The heat is back: 4 things that start affecting your jewelry

With the first warm days, several habits change, sunscreen, more time outdoors, maybe the year's first trip to the pool or the beach, and several of those habits are exactly the ones that fade a natural stone fastest. Here's what to keep in mind during this seasonal shift.

Sunscreen (like perfume and lotions) can leave a film that dulls the surface of porous stones. Simple habit: apply it and let it absorb before putting on your jewelry, not the other way around.

Pools and the sea aren't a neutral environment for jewelry: chlorine can dull the color of some stones over time, and salt can settle into porous surfaces and dull the shine. Take pieces off before getting in the water, just like you would with any jewelry you want to keep looking good.

Sweat contains salts and acids that, with repeated exposure, can affect both porous stones and metals. On very hot days, especially if you exercise outdoors, take off bracelets and tight rings before the activity.

Some stones (amethyst is one of the best-known cases) can lose color intensity with prolonged exposure to direct sunlight. A drawer or shaded compartment is safer than leaving them on a shelf by the window.