How to Care for Your Miyuki Beaded Jewelry: Cleaning and Storage

You've invested in beautiful Miyuki beaded bracelets — and you want them to stay as bright as on day one. Good news: Japanese Miyuki beads are incredibly durable and easy to care for. With a few simple habits, your Koss Design jewelry will be with you for years.

Are Miyuki beads water-resistant?

Yes! It's one of the great strengths of Miyuki beads. Japanese glass beads are naturally water-resistant. You can wear your Koss Design bracelets in the shower, at the beach, in the pool, and during sports without worrying that they'll be damaged. The colors don't fade with water contact.

However, a few precautions will further extend the life of your jewelry:

Avoid prolonged contact with chlorinated water (pool) or salt water (sea). Occasional contact isn't a problem, but if you swim daily, rinse your bracelets in fresh water afterwards.

Harsh chemicals (perfume, sunscreen, household products) can, over the long term, affect the elastic cord. Put your bracelets on last, after applying your beauty products.

How to clean your Miyuki beaded bracelets

Cleaning is simple and doesn't require any special product:

Daily cleaning: A simple rinse in warm water is enough. Pat dry gently with a soft cloth. That's it.

Deep cleaning (once a month): Soak your bracelets in a bowl of warm water with a drop of mild soap (such as Marseille soap or a gentle dish soap) for 5–10 minutes. Scrub very gently with a soft toothbrush if needed. Rinse with clean water and air-dry.

What NOT to do: Never use harsh chemicals, alcohol, acetone, or silver jewelry cleaners on your Miyuki beads. Avoid ultrasonic cleaning. Don't rub the beads with abrasive materials.

How to store your beaded jewelry

Good storage is the key to keeping your bracelets in shape and bright:

Flat, not hanging. Bracelets on elastic cord should be stored flat so the elastic doesn't stretch. Avoid hanging them on a jewelry holder — gravity can gradually loosen the cord.

Separately. Store each bracelet on its own or with a small space between them so the beads don't scratch each other. A compartmentalized box or small individual pouches are ideal.

Away from direct sunlight. Although Miyuki beads are very resistant, prolonged exposure to direct sunlight can, over the very long term, affect certain color finishes. Store your jewelry in a shaded place.

At room temperature. Avoid very hot environments (like a car in summer) or very humid ones. Normal room temperature in your bedroom is perfect.

Lifespan and normal wear

Our Koss Design bracelets are made to last. The most stressed component is the Korean elastic cord the beads are strung on. With normal daily wear, it stays in excellent condition for 2–3 years minimum.

Signs it's time to restring: If you notice the elastic is visibly stretched, has lost its tension, or shows signs of fraying, it's time to restring the beads on a new cord. It's a simple operation you can do yourself or entrust to us.

The Miyuki beads themselves are practically indestructible under normal use conditions. Miyuki glass doesn't fade, doesn't discolor, and doesn't deteriorate over time. Your beads will be just as beautiful in 10 years as they are today.

Our warranty

All Koss Design jewelry comes with a 6-month warranty covering manufacturing defects. If your bracelet breaks or shows a problem within 6 months of purchase, contact us and we'll replace it.

Explore our collections — every bracelet is made with the same care and attention to detail, to give you jewelry that lasts.