Is it bad to sleep with rings on?

Over time, yes. The repeated pressure of a hand moving against a pillow or a partner through the night gradually bends shanks and lifts claws. Taking rings off at night is a simple habit that extends their life.

Which part of a chain wears out first?

The links closest to the clasp and, on a pendant necklace, the bail and the links just above it. Both take the most repeated friction and weight.

How can I tell if a claw is starting to fail?

Run a fingernail lightly across the tip of each claw. If it catches rather than gliding smoothly, that claw has worn thin and needs retipping before the stone can work loose.

How often should jewelry be professionally inspected?

Once a year for pieces worn often, and every one to two years for pieces worn occasionally, checking claws, clasps, pin catches and pearl knots.

Authenticity & care

Everyday wear and what actually damages jewelry

Chlorine, the gym and a good night's sleep cause more damage than clumsy hands ever do.

Written by our in-house jewelry team · Updated August 7, 2026 · 7 min read

Antique gold rings with old-cut diamonds and a ruby on cream silk beside a brass ring dish — Everyday wear and what actually damages jewelry

In short

Most jewelry damage builds up slowly through everyday habits rather than a single accident: chlorine and salt water attacking gold alloys, perfume and lotion filming stones, the gym and gardening catching claws and chains, and sleeping in rings bending shanks and loosening settings against a pillow night after night. A quick prong check and a yearly professional inspection catch most problems while they are still small repairs.

We rarely see a ring arrive with a single dramatic accident behind its damage. Far more often it is years of small, ordinary contact, none of it memorable on its own, that eventually loosens a claw or wears through a chain link.

None of this means jewelry should sit in a box. It means knowing which everyday moments are worth taking a ring off for, and what to check for so a small problem does not become an expensive one.

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Chlorine and salt water

Chlorine reacts with the alloying metals in gold, particularly in white gold and lower-karat alloys, and repeated exposure can pit and weaken a shank over months and years in the pool or hot tub. Salt water is less aggressive but still promotes corrosion in some alloys and can dull polish.

Take rings and bracelets off before swimming, and rinse jewelry that gets splashed by pool water rather than letting it dry on the piece.

Perfume, lotion and hairspray

Perfume, hand cream, hairspray and sunscreen all leave a fine film on gemstones and metal that dulls sparkle over time and, on porous stones such as pearl, opal, turquoise and coral, can be absorbed into the surface itself. The film also builds up behind stones where a soft brush cannot easily reach.

The simplest fix is order of operations: put jewelry on last, after moisturizer, perfume and hairspray, and take it off before applying more later in the day.

The gym, the garden and housework

Weights, resistance bands and gym equipment put direct impact and lateral pressure on rings, exactly the kind of stress that bends shanks and loosens claws. Gardening and cleaning combine grit, chemicals and repeated hand contact with hard surfaces, all of which are hard on both stones and settings.

Take rings off for the gym and for anything involving gloves, tools or cleaning products, and keep a small dish by the sink or the door so they have an obvious, safe place to go rather than a pocket or a random shelf.

Macro view of stamped hallmarks inside the shank of an antique gold ring — Authenticity & care — from the pieces and workshop notes behind this guide.

Sleeping in jewelry

Sleeping in a ring means eight hours of a hand moving against fabric, pressing the ring's claws and shank against a pillow or a partner in ways that add up over years. It is a common cause of gradually bent shanks and claws that catch on bedding and slowly lift.

Necklaces and bracelets worn overnight are prone to the same slow wear, plus a higher chance of a clasp catching and opening. Taking jewelry off at night, into the same dish or box each time, is a small habit that noticeably extends the life of claws and clasps.

Chain wear points

Chains wear unevenly. The links nearest the clasp move the most and take the most friction from opening and closing, so they wear thin before the rest of the chain shows any change. Pendant bails and the links directly above them carry the weight of the pendant every time the chain is worn, and are the second most common failure point.

Look at these two spots specifically rather than scanning the whole chain, since a thin link near the clasp or a stretched bail is where a chain is most likely to break.

Check the last few links near the clasp for thinning or elongation
Check the bail and the links directly above a pendant for stretching
A chain that feels looser or longer than it used to may have stretched links

A simple prong check, and the annual inspection

Once a month or so, look at a ring you wear often under a good light and gently press each visible claw with a fingertip, feeling for any movement in the stone. Run a fingernail lightly over the tip of each claw: if it catches rather than sliding smoothly, that tip has worn thin and is starting to lift.

Beyond that quick check, have a jeweler formally inspect claws, clasps, pin catches and pearl knots once a year for pieces you wear regularly, and every one to two years for pieces worn occasionally. This is the single most effective habit for catching a worn claw before it lets a stone fall, and it turns what would be an emergency repair into routine maintenance.

Stone moves or rattles when pressed: stop wearing it and book a check
Claw catches a fingernail: a tip is lifting and needs retipping
Clasp opens without being pressed: have it replaced before you lose the piece
Chain feels longer or a link looks stretched: have it checked before it breaks

Frequently asked questions

Is it bad to sleep with rings on?: Over time, yes. The repeated pressure of a hand moving against a pillow or a partner through the night gradually bends shanks and lifts claws. Taking rings off at night is a simple habit that extends their life.
Does chlorine actually damage gold?: Yes, with repeated exposure. Chlorine reacts with the alloying metals in gold, particularly in white gold and lower-karat alloys, and can pit and weaken a shank over months of contact with pool water.
Which part of a chain wears out first?: The links closest to the clasp and, on a pendant necklace, the bail and the links just above it. Both take the most repeated friction and weight.
How can I tell if a claw is starting to fail?: Run a fingernail lightly across the tip of each claw. If it catches rather than gliding smoothly, that claw has worn thin and needs retipping before the stone can work loose.
How often should jewelry be professionally inspected?: Once a year for pieces worn often, and every one to two years for pieces worn occasionally, checking claws, clasps, pin catches and pearl knots.

Written by our estate jewelry team and reviewed by our in-house gemologist. We have been buying and selling European antique jewelry since 1973.

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