What is Waterproof Jewellery and Is it Worth the Hype?

Is Waterproof Jewellery Worth the Hype?

With Summer in full swing, I thought it was time to take a closer look at waterproof jewellery as it is hard to ignore at the moment.   Social media is flooded with bold claims of ‘life proof’ jewellery, but what is waterproof jewellery and does it really live up to the claims?

What is Waterproof Jewellery?

Waterproof jewellery is made using Physical Vapour Deposition, which is a thin coating of metallic particles applied to the jewellery in a vacuum chamber.  This coating is highly durable and scratch resistant, improving the durability of the jewellery.  The coating is generally applied to stainless steel.

What are the Benefits of Waterproof Jewellery?

With lifetime colour warranties and claims that the jewellery ‘will never tarnish’ and that it is ‘designed to last a lifetime’, it’s hard not to take notice.   Jewellery that you never have to take off sounds too good to be true, right?  Waterproof, sweat proof, beach proof, pool proof, perfume and lotion proof….what’s not to like?

Jewellery that lasts a lifetime is a bold claim, so let’s take a closer look…

Is Waterproof Jewellery Just a Marketing Gimmick?

While it is true that PVD coating is up to 10x more durable than regular gold plating, it is not actually designed to last a lifetime.  All jewellery will show signs of wear over time, including jewellery marketed as waterproof and life proof.

What is interesting is that when you search for the care information on these brand websites (not aways easy to find), some of them actually tell you that it is ‘vital to adhere to specific maintenance guidelines’ and to ‘limit contact with cosmetics, perfumes and body products’ and to ‘avoid contact with chlorine’, which appears to go against their bold marketing claims.   This is because perfumes, sweat, cleaning products, salt water and UV rays will all degrade the PVD coating and cause colour fade. 

It is also worth noting that a lot of emphasis seems to be placed on the fact that stainless steel is recyclable.  However, this is no longer the case once it has been gold plated.

How Long Does Waterproof Jewellery Really Last?

On average, waterproof jewellery will last 1-3 years, perhaps a little longer if you are careful, so not quite the lifetime promised by some brands.  Being careful would also mean limiting exposure to the things that the jewellery is supposed to withstand - salt water, chlorine, sweat, lotions etc.

Is Waterproof Jewellery Worth the Investment? 

Waterproof jewellery is not immune to everyday wear and tear, contrary to the bold marketing claims.  It will most likely tarnish eventually, especially where it rubs against your skin.  This is an important consideration as waterproof jewellery is generally marketed as hypoallergenic, but it is important to remember that waterproof jewellery is gold plated jewellery, which is not necessarily hypoallergenic.  Once the hypoallergenic PVD coating starts to wear away where it is in contact with your skin, it could cause a reaction for some people, depending on the base metal and the gold alloy used. 

While waterproof jewellery absolutely serves a purpose, it seems that it most likely does not live up to the impressive sounding marketing claims made.  Given the prices of some of these pieces, it is worth questioning whether or not they are actually worth the investment.  Sterling silver, gold vermeil and gold fill jewellery are all likely to be more durable if looked after properly, therefore making them a better long term investment.

So, is Waterproof Jewellery Worth the Hype?

On balance, probably not.  The marketing claims are impressive, but PVD is not designed to last a lifetime, whatever claims to the contrary are made.  If you are looking for your jewellery to last a lifetime, you will need to take proper care of it, regardless of whether it is marketed as waterproof or not.  Sterling silver, solid gold and gold fill are much more likely to go the distance with proper care.