When you’re dressing it up for the beach or the pool, there’s a fine balance to be hit.

On one hand, you don’t want to be sporting so much bling that you turn heads for the wrong reasons. As our homeboy Polonius once said, “Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy, but not expressed in fancy—rich, not gaudy. Otherwise, you’ll look like some dusty extra on Real Housewives.” Okay, so that last line wasn’t in Hamlet, but you get the idea.

You also don’t want to wear your very best stuff. We all have pieces we’re super-protective over, and the last thing you want to have happen is a sunscreen-slicked hand causing a valuable ring to go sliding off into the sand, not to be recovered until some bloke with a metal detector strolls along one day. (Yeah, sand, too—it’s like , well, sandpaper, so just leave the top-tier pieces far away from the stuff).

But you also don’t want to wear nothing, because, come on—where’s the fun in that? (Though we do have to give some credit to flash tattoos: those things were all over the place last year, and to tell the truth, they were kinda cool. Wonder if we’ll see them this summer?)

A light and airy piece, like a long necklace with some sparkle, can go a long way towards completing a two-piece. Same goes for earrings: a pair of studs can bring an ensemble together just fine (bonus points for not having to worry about tangling a chain when turning over, mid-tan).

Still, don’t be afraid of larger pieces, either. If you’re hitting up a local bar while the sun is going down, a chunky bangle can finish off a sundress—same goes for any other statement piece, like a necklace that pops. Just keep these big real estate items to a minimum: one, not more, not less. Just remember, tan lines are tan lines. If you’re catching some rays, keep an eye on where those statement pieces are hanging out, unless you’re into the idea of having a silhouette of a butterfly reverse-branded to your chest (which you might be—that’s cool).

If it’s going to be a low-maintenance day, where throwing a football in the water and kicking back cold beers is the totality of the checklist, then reflect that in your accessories. Leave the gold and stones at home, and opt for something a low key, like jewelry made from Lucite or enamel. That well-polished vibe will still come across, and you’ll be able to stay chilled-out and low-fuss.

On the other hand, there are exceptions: if your summer travels are taking you to the pool deck of, like, The Standard in Miami Beach, then start stacking it on, baby—the sky’s the limit. Keep the environment in mind, is what we’re saying.

Whatever you do, set aside some cleaning time for when you get home. Sunscreen, sweat, saltwater, and (oh my God, especially) chlorine are murder on, well, everything sparkly, and can lead to tarnishing, corrosion, and a weakening of things like clasps and thin chains. So ASAP, mix up a bowl of hot water and some shower gel, and gently stir everything for a minute to get all the residue off. Place them on a towel on at a time, and give them a blast with the hair dryer for a streakless, lint-free luster.

Have a great summer, looking amazing, everybody. Don’t do anything we wouldn’t do—which, come to think of it, frees up your options pretty well.

Oh, and before we go, here’s a protip for beach-dwellers—if you’re jumping into the surf, ask a friend to hold onto your sparkly stuff. We don’t have the stats off the tops of our heads, but we’re sure many a clambake has been scuttled because a barracuda saw something shiny and mistook a beach bunny for lunch—fishing lures and 18-karat bangles look one-in-the-same to some critters.