterling silver jewellery can maintain its appearance for many years.
Gold Filled
Gold filled jewellery contains a thick layer of real gold that is permanently bonded to a base metal, usually brass. Unlike gold plated jewellery, where the gold layer is extremely thin, gold filled pieces contain a significantly thicker layer of gold.
By definition, gold filled jewellery must contain at least 5% real gold by weight, which makes the gold layer much more durable than standard plating.
Because of this thicker gold layer, gold filled jewellery can generally tolerate exposure to:
- Long lasting colour
- The appearance of solid gold
- Greater durability than gold plating
- High quality everyday jewellery
Gold filled jewellery is designed to maintain its colour and finish for long periods of time and is far more resistant to fading than gold plated jewellery.
With proper care, gold filled jewellery can be worn regularly while maintaining its appearance, making it a popular option for everyday pieces that offer the look of solid gold.
Solid Gold
Solid gold is naturally resistant to rust, corrosion, and tarnishing, which makes it one of the most durable metals used in fine jewellery. Unlike plated jewellery, solid gold contains the same material throughout the entire piece, so the colour and finish will not wear away over time.
Because of these properties, solid gold jewellery can generally tolerate exposure to:
- Long term durability
- Safe to wear in water and in the shower
- Maintains its natural gold colour over time
- Often chosen for heirloom and generational jewellery pieces
The durability of gold jewellery depends on its purity. Pure gold is very soft, so it is usually mixed with small amounts of other metals to increase strength.
The durability of gold jewellery depends on its purity. Pure gold is very soft, so it is usually mixed with small amounts of other metals to increase strength.
- 24k gold is the purest form of gold but also the softest
- 18k gold offers a balance of purity and durability
- 14k gold is stronger and commonly used for everyday jewellery
- 9k gold is the most durable option and commonly used for everyday wear because of its higher alloy content
Although solid gold can handle water exposure, chlorine and harsh chemicals can slowly affect gold alloys over time. For this reason, it is still recommended to remove solid gold jewellery before swimming in pools or using strong chemicals.
Solid gold jewellery is often chosen for its longevity, as it can be worn for many years while maintaining its colour and value.
Water & Shower Safe
