Is Memorial Jewellery Waterproof? How to Protect Your Keepsake
It’s one of the questions I get asked most often, and it’s a completely understandable one: can I wear my memorial jewellery in the shower? What about swimming? Will it get damaged if it gets wet?
The honest answer is: it depends. It depends on the metal, the resin, the finish, and how the piece was made. And because memorial jewellery holds something irreplaceable — ashes, hair, fur, flowers, fabric — it’s worth understanding exactly how to protect it.
In this guide I’ll walk you through everything you need to know: which pieces are more water-resistant, which should never get wet, what happens if they do, and how to care for your keepsake so it lasts a lifetime. I’ll also share the care routine I recommend to every Lovely Oxford customer.
The Short Answer: Memorial Jewellery Is Not Waterproof
No memorial jewellery — from any maker — should be described as fully waterproof. Even the most durable metals and the highest-quality resins are not designed for prolonged or repeated water exposure.
That said, there’s a big difference between not waterproof and fragile. A well-made piece of memorial jewellery is robust, durable, and designed to be worn every day — it just needs a little care around water.
The key rule is simple: remove your memorial jewellery before swimming, showering, bathing, or doing the washing up. Make it a habit, and your piece will stay beautiful for decades.
Why Water Is a Risk for Memorial Jewellery
To understand why water matters, it helps to understand how memorial jewellery is made.
At Lovely Oxford, most of our pieces contain inclusions — ashes, hair, fur, flowers, or fabric — sealed inside resin. The resin is hand-poured, UV-cured, and set into a metal setting. Here’s what water can do to each element:
Resin
High-quality resin is water-resistant in the short term — a splash or brief contact with water won’t cause immediate damage. But prolonged or repeated exposure to water, especially hot water, can cause resin to cloud, yellow, or develop a surface haze over time. Chlorinated water (swimming pools) and salt water (the sea) are particularly damaging and should always be avoided.
Metal Settings
The metal your piece is set in makes a significant difference:
- Sterling silver — water itself won’t damage sterling silver, but repeated exposure accelerates tarnishing. Chlorine and salt water can cause pitting and discolouration. Our sterling silver memorial rings and necklaces are made to last, but they’ll stay brighter and more beautiful if kept dry.
- 9ct and solid gold — gold is the most water-resistant precious metal and won’t tarnish. However, even gold pieces should be removed before swimming in chlorinated or salt water, as these can damage the resin inclusion. Browse our solid gold memorial jewellery collection for our most durable pieces.
- Gold-filled — more durable than gold-plated, but still best kept away from prolonged water exposure to preserve the finish.
- Stainless steel — the most water-resistant base metal we use. Stainless steel won’t rust or tarnish, making it a good choice for everyday wear. However, the resin inclusion still needs protection from prolonged water exposure.
The Inclusions Themselves
This is the most important consideration. The ashes, hair, fur, flowers, or fabric inside your piece are sealed within the resin — but they are not indestructible. If water were to penetrate the resin (through a crack, a chip, or a compromised seal), it could reach the inclusions and cause irreversible damage.
Because the inclusions in memorial jewellery are irreplaceable, this is the most compelling reason to keep your piece away from water. The metal can be polished. The resin can sometimes be repaired. But the ashes or hair inside cannot be replaced.
Which Types of Memorial Jewellery Are Most Vulnerable?
Resin Memorial Jewellery
Our most popular pieces — rings, pendants, and earrings with resin inclusions — are the most sensitive to water. The resin is durable and sealed, but it’s not designed for repeated water exposure. Keep these pieces dry.
Our memorial rings are designed to be worn every day — but every day means removing them before water activities. A small hook or dish by the sink makes this easy to remember.
Sterling Silver Pieces
Sterling silver is a beautiful, precious metal — but it tarnishes when exposed to moisture, chemicals, and even the air over time. Water accelerates this process. Our memorial necklaces and memorial earrings in sterling silver will stay bright and beautiful with simple care — but they should be removed before showering, swimming, or exercising.
Gold Memorial Jewellery
Our 9ct solid gold memorial pieces are the most durable option we offer. Gold doesn’t tarnish and is highly resistant to water — but the resin inclusion still needs protection. Remove gold pieces before swimming in pools or the sea.
Glass Lockets
Our glass locket pieces use stainless steel settings which are highly water-resistant — but the glass dome and any inclusions inside should be kept away from prolonged water exposure. Self-fillable lockets in particular should be kept dry to protect whatever is inside.
Flower Preservation Jewellery
Dried flowers sealed in resin are particularly sensitive. The flowers themselves are fragile, and while the resin seal protects them, any compromise to that seal — from impact, heat, or prolonged water exposure — could allow moisture in. Our flower keepsake pieces should always be kept dry.
What Happens If My Memorial Jewellery Gets Wet?
Don’t panic. A brief splash or accidental contact with water is unlikely to cause immediate damage to a well-made piece. Here’s what to do:
- Remove the piece immediately and pat it dry gently with a soft, lint-free cloth
- Do not use heat to dry it — no hairdryers, radiators, or direct sunlight. Heat can cause resin to expand and crack, or accelerate yellowing
- Leave it to air dry completely in a cool, dry place before storing or wearing again
- Check for any changes — cloudiness in the resin, tarnishing on the metal, or any signs that the seal may have been compromised
- Contact me if you notice anything concerning — get in touch and I’ll advise on next steps
If your piece has been submerged — in a swimming pool, the sea, or a bath — dry it thoroughly and inspect it carefully. Chlorine and salt are the most damaging, so if this has happened, contact me sooner rather than later.
The Lovely Oxford Care Routine
Here’s the care routine I recommend to every customer. It takes less than a minute and will keep your piece looking beautiful for years.
Daily
- Remove your piece before showering, bathing, swimming, or washing up
- Remove before exercising — sweat contains salts and acids that can affect both metal and resin over time
- Remove before applying perfume, hairspray, or lotions — chemicals in these products can dull resin and tarnish silver
- Put your jewellery on last when getting ready, and take it off first
Weekly
- Wipe your piece gently with a soft, dry cloth to remove any oils or residue from skin contact
- For sterling silver, a silver polishing cloth will keep it bright — use gently and avoid the resin surface
- Check the setting and resin for any signs of wear, chips, or cloudiness
Storage
- Store in a cool, dry place — away from direct sunlight, which can yellow resin over time
- Keep in the box or pouch your piece came in, or in a fabric-lined jewellery box
- Store pieces separately to avoid scratching — resin can be scratched by harder materials
- Avoid storing in a bathroom, where humidity is high
For the full care guide, see our dedicated jewellery care instructions page, and our blog post on how to care for memorial jewellery.
Can Memorial Jewellery Be Repaired If It Gets Damaged?
In some cases, yes. If the metal has tarnished, it can often be polished back to its original brightness. If the resin has developed surface cloudiness, it may be possible to buff it out carefully.
However, if the resin has cracked, chipped, or the seal has been compromised, this is more serious — particularly if the inclusions inside could be affected. In this case, please contact me directly as soon as possible. I will always do my best to help, and I’ll advise honestly on what’s possible.
This is also why I always return unused ashes or hair to you after making your piece — so that if the worst happens, you have a small reserve. See our FAQs for more information on this.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I wear my memorial ring in the shower?
We recommend removing it before showering. Hot water, steam, and shower products (shampoo, conditioner, soap) can all affect both the resin and the metal over time. It takes seconds to remove and will significantly extend the life of your piece.
Can I wear memorial jewellery swimming?
No — this is the situation we most strongly advise against. Chlorinated pool water and salt water are both damaging to resin and metal. Even a brief swim can cause long-term damage. Always remove your piece before entering any body of water.
Can I wear memorial jewellery in the sea?
No. Salt water is corrosive to both metal and resin. Remove your piece before going to the beach or swimming in the sea.
What about rain?
Brief exposure to rain is unlikely to cause damage — if your piece gets caught in a shower, simply dry it gently with a soft cloth as soon as possible. It’s prolonged or repeated water exposure that causes problems, not the occasional raindrop.
Can I wear memorial jewellery while washing my hands?
Occasional hand-washing is generally fine, though we’d recommend removing rings if possible. The main things to avoid are prolonged soaking and harsh soaps or sanitisers, which can dull the resin surface over time.
My piece has gone cloudy — what should I do?
Surface cloudiness on resin is often caused by water exposure, chemical contact, or UV light. In some cases it can be gently buffed out. Contact me and I’ll advise on the best approach for your specific piece.
Is gold memorial jewellery more water-resistant than silver?
Yes — gold doesn’t tarnish and is more resistant to water than sterling silver. Our 9ct solid gold memorial pieces are our most durable option. However, even gold pieces should be removed before swimming, as the resin inclusion still needs protection.
Choosing a Piece With Longevity in Mind
If you know you’re someone who struggles to remember to remove jewellery, it’s worth thinking about this when choosing your piece. Here are some options that offer greater durability:
- Solid gold settings — the most water-resistant metal we use, and the most durable long-term
- Stainless steel settings — used in our glass locket pieces, highly resistant to tarnishing and water
- Pendants rather than rings — necklaces are less likely to be submerged than rings worn on hands that go in water
- Earrings — less likely to come into contact with water than rings or bracelets
Whatever piece you choose, I’ll always include care instructions with your order. And I’m always here if you have questions — just get in touch.
A Note From Me
I make every piece as if it were for someone I love — because in a way, it always is. And part of that care is making sure you know how to look after it once it leaves my studio.
Memorial jewellery holds something irreplaceable. A little care — removing it before water, storing it properly, giving it an occasional gentle clean — is all it takes to keep it beautiful for a lifetime. And a lifetime is exactly how long it should last.
If you ever have any concerns about your piece, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly. I’m always happy to help.
You can also read more about Lovely Oxford and how I work, browse our frequently asked questions, or explore the full memorial jewellery collection.
Lovely Oxford is a handcrafted memorial jewellery studio based in South Oxfordshire, UK. Every piece is made by hand by Olja. We ship within the UK only. Get in touch with any questions — we’re always happy to help.