Quick truth: waterproof jewelry is built to handle showers, swimming pools, and the ocean. But "waterproof" isn't the same as "indestructible." Treat it right and a piece that costs you £36 in a five-piece edit will look new in five years. Treat it wrong and you'll dull the finish in months — even with the best 316L surgical steel core.
This is what we tell every OLYMP'D customer who DMs us asking how to take care of their pieces. Five rules, in order of how much they actually matter.
1. Put it on last. Take it off first.
The single biggest mistake we see: spraying perfume after putting on a gold necklace. Hairspray, body lotion, cleansers, and most fragrances contain alcohol and surfactants that don't tarnish 18K PVD gold immediately — but they leave a residue that dulls the surface over time. The fix is dead simple: get fully ready first (hair, makeup, perfume, deodorant), then add jewelry as the last step. Reverse it at night.
2. Shower in it. Swim in it. Sleep in it. Just rinse it.
Yes — really. Our pieces are 100% waterproof. Chlorine, salt water, sweat, hot tubs — none of it touches the vacuum-bonded PVD coating. The only thing that builds up is residue: pool chemicals, mineral deposits from hard water, sunscreen film. After ocean swims or long beach days, rinse pieces under cool fresh water for 20 seconds and pat dry with a soft cloth. That's the whole maintenance routine.
Read the full Care Guide for product-specific tips on necklaces, rings, earrings, and bracelets.
3. Store pieces separately
The fastest way to scratch a finish isn't water — it's other jewelry rubbing against it in a drawer. Store rings in a soft pouch or lined ring box. Hang necklaces on hooks so chains don't tangle (tangled chains under tension can stretch and snap). Pair earrings together. If you travel, a small fabric jewelry roll is the move. Avoid throwing pieces into the bottom of a handbag — that's where the dings happen.
4. Skip the chemical cleaners
The internet will tell you to soak jewelry in toothpaste, vinegar, or ammonia. Don't. These work for solid gold and silver but they're far too harsh for PVD-bonded finishes. They'll strip the colour and there's no fixing it once it's gone. For OLYMP'D pieces, use cool water and a microfibre cloth. That's it. If a piece looks especially grimy after a workout or beach day, add one drop of fragrance-free hand soap to the water. Rinse fully, dry fully.
5. The Lifetime Colour Guarantee exists for a reason
Here's the part most brands won't tell you: even with perfect care, edge cases happen. A piece can get caught on a zipper. A bracelet clasp might fail at six months. Plating defects are extremely rare on PVD-coated steel, but they're not zero. That's why every OLYMP'D piece is backed for life by our Lifetime Colour Guarantee. If your piece ever fades, tarnishes, or fails through normal wear, we replace it. Send a photo to support@olympd.shop — no receipt needed.
The 30-second weekly routine
Once a week, while you're brushing your teeth: rinse your most-worn piece under cool water, dry it with a soft cloth, lay it on a clean surface for two minutes, then put it back on. Done. That's all the care most pieces need to look new for years.
Want to start a collection that actually lasts? Browse the Most Wanted edit — our bestsellers across necklaces, rings, earrings, and bracelets — or shop the full edit. Every piece is built on the same 316L surgical steel + 18K PVD gold or brushed silver promise.