Have you ever seen a celebrity wearing a Van Cleef Black Onyx Bracelet and thought it was so beautiful, “I’ll wear it in the shower to stay refined”? Or perhaps you received this bracelet as a gift and couldn’t bear to take it off, even Can You Wear Van Cleef Black Onyx Bracelet in the Shower? But today, I must tell you: wearing this bracelet in the shower is actually ruining it! Below, I’ll explain the reasons in simple terms.
No. 1 Black Onyx: It Looks Hard, But It’s Actually Very Delicate!
Hot Water Can Burn It
Although black onyx feels hard, it has many small pores inside, just like a sponge. When showering at high water temperatures (generally over 40°C), these small holes will expand like balloons. Over time:
Tiny cracks will appear on the surface, much like the “hidden scratches” on dropped porcelain. They may not be visible at first, but will gradually become more noticeable.
A surface that was once as bright as a mirror will become foggy, as if covered in dust, and no matter how hard you scrub, it won’t shine.
Shower gel can corrode it.
While your shower gel and shampoo may be gentle on your skin, they act like chemical weapons to black agate. The ingredients in these detergents react with elements like iron and manganese in the agate, causing:
The black color will gradually fade, even turning grayish-brown, like bleached clothing.
The surface will become rough, no longer smooth, and feel like sandpaper.
Brand Warning: Van Cleef & Arpels has officially stated that materials like mother-of-pearl and black agate should be avoided with perfumes and body lotions. Shower gels contain even more chemicals than skincare, making them even more harmful!
No. 2 18K Gold Chains: Worry About Abrasion, Worse Than Peeling!
Gold-Plated Bracelets: They’ll “Show” After a Few Washes
If your van cleef black bracelet is electroplated with 18K gold (not solid gold), the hot water and chemicals in the shower will slowly peel away the outer layer of gold, like peeling an onion. At this point:
The exposed underlying metal will react with the chlorine and sulfur in the water, turning black, like rust;
Oxidation is difficult to repair, and the more you repair, the thinner the gold layer becomes, potentially leading to peeling.
User Test: A blogger conducted a comparative experiment, wearing both an electroplated gold bracelet and a solid gold bracelet in the shower. After a month, the electroplated gold bracelet’s clasp had developed green rust, while the solid gold bracelet shone with a simple polish.
Solid Gold Bracelets: They Can Also Be Damaged by Soaking
Even if your bracelet is made entirely of 18K gold, the hot water and chemicals in the shower can:
Make fingerprints and dirt more likely to stick to the metal surface, forming a gray film that won’t come off no matter how hard you wipe;
The clasp can become loose and easily lost due to thermal expansion and contraction, making it easy to lose.
No. 3 The “Cluster of Disasters” of Wearing a Bracelet in the Shower: From a single flower to an entire chain ruined!
Easy to Slip: Losses of tens of thousands of dollars in a single second!
Bracelets can fall down the drain in the shower for the following reasons:
Soap suds make the bracelet slippery against your skin, like lubricant;
When scrubbing or washing your hair, the bracelet can easily get caught on the towel or hair, causing it to fall off with a single tug.
A Humid Bathroom: Bracelets Can Get Moldy!
Bathroom humidity is typically high (70%-90%). If left in the bathroom for extended periods:
18K gold will rust and turn a pale yellow;
Black onyx will absorb water and expand, loosening the metal prongs and causing the flowers to fall off.
Experts recommend keeping jewelry storage humidity between 40% and 60%. Use a moisture-proof box or desiccant.
No. 4 Why do some people “wear their jewelry in the shower without any problems”?
1. It’s not noticeable at first.
Damage to black onyx and 18K gold accumulates gradually. Initially, there may be no change, but after 1-2 years, problems such as cracking and discoloration may suddenly appear.
2. Black onyx quality varies.
Natural black onyx: dense structure, but also has small pores.
Dyed black onyx: color easily washed away by chemicals.
Glue-injected black onyx: hot water degrades the glue, revealing cracks.
3. Water quality also has an impact.
If your home’s water is “hard” (high in calcium and magnesium ions), scale will form on the bracelet’s surface, causing the metal to rust more quickly.
15
Sep
