Stainless Steel Bijoux

Living with stainless steel jewelry: what to expect over the years

Steel jewelry is bought to be worn, not kept in a box. This page is about what happens after you buy it: how bare steel and plated steel age, what water does and does not do, and the few habits that keep a piece looking right. Everything we make is stainless steel or titanium steel, a stainless steel alloy, so the advice applies to the whole line.

Bare steel and plated steel age differently

If low maintenance is the priority, choose bare steel. The braided titanium steel chain and the titanium steel wheat chain are bare, with no layer to wear.

Water: what is fine, what to watch

• Shower: fine. Soap can leave a film; rinse and dry.
• Gym and sweat: fine. Wipe it after a session.
• Sea: fine. Rinse in clean water afterward to remove salt.
• Pool: fine. Rinse afterward; chlorine is what wears a plating fastest.
• Perfume and cologne: spray it first, let it dry, then put the jewelry on.

A simple routine

Once a week, or after the beach, rinse your pieces in warm water with a drop of mild soap, rinse again, and dry with a soft cloth. For stone-set pieces, like the tennis bracelet with cubic zirconia, a soft toothbrush clears the space around the stones. Store pieces apart, hung or flat, so links do not rub or knot.

Snake chains and fine chains

Two shapes need a little more attention. Snake chains can kink if folded hard; see our snake chain care page. Very fine chains, 1.2 to 1.5 mm, tangle more easily: close the clasp before storing them.

When something goes wrong

A clasp that will not close or a link that opens is a defect, and every piece carries a 1-year warranty against defects. If a piece is simply not right for you, you have 30 days to return it, and shipping is free on orders over $60. To start choosing, our men's chains guide is the best entry point.