Common Jewelry Mistakes: I Wore My Jewelry the Wrong Way for Years, Until a Jeweler Told Me This

Jewelry reacts sensitively to various environmental influences, including sweat, humidity, and chemicals. It’s no secret that you shouldn’t wear your favorite pieces while cleaning, swimming, or gardening. But you should also use caution when applying serums or perfume if you want to enjoy your jewelry for a long time. Gold and silver jewelry can quickly become discolored by skin care and styling products, and pearls are also extremely sensitive to them. If you, understandably, don’t want to do without body lotion, hairspray, or hand cream, put on your jewelry after you’ve completed your morning routine to be on the safe side. Of course, jewelry is still an accessory that you should experiment with and have fun with. Just because you might risk a scratch doesn’t mean you have to leave your favorite pieces at home all the time. But I have also learned that taking good care of your jewelry and wearing it carefully prevents damage. And no piece of jewelry really deserves that—not even the huge statement necklace at the bottom of my jewelry box waiting for its return to the fashion trend cycle.