Jewellery Care

Will gold plated jewellery tarnish?

Much like with solid gold pieces, gold-plated jewellery can tarnish over time if not properly cared for. Tarnishing is a process in which the gold reacts to air and moisture, causing it to oxidise and appear darkened. You may find that pieces start to lose their shine and appear dull over time due to a buildup of dust and dirt, as well as the natural oils on our skin, perfumes and moisturisers reacting with the gold plating and causing them to tarnish.

 

If you’ve noticed your gold-plated jewellery has started to tarnish, don’t worry. With some TLC, your pieces can be restored and back glistening in no time. description

 

Tips to look after your jewellery

1. Apply perfumes and moisturisers well before adding your jewellery.

Moisturisers are a main culprit, as the chemicals within these products can contribute to tarnishing or the rubbing off of the gold plating. Instead, apply your perfumes and moisturisers well before you add your jewellery, allowing them to sink in fully.

 

2. Remove jewellery before bed

Any tossing and turning will cause friction and potential damage to your pieces, as well as some tangling.

 

3. Avoid wearing whilst showering, swimming or exercising

It’s best to avoid contact with water and sweat when wearing gold-plated jewellery as this can cause them to tarnish or the gold-plated coating to thin. To keep wearing your gold-plated pieces for years to come, remove them when showering, swimming or exercising.

 

How to clean gold-plated jewellery?

There will be a time when you need to clean your gold-plated jewellery, especially if you wear them every day. With a light hand, carefully use a jewellery polishing cloth, specifically designed for cleaning gold, to clean your pieces and bring back their dazzling properties. Just be careful not to rub too hard to avoid removing the gold plating.

 

Although it’s advised to keep gold-plated jewellery away from water, for gold-plated pieces that are tarnished, you can gently rub them with a soft cloth and a small amount of mild soap and water to clean them. Make sure to thoroughly dry your pieces before wearing them again.

 

How to care for pearls?

When you take off your pearls wipe them clean with a soft lint-free cloth. While dry is preferred you can dampen the cloth with water to help remove dirt or chemicals they have been exposed to during the day or evening. Let pearls air dry before putting them in your jewelry box. With pearls, your body's natural oils can help to enhance the shine and luster and wiping dry will assist with maintaining a good natural oil level.