Summer’s here and whether you’re beach-bound or going on a city break all that heat, sweat, sunscreen and salt can play rough with your favourite pieces.
Don’t worry this isn’t a plea to keep your treasures tucked away all summer. You didn’t buy them to hide in a drawer. This is your guide to wearing them well, weathering the season, and helping them age beautifully.
With the right jewellery care tips for summer, your favourite handmade and alternative pieces will stay strong and striking no matter how hot things get.
I’m sure you’re like me in that you prefer the coolness of Autumn and your jewellery is no different! These hot summer days mean sweat and skin oils build up fast — and that can cause your copper jewellery to react more quickly, tarnish, or leave a green tint.
This is totally normal and not dangerous at all! Copper is part of us. We need it to live, and we even have it in our blood (hence the metallic taste).
Copper has a natural oxidation process which is just part of copper being its wonderfully moody self. It will naturally darken over time.
If you love the lived-in look, leave it. If you’d rather keep things cleaner, you can use a simple recipe which can bring back the shine.
That being said if your copper is already darkened or patinated (if you’re not sure, just message me) don’t use the lemon juice method as it will remove the gorgeous moody dark colour.
If you love the hint of copper but are worried about the tarnish and tint then you can always try the mixed metal look like my memento mori skull rings with a cute copper skull on a sterling silver band.
Between SPF, seawater and sunbathing on the beach your jewellery’s getting an adventure of its own. These elements can dull shine, speed up tarnish and wedge grit into delicate crevices.
I personally don’t recommend wearing any jewellery in the pool or sea. But if you simply can’t be apart from your jewellery and it’s been in contact with chlorine or salt water make sure you rinse it gently with clean water and dry thoroughly. Saltwater and chlorine are two of the biggest culprits behind jewellery damage in summer.
✨ Quick tips ✨
Apply sunscreen and let it sink in before putting on jewellery.
Avoid wearing pieces into pools or the sea — chlorine and saltwater can be especially harsh.
Wipe your jewellery down at the end of the day with a clean, dry cloth. Like you would your sunglasses.
Jewellery does like heat and humidity any more than we do. Leaving it in direct sunlight or a steamy bathroom can mess with metals and gemstones alike.
Store it like a vampire would: – Cool – Dark – Dry
It’s even better kept it in the skull emblazoned box or silky pouch you received when you bought it. My packaging products do not contain tarnish-accelerating chemicals, so your jewellery stays tarnish-free for longer. Bonus points for anti-tarnish strips which you can get from most jewellery supply stores.
Tarnish is natural, especially with silver and copper. If your jewellery starts to look dull or darkens in places, don’t panic.
For silver and copper pieces, especially those with an oxidised finish, use gentle jewellery care methods to avoid stripping their unique character. On my dedicated caring for your jewellery page, I explain a simple lemon and salt method to brighten your copper pieces again. Don’t use this method on already darkened/oxidised copper.
Try using a soft polishing cloth with warm water and a tiny dab of mild soap. This works wonders! Then pat the item dry with a soft towel. I do have special silver polishing cloths too so drop me a line if you’d like one with your next order. Just a note that these shouldn’t be used with copper.
Finally, a plea! Avoid toothpaste or those baking soda memes. They’re too abrasive and will strip away textures and finishes, especially on oxidised pieces.
Here’s the truth: jewellery that’s worn will change. That’s part of the charm.
Even oxidised copper will change with time. A high-shine finish might dull. Tiny scratches may appear and they should. These marks tell your story.
I offer a jewellery repair and cleaning service if you’d like to restore the piece to how it was when you first bought it.
“Your jewellery will weather the heat, the storms, and the dance floors with you and come out better for it.”
Your pieces were made to be worn. With just a little care, they’ll stay bold and beautiful like you through every summer.
All my order are sent with a card with really useful hints and tips on caring for your jewellery. I also have a jewellery care document you can download from my website.
If you’re not sure how to care for a specific piece, feel free to drop me a message. I’m always happy to help keep your jewellery as lovely as the day you chose it.
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