What Damages Men's Jewellery (And How to Avoid It)

Most men's jewellery doesn't fail because it was badly made. It fails because of what it was exposed to — or because it was made from the wrong material for daily life in the first place.

This guide is about prevention. For cleaning method, see our jewellery care guide.

First: What Doesn't Damage Steel and Titanium

Worth stating plainly, because a lot of jewellery advice assumes precious metals and doesn't apply here.

316L stainless steel and titanium are sweat-proof and gym-proof. 316L is the grade used in surgical instruments and marine fittings, chosen because it withstands salt, moisture and body chemistry. Titanium is used in medical implants for the same reason.

Neither corrodes, tarnishes or reacts with sweat. That means:

• Training in them is fine. Sweat does nothing to the metal.
• Rain, hand washing and showering are non-issues.
• No tarnish, ever. No polishing routine, no anti-tarnish storage.
• No green skin. That's copper in sterling and cheap alloys — not these metals.

This is exactly why we build with them. A piece you have to think about isn't a piece you'll wear every day.

What Does Cause Problems

Chlorine

The one genuine enemy. Chlorine attacks gold plating, dulls sterling silver, and degrades the elastic cord in beaded bracelets. Hot tubs are worse than pools — higher concentration, higher temperature. Take everything off.

Impact, not sweat, at the gym

The metal is fine; the shape is what's at risk. A bar or dumbbell against a ring will dent it, and rings are the hardest thing to reshape without losing form. Take rings off for heavy lifting — not because of sweat, but because of load.

Bracelets and cuffs generally handle training without issue. Beaded bracelets are the exception — the cord, not the stone, is the weak point.

Gold plating

Plating is the one finish that genuinely wears. It's a surface layer, so scratches go through to the base metal and can't be buffed out. Keep plated pieces away from abrasives and chlorine, and wipe them with a soft dry cloth after wearing.

Aftershave, sunscreen and hand sanitiser

Less of an issue for steel and titanium, more of one for plating and porous natural stone. Sunscreen leaves a film that clings to stone beads; alcohol-based products gradually wear plating.

The fix is sequencing: grooming products first, jewellery second.

Sleeping in chains

Eight hours of turning tangles and stresses links, and it's a common cause of a chain failing at a weak point. If you wear a chain daily, taking it off at night roughly doubles its working life.

Leather and water

Leather is the material that needs the most care. It doesn't like prolonged wet, and it really doesn't like drying fast — never on a radiator or with a hairdryer, which is what cracks it. Our leather bracelets improve with wear, but not with soaking.

Scratching, by Material

• Titanium — hard and light, highly scratch-resistant, but can't easily be resized.
• 316L stainless steel — tough, takes knocks well. Brushed finishes hide marks better than polished.
• Gold plating — only as durable as its thickness. Scratches can't be buffed out.

If you're hard on your things, choose brushed or matte finishes over high polish.

Storage Mistakes

• Everything in one box. Metal against metal causes scratches. Use individual pouches.
• Airtight plastic bags. They trap moisture — bad for leather.
• Direct sunlight. Dries leather and can affect some natural stones.

When to Take It Off Entirely

• Swimming. Chlorine and salt water both.
• Heavy lifting. Rings especially — impact and crush risk.
• Anything with machinery. A ring caught in moving equipment is a serious injury risk, not just a damaged ring.

Check Your Clasps

The clasp does more work than any other part and shows wear first. Every few months, open and close it and feel for looseness or grinding. Catching a failing clasp costs nothing; not catching it costs you the piece.

If Something Does Go Wrong

Every Forge & Foundry piece is made in our London workshop and carries a lifetime warranty. If a clasp fails or something doesn't wear as it should, get in touch rather than living with it.

Our guide to why stainless steel beats sterling for everyday wear covers the material choice in more depth, or browse the full collection.