Jewelry and Personal Care: What Really Harms Your Jewelry
Every morning the same routine: shower, cream, perfume, hair – and then jewelry. But precisely this order makes many pieces of jewelry unnecessarily old too quickly. This guide explains which body care products truly harm your jewelry – and what you can do about it.
Perfume: The Biggest Risk for Gold-Plated Jewelry
Perfume contains alcohol (typically 70–90%) – and alcohol is aggressive for many jewelry materials. Particularly affected:
- Gold-plated jewelry: Alcohol dissolves the adhesion of the gold layer to the base metal. The gold plating begins to oxidize and wears off more quickly.
- Pearls: Pearls are organic and porous – alcohol permanently destroys their luster.
- Certain gemstones: Soft stones (opal, turquoise, moonstone) can become dull due to alcohol vapors.
Solution: ALWAYS apply perfume BEFORE putting on jewelry – wait at least 5–10 minutes for the alcohol to evaporate. Never spray perfume directly onto jewelry.
Body Cream and Lotion: Gradual Tarnishing
Hand creams, body lotions, and sunscreens contain oils and waxes that settle in settings, chain links, and on metal surfaces. Result: The jewelry becomes dull and tarnished. Particularly problematic for pieces with stones – oils get trapped in open settings and make stones appear dull.
Solution: Allow creams to fully absorb into the skin (10 minutes) before putting on jewelry. After contact with oily substances: wipe off jewelry.
Hairspray and Hair Gel: Lacquered Jewelry
Hairspray contains polymeric substances that – when they land on metal – dry like a thin lacquer film. Necklaces are particularly at risk when hairspray is used. Residues make chains dull and glue settings shut.
Solution: Style your hair completely, then put on your jewelry. Never spray hairspray over your face/neck when wearing jewelry.
Sweat: Natural but Problematic
Human sweat is slightly acidic (pH 4–6) and contains salts. Gold-plated jewelry and silver react sensitively to prolonged sweat contact. For some people (acidic skin), the skin under copper-containing alloys turns greenish.
Solution: Always wipe off jewelry after wearing it when sweating. Take it off during very intense sports.
Household Cleaners: Absolute No-Go
Chlorine-based cleaners (Domestos, bleach), acetone-containing removers, and ammoniacal cleaners chemically attack many jewelry materials. Never clean or rinse with jewelry on – even if it's "just for a moment."
Particularly at risk: White gold rhodium plating (dissolves), gold-plated jewelry, soft stones, pearls.
The Correct Order for Putting On and Taking Off
Morning (Putting On): Shower → let cream absorb → finish hair → perfume → wait → then jewelry
Evening (Taking Off): Take off jewelry immediately before removing makeup/applying cream → wipe off jewelry → store
Caring for and Protecting Your Jewelry at Corelune Jewellery
With these tips, your Corelune Jewellery will remain beautiful for a long time. Good care is the best investment in your jewelry.
