Permanent Jewelry Aftercare: Showers, Gyms & Making It Last

Permanent jewelry needs less care than most jewelry — that's rather the point. But the failures that do happen are predictable, and almost none of them are the weld.

What actually breaks a chain

Snagging, nearly every time. A chain catches on a sleeve, a car door, a gym bag zip, a dog lead — and one link opens or stretches. The weld is usually the strongest point on the piece; the links either side of it are not.

• Pulling jumpers and coat sleeves off over the wrist is the single most common way people break these.
• Barbells, kettlebells and pull-up bars are hard on a wrist chain. An anklet avoids nearly all of it.
• Sleeping is fine. Sheets don't snag a well-fitted chain.
• A chain that's too loose catches far more than one that's snug — fit is a durability decision, not just a comfort one.

Water, soap and chlorine

Showering is fine with any of the three common metals — it's a large part of why people buy these. What shortens their life is chemistry rather than water: chlorine, hot tubs, salt water, and the daily film of soap, sunscreen and lotion that builds up in the links.

Sterling silver is the one that visibly reacts. It will tarnish, faster with frequent water and cosmetics, and a polishing cloth brings it back. Gold-filled holds up well for years. Solid gold is essentially indifferent.

Cleaning it

Warm water, a drop of washing-up liquid, a soft toothbrush along the links, then dry it properly. That's the whole routine, and once a month is plenty. Skip ultrasonic cleaners and anything abrasive — a jeweller's polishing cloth for silver, nothing harsher.

Does it stretch?

Fine chains can elongate slightly over months of wear, particularly if they're regularly pulled. It's usually a millimetre or two and most people never notice. If yours has visibly grown, a studio can take a link out and re-weld it for far less than a new bracelet.

When to take it off

Rarely — but there are real cases. An MRI or any hospital procedure means it comes off, and it's much better to cut it yourself beforehand than to have it cut under time pressure at admission. MRIs, surgery and airport security.

Also take it off if the skin under it becomes irritated, and get the metal checked before putting anything back on.

If it breaks

Keep both ends. Most studios will re-weld a chain for a small fee, and if only a link or two is lost you're buying almost nothing. How to take it off safely.