It’s one of the most common questions I get from people that have purchased jewelry from Serenity in Chains.
“Can I shower in my jewelry?”
I get it, taking your jewelry off and putting it back on every day just to shower can be a hassle. Not only does it take time and dexterity, you might accidentally misplace it in the process, never to see your beloved piece again.
Or, as is the case with most of my clients, your lifestyle prohibits that you remove your jewelry (such as with our locking bdsm collars).
Whatever the case may be, you simply want to hop in the shower and get clean, jewelry and all. However, is it safe? Will showering in your jewelry damage it? Will introducing water to your beloved Serenity in Chains design cause tarnish, corrosion and other awful things?
Will your little piece of joy be destroyed?
Like most things in life, it’s not a simple answer.
Most jewelry, ours included, is made of metal. Depending on the type of metal, your jewelry will react differently when introduced to your daily dose of water.
Can I shower in my Stainless Steel jewerly?
Take Stainless steel jewelry for instance. Did you know not all stainless steel is created equal? It’s true. I wrote a blog post about different types of stainless steel.
Some stainless steels are 100% ok to shower in, and react little or not at all to water. However, cheap steel jewelry (like the stuff you get at most BIG BOX Retail stores, and even some designers) will rust nearly instantly when exposed to water.
The good news is that Serenity in Chains doesn’t use cheap rusting stainless steel. Our stainless jewelry doesn’t rust or tarnish making it perfect for showering.
Can I shower in my Nickel based jewelry?
Nickel based or plated jewelry has a complex relationship with water. Nickel is inexpensive, and has a lovely shiny silver color reminiscent of more expensive metals. It’s what most cheap, fashion jewelry is made of.
Alone, nickel is fine to shower with. However, nickel is often mixed with other metals to create an even cheaper alloy, or used as a more durable plating for things like brass. These other metals can be nefarious when it comes to water, so it’s best to avoid getting them wet to be safe.
If you HAVE to shower with your nickel piece, such as a small collar lock, make sure you pat it dry thoroughly after. This will help slow down or stop any adverse reactions due to contact with water.
Can I shop in my Copper jewelry, Brass jewelry, or Bronze jewelry?
Copper, Brass, and Bronze are another metal you may want to be cautious about showering in. Depending on the acidity and mineral content of your water, you could end up with discolored, stinky, and even pitted jewelry. It’s best to suck it up, and take these off before playing in the rain.
Can I shower in my Sterling Silver jewelry?
Sterling Silver is a metal loved for it’s shining beauty, but it can be a prickly metal. The status symbol of sterling silver is often balanced by it’s ability to tarnish in the blink of an eye, turning dull or black with a mildly unpleasant aroma. Why? Copper.
Yep, you read that right.
Copper is what causes Sterling to tarnish. Sterling silver is an alloy, a mixture of pure silver and copper (and other metals) giving it a hardness that pure silver alone lacks. The good news is, wearing your sterling silver jewelry consistently and even showering with it (unless it’s “antiqued”, in which case ignore this next bit) will help it maintain it’s shining luster. Just make sure to pat it thoroughly dry afterwards, as lingering moisture can cause all sorts of problems.
If your sterling is “antiqued” meaning it has a shiny black look to it, avoid getting it wet. That lovely gunmetal color is a controlled tarnish, and it can be damaged by deposits in your pipes and harsh soaps and cleaners.
Can I shower in my Gold jewelry?
Gold is another metal that has a tricky relationship with water. Depending on the quality of the gold, and the color (Green, Rose, Red, White, and Yellow), water may or may not be problematic. So my expert advice for gold is… well… treat it like Gold! Remove it before showering or coming into contact with water. It’s simply better to be safe, than sorry with this highly expensive metal.
Aluminum, Niobium, Titanium jewelry and the shower…
And then there are metals like Aluminum, Niobium, and Titanium. Let me sum up these three metals’ relationship with water: They give no fucks. Aluminum, Niobium, and Titanium are non-reactive when it comes to a dunk in H2O. They don’t rust, they don’t tarnish, and they don’t get funky smells. They just chug along, looking amazing.
So strip down, lather up, and grab your favorite rubber ducky!
