May 23, 2018

Hot Holiday Jewellery – all your questions answered about swimming, water resistance and cruise jewellery

For lots of us, the count down to our summer holiday has begun, but what jewellery to wear? While you want to look fabulous in your photos, you may not want to risk taking your most valuable jewellery that could easily be lost, stolen or damaged. This guide will answer common questions about caring for your jewellery and selecting styles to suit warmer climates.

Clever Solutions to your Holiday Jewellery Conundrums

1. Can I swim in my jewellery?

Swimming – So you’ve bought a gorgeous new bikini for the poolside, but will your jewellery also look fabulous after being dipped in chlorinated water and baked in the sun? Most gold and platinum jewellery with precious gems such as diamond and sapphire would be ok, however more absorbent gems such as opal, turquoise and pearl may discolour and be permanently damaged. Silver jewellery can be unpredictable, as chlorine is known to react with silver making it darken, so the levels in the pool may or may not react with your jewellery. If your jewellery does darken, it is an oxidation process on the surface, which can be removed with specialist anti tarnish products. Pearls should not be worn in the pool. Both salt water and chlorinated water can be corrosive, so as a precaution its always best to rinse your jewellery with fresh water and dry carefully.

2. What about Pearl Jewellery?

Pearl jewellery – Suncream, insect repellent, fake tan, perfume and body lotions all contain chemicals which can dissolve the nacre of the pearl and destroy the lustre leaving them discoloured and dull. The best advise is to avoid spraying any of these directly onto your pearl jewellery, and if you do wear any of these products try to apply to areas where your jewellery won’t touch or allow them to be absorbed fully into you skin before wearing your jewellery. If you forget, gently wipe your pearl with a mild cleansing product and then with water and dry fully. Swimming in a chlorinated pool is a definite one to avoid, and even salt water could affect the silk thread or the glue used in fixing some pearls.

3. Can I swim in my watch? Is water resistant the same as waterproof?

Most modern watches are labelled as water resistant but very few are waterproof, so may have a further degree of water resistance expressed in Bar, ATM or Metres, but what does this actually mean? If a watch is labelled as ‘water resistant’ it should withstand humidity, sweat, raindrops, occasional splashes etc from daily use, but not swimming, showering or immersion in water. If your watch has a water resistance of 50ATM it may be suitable for surface swimming. Higher resistance is needed for water sports, snorkelling and bathing. If you plan to scuba dive in your watch then you will need a watch specifically designed for diving, that can withstand prolonged periods underwater. Do not confuse depth rating with how deep underwater a watch can go, as it’s a measurement of pressure from laboratory tests. It is always best to consult your brands website or your watches guarantee/manual as different brands can have different recommendations. Water resistance relies on correct care, so you would need to have a regular servicing including batteries changed by the manufacture to keep your watch’s guarantee intact. Most jewellers will change a battery but cannot guarantee the water resistance as specialist equipment is required for pressure testing. Both salt water and chlorinated water can be corrosive, so as a precaution its always best to rinse your watch with fresh water and dry carefully. Extreme temperatures can damage the delicate mechanism of a watch, so avoid leaving it out in the sun or wearing in saunas etc.

4. Is my jewellery covered on my holiday insurance?

This question can only be answered by reading your policy thoroughly. Most holiday insurance policies have some protection, but coverage for lost or stolen items often has a per-item limit as well as a maximum pay-out limit, which may not cover your jewellery. It is worth consulting your home insurance policy as this may cover your jewellery when you are travelling but do check the terms thoroughly. Higher value items often need to be specifically listed on your home insurance policy, so it is vital that you have an up to date valuation, so if the worst happened you can get the full value back. For more information of Valuations, click here

5. I’m worried I will lose my jewellery in the swimming pool or have it stolen from a hotel room, but I don’t want to wear cheap and nasty jewellery?

Welcome to world of Cruise Jewellery! This has become a term some of our best customers have used for our gorgeous range of Silver and Cubic Zirconia Jewellery. Cruises and holidays are the perfect environment to really get dressed up and look fabulous, so with this range you can have the look of diamond and white gold, but with prices that start from £10, with most items under £50. It’s the perfect solution to looking fabulous in the evening and not worrying about leaving valuable and sentimental jewellery in your hotel room while out sightseeing by day.

The huge range available at Newman’s, is crafted from Sterling Silver, and takes inspiration from the most stylish precious jewellery that adorns our diamond displays. Unlike costume jewellery, it is produced to a high-quality standard, made from 925 Silver, with most pieces also Rhodium Plated to avoid the silver tarnishing and give the same appearance as white gold. By using precious metals rather than base metals the chances of an allergic reaction (that could spoil your holiday) are greatly reduced.

Our ‘Cruise’ jewellery uses the same manufacturing methods as fine jewellery, so the stones are claw set or channel set rather than glued, so you they don’t discolour or fall out after minimal wear. The stones used are Cubic Zirconia (CZ), which is man-made diamond replica, which is perfectly clear, with high brilliance and fire, and although not as hard a diamond, it is tougher than paste stones. Cubic Zirconia can be produced in a full spectrum of colours, so we have collections that closely mimic Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald and Tanzanite. The shapes are identical to popular cuts of diamond, so we have Round Brilliant, Princess, Baguette and Emerald cuts.

The range includes subtle sparkle, with designs that look like our bestselling diamond engagement and eternity ring collections and small twinkly necklaces, classic ear studs and earrings. But the real benefit is that larger stones do not have the same massive price increase, so you can go large with elaborate designs that are real showstoppers. The gorgeous colours, means you could have that ‘tanzanite’ set of jewellery at a fraction of the price or perhaps a pair of 1ct ‘diamond’ earrings?
Currently our Silver range is only available to buy in store at Newmans at Gold Arts in Brighton. Call us in store for enquiries on 01273 324 318 or email info@goldartsonline.co.uk