Is your gold-plated jewellery tarnished? Here’s what you can do about it

Laura Scholz

1.7.2022

Translation: Katherine Martin

Our everyday lives are brimming with threats to our gold-plated jewellery. So, how do you protect it properly and enjoy wearing it for longer? Read on to find out.

How annoying is this? Once again, an earring loses its pretty, golden glimmer for the dirty dullness of modernity. It’s always the same story – the joy of gold-plated jewellery seemingly all too fleeting. Do I just have to put up with it? The answer is: no. If you know why the coating disappears after a certain amount of time, you can prevent it – and change your relationship status with your bling from «it’s complicated» to «happily ever after».

A little intro to jewellery making

Fun fact: the pure gold (999) we know from coins or Uncle Scrooge’s piggy bank isn’t suitable for jewellery making. Not only is it too soft, but it would quickly become dented, scratched or even warped. No thanks. And so, gold is alloyed. In other words, at least one other metal such as silver, steel or copper is added to the sparkling metal, impacting its appearance and properties differently depending on the desired effect.

And even more «impure»? The subsequently cheaper material without any alloy, which is just gold-plated. Here, the whole piece of jewellery is made of an alternative metal, and is only coated with a thin layer of gold at the last stage of the production process. Wearing this kind of jewellery frequently or failing to care for it properly can cause the gold plating to wear away fast, eroding in contact with the air and causing the base metal to show through. Unfortunately, base metals such as steel or copper have the unattractive habit of oxidising when they come into contact with the air, and turning black. Even silver, which is actually a precious metal, can tarnish. The culprit being tiny amounts of hydrogen sulphide in the air, which silver reacts with. Yay.

What’s the best way to care for the fragile gold plating?

No contact

Steer clear of chlorine and salt water. It’s also best to take off any coated jewellery when showering, cleaning, exercising or even washing your hands. Beauty products like perfume, hand cream and body lotion are also a danger to your favourite pieces. The rule of thumb: let your lotions and potions soak in completely. Then, put on your jewellery during the very last step of your routine.

Proper storage

A dark, cool and dry home is the best way to give your jewellery a long, happy life. Get yourself some small, cloth bags or a padded box and put your rings, necklaces and earrings in there after each wear. Preferably so that they’re not touching each other. As an extra precaution, you can get so-called anti-tarnish strips that ... well, you guessed it. The small sachets of silica-gel balls often included in packages as moisture binders are good, too. Pop them in your jewellery box next time instead of throwing them away.

Clean gently

From sweat to the aforementioned beauty products, regularly worn jewellery is constantly exposed to influences from the world around us. So, every three months or so, take the time to carefully but thoroughly wipe your favourite jewellery free of any pesky residue with a soft microfibre cloth.

Discovered these tips too late? Getting new gold plating for your jewellery is often straightforward and even inexpensive. Just ask a jeweller. For one thing, it’s good for the environment, and secondly, it means you and I don’t have to part ways with our gold-plates faves quite as often. Win-win.

Laura Scholz

Senior Editor

Laura.Scholz@digitecgalaxus.ch

Always in the mood for good hits, great trips and clinking drinks.

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