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How to wear your style even on vacation
When summer arrives, we carry with us a desire for lightness, light, and freedom. Maria e Luisa Jewels are created to accompany you even in your most authentic and spontaneous moments. But how should you handle the pool or the beach; does silver get ruined by saltwater?
Our 925 silver jewelry—handmade, burin-finished, and often embellished with natural stones—are artisanal creations designed to last over time. For this reason, they deserve a little extra care, especially in summer.
Silver and saltwater: what to know
Saltwater and sea humidity can accelerate the natural oxidation of silver. We use 925 silver or sterling silver—an alloy composed of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% copper or other metals—a choice that guarantees durability, workability, and quality. However, precisely because of the presence of these small percentages of complementary metals, 925 silver can be more prone to surface reactions in particularly humid or saline environments compared to pure silver.
Furthermore, many of our jewels undergo a refined burnishing process, an artisanal technique that enhances their engraved details and provides visual depth. This fascinating finish, rich in character, does not fear daily use—which actually enhances its luster—but it can be more delicate when in contact with agents like chlorine or salt. Prolonged exposure could alter its tone or reduce its intensity over time.
Extra care for gold vermeil jewelry
Some of our models are made of 18kt gold-plated 925 silver (gold vermeil). The plating is a thin layer of gold applied to the surface, which can tarnish or wear off more easily if exposed to seawater, chlorine, or abrasive agents. To preserve its brilliance and warm tone, we recommend avoiding immersion and always cleaning them gently upon your return.
For these reasons, we generally recommend avoiding direct contact with seawater or chemical products, sunscreens, or tanning lotions. But you can break the rules occasionally, especially on vacation! Follow our tips to understand how to treat your jewelry at the beach.
Jewelry at the beach: here are our tips
Take your Maria e Luisa Jewels to the beach as much as you like; we just have a few guidelines depending on which model you are wearing. There are collections that are best not worn in the water, and others that can accompany you everywhere:
If you are wearing a piece of delicate silver jewelry from the Petit Collection or the Shri Collection, without pearls, you can keep it on at the beach and even in the water, just follow these small rules:
- When applying sunscreen, it is better to take off your jewelry first, wait for it to be well absorbed, and then put them back on.
- If you are sweating a lot, it is better to take off your jewelry, rinse it with fresh water, and pat it dry.
- Be careful with grains of sand, rocks, or stones; they could scratch the surface of the natural stones.
- After swimming in the sea or pool, rinse them with fresh water as soon as you get out and let them dry.
- If you plan on sunbathing for hours, it might be more comfortable to tan without jewelry, avoiding contact with sweat as well as avoiding tan lines.
Discover the selection of jewelry for summer.
There is, however, a type of jewelry that does not like water and whose components could be damaged if worn while swimming. Discover them below.
Which jewelry you can take to the beach, but only up to the shore
The general rule of taking your jewelry everywhere with you does not apply if you are wearing jewelry with complex manufacturing, bombé designs, snap closures, or pearls.
- Avoid immersing contrarié silver and gold bracelets in water; their opening and closing mechanisms could be damaged.
- If you are wearing a bombé, cabochon, or chain-link model, we recommend leaving it under the umbrella before swimming; water could get trapped in the engraved structures of the jewelry for too long and damage it.
- If you are wearing pearl jewelry from the Pura collection, we invite you to be even more careful, as natural pearls are very sensitive to all the possible contaminants listed above. Pearls will be perfect for the evening, on tanned skin, after a nice shower.
In short, for "shore-only" jewelry, the advice is simple: if you wear them to the beach, keep them safe before diving in. There are no issues, however, for chatting under the umbrella, a sunset stroll, a barefoot aperitif, or a summer dinner under the stars.
How to take care of your jewelry every day
Maria e Luisa Jewels are created to last over time, and you can help them stay radiant with small periodic precautions. Discover how to clean the silver of our jewelry in our article dedicated to jewelry care.
Choosing Maria e Luisa means choosing a style that speaks of authenticity, but also of respect for what lasts. And every piece of jewelry, after all, is a fragment of beauty to carry with you—even on vacation. The sea is an invitation to freedom; your Maria e Luisa jewelry deserves to accompany you—always.
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