Welded jewelry (sometimes called permanent jewelry) is the ultimate "put it on and forget about it" piece. There's no clasp to fumble with, no nightly ritual of taking it off...you wear it and you live your life as usual. But low maintenance isn't the same as zero maintenance. Since your welded piece is with you through showers, workouts, and everything in between, it's worth knowing what it can handle and what to skip. Here's your full guide to keeping your permanent jewelry looking as good as day one.
Welded Jewelry Care Basics
Our Spark collection is made up of custom-sized chains, laser-welded closed for a seamless, no-clasp look. They're built for long-term, everyday wear, which means they can handle real life like showers, hand washing, and the general chaos of your day. The care that actually matters comes down to two things: what touches your piece, and how often you're giving it a little love.
Can You Shower With Welded Jewelry?
Short answer: yes (it's actually the easiest way to keep it clean). If your piece is looking a little dull just wash it with soap and water while you're already in the shower and then pat it dry. Welded jewelry and shower time are basically best friends.
Will My Welded Jewelry Tarnish?
Solid gold and sterling silver tarnish naturally. The good news is, it can easily be buffed away with a polishing cloth. Goldfill and gold vermeil can get duller as they age but if you take good care of them they'll last a long time.
What to Watch Out For: Chlorine, Lotion, and Perfume
A few things are worth keeping your piece away from:
Chlorinated pools. Chlorine's active ingredient is corrosive to the alloys in gold jewelry, so submerging your piece isn't ideal. Planning a pool day? Cut your bracelet off beforehand at an easy spot to re-weld (a jump ring is perfect for this), then swing by one of our boutiques afterward to get it welded back on. Quick and no big deal.
Perfume and lotion. Skip applying these directly over your piece. The chemicals in most fragrances and lotions can wear down gold over time. Just give the area around your Spark piece a little breathing room.
Darkening. If your piece starts looking a bit dull or dark, a polishing cloth will bring the shine right back. Keep one in a drawer and give it a quick buff whenever it needs one.
What If You Need to Take It Off?
Life happens! An MRI, a medical procedure, unexpected allergy... Whatever the reason, sometimes it needs to come off. When it does, grab a pair of scissors and cut it yourself, ideally at a spot that's easy to re-weld later (again, a jump ring is your friend here). Whenever you're ready to put it back on, just walk into one of our boutiques and we'll take care of the rest.
Caring for Gemstones in Your Welded Jewelry
Got a piece with gemstones? A little extra care goes a long way! Gemstones vary in hardness and many coloured stones can fade or discolour with heavy exposure to sun, salt water, sweat, or chemicals like chlorine, cosmetics, and lotion.
Pearls are the divas of the gem world . They're soft, porous, and not into chemicals. Keep them away from lotion, perfume, and hairspray and never soak them in water (a shower is ok, just be sure to dry them thoroughly afterwards). A quick wipe with a soft cloth after wearing keeps them happy.
Opals actually hold water inside them, so they hate extreme heat and drying out. Skip the extra hot showers, hot tubs, and saunas, and don't put them anywhere near an ultrasonic cleaner. Lukewarm water (again, don't soak them) and a soft cloth is really all they want.
Sapphires are tough, a 9 out of 10 on the hardness scale, so they can handle most things just fine. The only thing that dulls them is soap buildup, so give them a warm water rinse with a little mild soap and a soft brush every so often to keep the sparkle up.
Moissanite & Diamond are very low-maintenance. Both are super durable and totally fine getting wet, but lotion and oil residue can leave them looking a little foggy over time. A quick dip in warm water with a drop of dish soap, plus a gentle scrub with a soft toothbrush, brings the shine right back.
Quick Cheat Sheet
Totally fine:
- Showering with your piece on
- Washing with soap and water
- Polishing with a cloth when it darkens
- Cutting and re-welding before chlorine exposure or a medical procedure
Better to avoid:
- Submerging in chlorinated water
- Applying perfume or lotion directly over your piece
- Rough handling
Welded Jewelry Care: FAQs
Will my welded jewelry tarnish? Give it the basics, keep it away from chlorine and harsh chemicals, polish it when it needs it, and your piece will look great through everyday wear. If your solid gold or sterling silver tarnish, just polish it off!
Can I re-weld my own piece at home? Nope, that one's for us. Re-welding should always happen in-boutique so you get a seamless result every time.
What if I need a re-weld? Just walk into any of our boutiques, our team's got you!
Got more questions about caring for your Spark piece? Walk into one of our boutiques anytime, or book your next Spark Studio appointment and add something new to your everyday stack.