Jewelry Care Guide

Made to Be Lived In

Your jewelry should be part of your life—not something you're afraid to wear.

At Le Golden Boy, we choose materials for their beauty, quality, and durability, with 14K Gold-Filled and .925 Sterling Silver serving as our core Le Golden Boy Standards. With the right care, your pieces are designed to be worn, loved, and enjoyed for years.

That said, even high-quality jewelry isn't indestructible. Water, chlorine, salt, chemicals, skincare products, friction, and even your individual body chemistry can affect different materials over time.

The most important rule is simple:

Your jewelry is only as water-safe as its most delicate component.

A Gold-Filled necklace may handle fresh water beautifully, for example, but if that necklace contains freshwater pearls or a water-sensitive stone such as malachite, follow the care instructions for the more delicate material.

The Golden Rules ✨

A little care goes a long way toward keeping your favorite pieces looking their best.

Your jewelry is only as water-safe as its most delicate component. A Gold-Filled necklace may handle fresh water beautifully, but if it contains freshwater pearls or a water-sensitive stone such as malachite, follow the care instructions for the more delicate material.
Fresh water and chlorine are not the same thing. A piece that handles showering beautifully may still need to come off before the pool.
Take your jewelry off before pools and hot tubs. Chlorine and other chemicals can affect even high-quality metals.
When in doubt, take it off before the ocean. Salt, sand, sunscreen and prolonged exposure can all affect jewelry.
Jewelry goes on after your products. Let lotions, sunscreen, fragrance, hairspray and skincare absorb or dry before putting on your jewelry.
Don't clean jewelry with household chemicals. Bleach and other cleaning products can cause rapid and sometimes permanent damage.
Clean gently. A soft microfiber cloth is your safest everyday option. Use specialized polishing products only when appropriate for the specific material.
Store with care. Keep pieces dry and separated when possible to reduce scratching, tangling and unnecessary friction.
If something looks unusual, stop wearing or cleaning it and contact us. We'd rather help you determine what's happening before additional damage occurs.

The Quick Guide

MATERIAL	FRESH WATER	OCEAN / SALT WATER	CHLORINE POOL/HOT TUB	KEY CARE CONSIDERATION
Gold-Filled — Le Golden Boy Standard ✨	✅ Generally fine	❌ Avoid	❌ Avoid	Chemicals can damage or discolor the bonded gold surface
Sterling Silver .925 — Le Golden Boy Standard ✨	✅ Generally fine; dry thoroughly	⚠️ Best to remove	❌ Avoid	Oxidation is natural and can typically be cleaned and polished
14K / 18K Solid Gold	✅ Excellent	⚠️ Best to remove	⚠️ Best to remove	Chlorine can affect the metals alloyed with gold over time
Stainless Steel	✅ Excellent	⚠️ Rinse & dry afterward	⚠️ Best to remove	Highly durable and corrosion-resistant, but prolonged chemical and salt exposure should still be avoided
Gold-Plated Stainless Steel	⚠️ Limit prolonged exposure	❌ Avoid	❌ Avoid	The stainless-steel base is durable, but the gold plating can fade or wear
Rhodium-Plated Sterling Silver .925	⚠️ Generally fine; dry afterward	❌ Avoid	❌ Avoid	Rhodium helps protect the silver, but the plating can gradually wear
Freshwater Pearls	⚠️ Brief contact only	❌ Avoid	❌ Avoid	Organic and delicate; avoid soaking, chemicals, perfume and abrasion
Cubic Zirconia	✅ Stone generally tolerates water*	⚠️ Best to remove	❌ Best to avoid	Follow the care requirements of the metal and setting surrounding the stone
Natural Stones & Crystals	⚠️ Depends on the stone	❌ Best to remove	❌ Avoid	Different minerals require different care
Malachite + Porous / Water-Sensitive Stones	❌ Avoid	❌ Avoid	❌ Avoid	Keep dry; never soak or use chemical cleaners

*The care requirements of the entire piece—not just the stone—should always be followed.

Know Your Materials

14K Gold-Filled ✨

A Le Golden Boy Standard

14K Gold-Filled is one of our signature materials because it gives you the look and feel of gold with significantly greater durability than conventional gold plating, while remaining more attainable than solid gold.

Gold-Filled jewelry is created by mechanically bonding a substantial layer of real gold to a base metal. Qualifying Gold-Filled material commonly contains 1/20, or 5%, gold by total weight.

How to wear it

Fresh water: Generally fine. Showering and normal fresh-water exposure should not be a problem for most Gold-Filled pieces.

Ocean / salt water: Remove before swimming. Salt, minerals, sunscreen and other products can affect the finish over time.

Pools & hot tubs: Remove before entering. Chlorine and other pool chemicals can react with jewelry metals and cause discoloration or damage.

Sweat & exercise: Generally fine. After heavy sweating, wipe or rinse the piece with fresh water and dry it thoroughly.

Chemicals: Avoid household cleaners, bleach, chemical jewelry cleaners and other harsh substances.

Sterling Silver .925 ✨

A Le Golden Boy Standard

Sterling Silver is a precious-metal alloy consisting of 92.5% pure silver, with the remaining 7.5% composed of other metals that provide additional strength and durability.

Sterling silver naturally oxidizes over time. This does not mean your jewelry is defective. In most cases, it can be cleaned and polished to restore its original brightness.

If you choose to shower in your sterling silver, we generally recommend continuing to wear it rather than removing it while wet and leaving it to sit. From our experience, regularly worn sterling silver tends to stay brighter, while damp silver left unworn may oxidize more quickly. Individual body chemistry and environment can also affect how quickly sterling silver oxidizes.

How to wear it

Fresh water: Generally fine. If you regularly shower in your sterling silver, you can continue wearing it. If you remove it while wet, dry it thoroughly before storing.

Ocean / salt water: Best to remove.

Pools & hot tubs: Avoid. Chlorine can react strongly with sterling silver and cause significant discoloration.

Sweat & exercise: Generally fine, although individual body chemistry can affect how quickly your silver oxidizes.

Cleaning: Use a polishing cloth designed for sterling silver when needed. For a deeper clean, contact us before using chemical jewelry cleaners, particularly if your piece contains pearls, natural stones, plating or other materials.

Remember: Oxidation is a natural characteristic of sterling silver—not an indication of poor quality. With proper care and occasional polishing, your piece can be restored to its beautiful silver finish.

Solid 14K & 18K Gold

Solid gold is an excellent choice for clients who want jewelry they can wear frequently with minimal maintenance.

14K gold contains approximately 58.5% pure gold.
18K gold contains 75% pure gold.

The remainder consists of other metals that give the gold strength, color and durability.

How to wear it

Fresh water: Excellent.

Ocean / salt water: Solid gold handles water very well, but we still recommend removing your jewelry when possible.

Pools & hot tubs: Best to remove. Chlorine can affect the metals alloyed with gold over repeated or prolonged exposure. Hot tubs deserve particular caution because of their chemical environment and heat.

Everyday wear: Excellent. 14K in particular offers a great balance between gold content and durability.

Solid gold is extremely durable—but solid gold does not mean indestructible or chemical-proof.

Stainless Steel

We use stainless steel primarily in select rings and designs where strength and price are especially useful.

Stainless steel is highly corrosion-resistant and handles everyday wear and fresh water extremely well.

For longevity, we still recommend rinsing and thoroughly drying it after exposure to salt water and removing it before prolonged exposure to chlorine or hot tubs.

Gold-Plated Jewelry

Gold plating consists of a thin layer of gold applied over another metal.

For Le Golden Boy, the only pieces that are plated are select fashion rings, unless otherwise noted. This is one reason these rings are offered at a more accessible price point.

Because the gold exists primarily at the surface, plated jewelry requires more care than Gold-Filled or solid-gold jewelry. For this reason, we have specifically sourced Gold-Filled or Sterling Silver for our products.

Avoid water when possible and remove plated pieces before showering, swimming, exercising, or applying skincare and fragrance.

Plating will naturally wear over time, particularly on high-friction pieces such as rings.

Rhodium-Plated Sterling Silver

Some of our Sterling Silver pieces may receive a rhodium finish for additional brightness and resistance to oxidation.

The underlying material is still .925 Sterling Silver, but the rhodium itself is a plated surface and should be treated accordingly.

Avoid chlorine, salt water and harsh chemicals.

Do not aggressively polish rhodium-plated jewelry with an abrasive silver-polishing cloth, as repeated polishing can gradually remove the rhodium finish. Instead, gently clean it with a soft, non-abrasive cloth.

Pearls, Stones & Crystals

Freshwater Pearls

Freshwater pearls are natural, organic gems and should be treated more gently than metal jewelry.

Keep pearls away from:

Pools and hot tubs
Ocean water
Perfume and cologne
Hairspray
Lotions and skincare products
Household cleaners
Chemical jewelry cleaners
Prolonged soaking

A good rule for pearls is:

Last on. First off.

Put your pearls on after applying fragrance, skincare and hair products, and remove them before showering, swimming, exercising or sleeping.

After wearing them, gently wipe them with a soft cloth before storing.

Cubic Zirconia

Cubic Zirconia itself is relatively durable and generally tolerates fresh water well.

However, the CZ is only one component of your jewelry. Always follow the care instructions for the metal, plating, adhesive or setting surrounding the stone.

Lotions, oils and skincare products can also build up on the surface and reduce its sparkle.

Clean gently with a soft cloth and mild soap when appropriate for the surrounding materials.

Natural Stones & Healing Crystals

Natural stones are exactly that—natural. Their hardness, porosity, chemical composition and reaction to water vary considerably from one mineral to another.

For that reason, there is no universal "crystal care" rule.

When you're unsure, keep your natural stones dry.

Extra Care Stones

Some natural stones are particularly sensitive to water, chemicals, acids, heat or prolonged soaking.

Malachite, for example, should be kept dry and away from chemical cleaners and acidic substances.

Other porous, soft, treated or water-sensitive stones may require similar care.

Rather than relying on a stone's name—including whether it ends in "-ite"—check the care requirements for the specific stone in your piece.

When in doubt, ask us. We're happy to tell you exactly how to care for your Le Golden Boy piece.

Bring It Back to the Boys ✨

We never want you wearing Le Golden Boy jewelry that isn't looking its best.

Every Le Golden Boy piece comes with a complimentary annual jewelry check + refresh.

Bring your piece to one of our pop-ups or schedule a time with us, and we'll give it a little love. Your refresh may include:

Visual inspection
Light cleaning
Polishing, when appropriate for the material
Checking clasps, connections and other components
Identifying any areas that may need repair or additional care

Complimentary annual refreshes are available for the first two years from the original date of purchase and are intended for routine cleaning and maintenance. Services beyond routine care—including restringing, replacement components, repairs or accidental damage—may have an additional cost. If so, we'll always let you know before performing the work.

Have an older Le Golden Boy piece that needs some TLC? Bring it back to us and we'll take a look. We'll let you know what we recommend and whether there is any cost before performing additional service.

Love it. Live in it. And when it needs a little TLC, bring it back to the boys. ❤️

Love It. Live In It. Take Care of It.

We make Le Golden Boy jewelry to become part of your story. A little care goes a long way toward keeping your favorite pieces looking their best.

Not sure what your piece is made from or how to clean it?

Ask us before you clean it. We're always happy to help.