The term “tennis bracelet” was coined after the US Open tennis tournament in 1987 when the bracelet worn by Chris Evert, a famous women’s tennis champion, broke during her match. These bracelets are delicate, elegant, and expensive, so many owners keep them on to avoid losing them. But should you wear your diamond tennis bracelet in the shower?
You can’t shower with a diamond tennis bracelet because water, soaps, scrubs, and oils can damage its metals and stones. There’s also a risk of the bracelet falling off or breaking in the shower, in which case the diamonds might get washed down the drain.
In the rest of this article, I’ll explain the many ways a shower can damage your diamond tennis bracelets. I’ll also mention a few tips to keep your bracelet clean.
Why You Shouldn’t Wear Your Diamond Tennis Bracelet in the Shower
Diamond tennis bracelets are incredibly delicate. Besides diamonds, many use expensive base metals like gold, silver, or platinum, as well as other precious stones.
Showering with them on could scratch the metal or stones, ruin the bracelet’s shine, or even break it. The materials in the bracelet could also react badly with the oils and chemicals in your shower products.
The following issues could occur if you shower with your diamond tennis bracelet.
Your Diamond Tennis Bracelet Might Slip Off or Break
Diamond tennis bracelets have clasps meant to hold them in place, but there is a risk of the clasp coming loose due to vigorous scrubbing, making your bracelet fall off. Your wrist also becomes slippery from the soap, increasing the risk of the bracelet slipping off and falling down the shower drain.
Repeated showers could corrode the metals used to make the bracelet, causing it to break. This situation is even more serious, as it could lead to you losing parts of the bracelet.
Oil and Soap Residue Dulls the Diamond Tennis Bracelet
Repeatedly exposing your diamond tennis bracelet to heavily fragranced soap causes the accumulation of residue around the diamonds, which dulls the shine of your stones. The same residue builds up on your bracelet when you apply scented creams and lotions.
When left to accumulate, the residue is hard to remove, especially if you have frequent showers. It is especially difficult to remove if it’s behind the diamond or in its setting. Plus, the heat from a shower also makes the body release oils.
These oils could also contribute to the buildup on your bracelet.
Exfoliation Damage Can Ruin the Diamonds
While exfoliation is great for your skin, it’s not so helpful to diamonds.
The exfoliant in your body scrub can cause microscopic damage to your bracelet’s band and scratch its diamonds. The exfoliant can also break your bracelet’s clasp. Unfortunately, this form of wear and tear cannot be repaired even by a professional cleaner.
Salt Can Make the Bracelet Fade and Become Dull
Depending on your location, the water in your shower might have a high salt content. Salt is abrasive and acts like an exfoliant. The salt can scratch the bracelet and ruin its sparkle, leaving you with dull, lackluster diamonds.
Like oil and soap buildup, salt can also create a residue on your bracelet’s diamonds. If it remains too long, it leaves ugly stains that even professional cleaning services can’t remove.
Chemicals Cause Changes in the Bracelet’s Stone Color
There are many chemicals in soaps and shower gels. Some of these chemicals can react with the diamond in your bracelet and change its color, ultimately devaluing your bracelet and diminishing its beauty.
These chemicals can also react with the metals used to make your bracelet, ruining its purity and making it less valuable. While gold is safe from tarnishing, other metals like silver and copper are more prone to chemical damage.
How To Keep Diamond Tennis Bracelets Safe During a Shower
While I’ve explained why you shouldn’t wear your diamond tennis bracelet, you might be worried about forgetting where you have placed the bracelet and losing it while you shower.
To avoid losing your bracelet, get a jewelry holder for your bathroom. You can place the bracelet here when showering and wear it afterward. Consider buying a travel jewelry case that also fits in your purse, as this can keep your bracelet safe when swimming or at the gym.
How To Clean Your Diamond Tennis Bracelet
A common misconception is that showering with your diamond tennis bracelet will clean it. However, these bracelets usually require specialized cleaning, although there is a DIY cleaning process you can do at home.
Here are the steps to clean your bracelet at home:
- Place the bracelet in a solution of clean water and mild, fragrance-free soap. You can use mild dish soap or liquid soap.
- Soak the bracelet for as long as you need to loosen the caked dirt. If the bracelet is slightly dirty, 5-10 minutes should be enough. However, you can leave it for as long as 15-20 minutes if it’s really filthy.
- Use a toothbrush to gently scrub the bracelet. The soaking in the earlier step should have made the dirt soft enough to rub off. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to avoid scratching the diamonds.
- Pat the clean bracelet dry with a soft cloth. Don’t rub the bracelet dry, as the friction could cause scratches.
- To catch any loose, small diamonds, use a mesh strainer or thin cloth to strain the soap solution. If there are loose diamonds left in the solution, the strainer can catch them as you drain the water.
Conclusion
Wearing your diamond tennis bracelet in the shower can make it break or slip off. The chemicals and oils in regular shower products can also damage the stones and metals in the bracelet.
Many assume that wearing a diamond tennis bracelet in the shower is an easy way to clean it. However, this process can cause damage over time, devaluing your bracelet. If you need to clean your bracelet, you can use a gentle DIY mixture that doesn’t contain fragrances or harsh chemicals. Just leave it to soak for a few minutes and then gently pat it dry.
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