For some of you in warmer climes, it may already feel like summer. But here in Wisconsin, it's unseasonably cold. We've had a depressing lack of 60–70-degree days in the last three months. So when I came across a blog post from Spectrum Art & Jewelry, a gallery located in Wilmington, N.C., about caring for jewelry in summertime, I was happily caught off guard. Not just because the thought of feeling warm without donning a sweater is still a distant daydream, but because the information in their post was news to me. Being one of the resident editorial people on staff (rather than a resident jewelry maker), I didn't know that saltwater and chlorine can affect certain metals. To learn more, click here to read Spectrum Art & Jewelry's blog post. They also provide some practical tips on how to vacation (or not) with your jewelry. I, for one, will be more careful with my jewelry when I finally FINALLY get to take a dip in a pool.

Have any of you ever had a bad experience with common summer chemicals reacting with jewelry? Saltwater, chlorine, sunscreen, etc.? I'd love to know if there's something else I should be keeping in mind!

—Kristin