The Best Waterproof Jewelry an Olympic Swimmer Swears By

Since Olympic swimmer Regan Smith spends most of her days backstroking and butterflying in a pool, she can wear only the best waterproof jewelry. The three-time Team USA medalist doesn't have the time to worry about a necklace tarnishing and turning her skin a ghoulish gray-green.

So, when Alexis Russo, founder of the jewelry brand Local Eclectic, worked on a limited-edition capsule with Smith earlier this June, waterproofing was paramount. "Regan stressed the importance of pieces she wouldn't need to take off when she was in the pool—pieces she (and her fans) could wear 24/7," Russo writes over email. The end result was a small collection featuring two nine-karat sold-gold styles that can withstand the water: a pair of pink sapphire-encrusted huggie hoops and a "333" angel-number ring that will serve as Smith's good luck charm as she goes for gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

But, if you’re not a competitive swimmer whose pieces are custom-designed with your occupation in mind, how do you know what jewelry is waterproof and what isn’t? The answer is, admittedly, not very straightforward.

"Not a surprise here, but not all jewelry is created equally," Sophie Kahn, the founder of jewelry brand AUrate, says. Jewelry made from copper or nickel is prone to oxidization, and gold- or silver-plated styles are more likely to lose their coating over time, leaving you with tarnished pieces a far cry from the high-shine jewelry you once bought. In addition to studying the various types of metal alloys, sorting through the ocean of online jewelry options makes shopping for jewelry that you can safely sweat, swim, and shower feel like a Herculean task.

Here's where the experts come in. Russo, Kahn, and Catarina Oliveira, the CEO of waterproof jewelry brand Hey Harper, helped Marie Claire curate a master edit of the best waterproof jewelry for your beach outfits and pool 'fits this summer. Plus, the jewelry geniuses explain the best metals to wear and shout out the best affordable jewelry brands to shop from. Ready? Let's dive in.

Waterproof Earrings

You want the earrings you wear every day to be able to brave the elements. Russo advises starting with "a nice pair of simple gold hoops or solid gold diamond studs." For a more affordable alternative to solid gold, Oliveira recommends stainless steel earrings. "[They will] last a long time without being replaced or breaking, and don't rust or tarnish, so the color remains perfect for a lifetime," she explains.

Necklaces

Disregarding statement bauble chains or costumey chokers, a necklace you can live in without worries is an essential component for any jewelry box. Speaking of necklaces to live in: "My favorite [waterproof necklace] and the perfect everyday piece is Hey Harper's Nassau Necklace, which is also our absolute bestseller," says Oliveira. "It is an elegant, slim-sized gold chain, perfect for layering or to make a statement on its own."

Rings

Rings experience the most wear and tear, given that they live on your fingers, so waterproofing is vital for extending their lifespan. "I truthfully never take my rings off and have worn them in the shower, the bath, the ocean, the pool, and even the delivery room, if you could believe it," says Kahn.

Bracelets

Like rings, you want to ensure your bracelets are solidly waterproof because every time you wash your hands, the piece will be exposed to H2O and soap. Kahn emphasizes, however, that even when the jewelry itself is water-resistant and durable, you should still properly maintain and care for your jewelry just in case. "You can always remove any watermarks or dirt brought on by your rambunctious lifestyle with some gentle soap and water," she says.

Anklets

Once you've stocked your jewelry box with water-resistant earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and rings, now you can move on to the oft-forgotten piece—the best anklets. The ankle-adorning style is ideal for summer, too, as your legs are readily on display, which is all the more reason to ensure the anklet you buy can withstand any water-based activities. Opt for a dainty chain like those offered by minimal jewelry brand Catbird or make more of a statement with a motif piece like Sydney Evan's evil eye number.

What Metals Are Waterproof?

• Solid Gold

“The only truly waterproof jewelry is solid gold jewelry," says Russo. Ranging from 10- to 24-karat, solid-gold pieces are made entirely of the material, inside and out, making them a reliable option for every day. But solid gold doesn't mean pure gold: the metal is too soft to stand on its own, so it must be blended with other materials that fortify the material, like silver, nickel, copper, palladium, and zinc. As a result, "anything less than 24-karat gold can be at risk of tarnishing over time due to the other metals and alloys that the pure gold is mixed with," explains Russo.

But hope is not lost if your solid gold jewelry starts to look worse for wear. "The difference between any kind of patina that happens to solid gold jewelry and plated jewelry is that solid gold can be polished at home or by a professional jeweler and will last forever," says Russo. All solid gold needs is a little extra tender, love, and care.

• Stainless Steel

Hey Harper's Oliveira calls stainless steel—an iron, carbon, magnesium, and chromium alloy—"a highly durable metal loved for being corrosion-resistant." You'll want to pay close attention to the grade of stainless steel because this is where you might run into some rust: lower grades are more likely to tarnish, but higher ones, like 304 and 316—won't. Oliveira urges you to look for pieces treated in a process called physical vapor deposition—PVD, for short—which coats the stainless steel in a thin layer of metal 10 times stronger than standard and regular gold plating. "[PVD] increases the lifespan of stainless steel jewelry by making it waterproof," the CEO explains.

• The 'Um's: Platinum, Palladium, Titanium, and Aluminum

Lastly, jewelry made from the four noble metals ending in "um"—platinum, palladium, titanium, and aluminum—won't react to water and is corrosion-resistant. "You can live your everyday life and not worry about taking off your jewelry when showering, working out, or taking a dip in the ocean—the pieces won’t tarnish," says Oliveira.

What to Keep in Mind

• Metal Content

"First tip: Make sure you check the metal content of what you're shopping for and see if there's anything that could be reactive to water: something made of brass or with a high copper content would possibly react, giving you the notorious green finger," explains Kahn. "If there's iron in the jewelry, it will potentially even rust. If the jewelry is made with glue as a bond, that will weaken over time with exposure to water."

• Pricing

Solid gold jewelry can run you up into the mid-to-high hundreds (and more, depending on the brand and piece), so Oliveira encourages you to keep an eye on your budget. "For everyone looking for quality jewelry at fair prices, pieces designed and produced with stainless steel are a great option. Owning waterproof jewelry that can last a lifetime should not be reserved for only a select few individuals," she details, adding that her brand's "mission is to democratize high-quality designer jewelry."

• Where You'll Wear It

"When you're making a jewelry purchasing decision, it's important to think about how you plan to wear the piece," Russo advises. "If you're looking for a piece of jewelry that you can wear to sleep, shower, swim, exercise, etc, you definitely want to invest in waterproof/solid gold jewelry."

Meet the Experts

Alexis Russo

In 2013, Alexis Nido-Russo launched Local Eclectic to share her favorite designers’ one-of-a-kind jewelry with the world. The brands Local Eclectic carries are 94-percent women founded/owned and 72-percent of them have 5 or fewer employees.

Sophie Kahn

Sophie Kahn is the Founder of Aurate. She hails from the Netherlands and has a background in fashion working as a Project Manager and Director of Strategy at Marc Jacobs.

Catarina Oliveira

Catarina Oliveira is the founder and CEO of Hey Harper. She created Hey Harper to eliminate the biggest gap in this industry: high quality at fair prices. Oliveira previously worked at the advertising agency Sonder as the Head of Operations and Head of Product.