Stainless steel is the metal you can almost forget about — which is exactly why it dominates modern watches and everyday jewellery. PVD coating adds colour with far more durability than traditional plating. Almost, though, is not quite the same as entirely: here is the little care that both actually need.
Does stainless steel jewellery rust or tarnish?
Under normal wear, no. Stainless steel contains chromium, which reacts with oxygen to form an invisible, self-repairing oxide layer on the surface — scratch it, and the layer re-forms. That is what makes stainless steel resistant to rust, tarnish and everyday moisture. Its one genuine weakness is prolonged exposure to chlorides: chlorinated pools, hot tubs and seawater can, over repeated long exposure, cause pitting even in good stainless steel. An occasional swim will not ruin a piece — but rinse it in fresh water afterwards and dry it, and do not make the pool its second home.
Does PVD coating wear off?
Eventually, but far more slowly than electroplating. PVD (physical vapour deposition) bonds a hard, thin layer of material onto the metal in a vacuum chamber, producing a coating measured in microns that is significantly more scratch- and wear-resistant than a traditional gold-plated finish. It is not, however, a solid metal all the way through: aggressive abrasives, metal polishing compounds and constant friction (rings and bracelet clasps get the most) will thin it over years. The care rule is simple — nothing abrasive, ever. We explain the technology fully in our guide to PVD coating vs gold plating.
How do you clean stainless steel and PVD jewellery?
Warm water, a drop of washing-up liquid, a soft cloth, then rinse and dry — the same routine as most jewellery, with the advantage that stainless steel tolerates it endlessly. For fingerprints and water spots, a microfibre cloth wiped along (not across) any brushed finish keeps the grain looking right. Avoid bleach and strong chlorine-based cleaners, silver dip solutions, and abrasive pastes — all three can mark the surface or attack a PVD coating.
How should you store stainless steel and PVD jewellery?
| Do | Don't |
|---|---|
| Keep pieces in separate compartments or pouches | Let steel pieces rub against softer gold, silver or plated jewellery — steel wins every collision |
| Dry pieces fully after washing or swimming | Store anything wet in a closed box |
| Wipe PVD pieces with a soft cloth after heavy-sweat days | Use polishing compounds or silver-polish cloths on PVD finishes |
Storage for stainless steel is less about protecting the steel and more about protecting everything else from it — it is harder than the precious metals, so it does the scratching in a shared jewellery box.
Which metal should low-maintenance people choose?
If you want jewellery that shrugs off daily life, the ranking is roughly: stainless steel and titanium first, platinum close behind, solid gold next, then silver, then plated finishes — our guide to watch metals compared goes through the trade-offs. For pieces built for everyday wear across our range, start with the Everyday Elegance collection.