How to Take Care of Gold Plated Jewellery
Gold-plated jewellery has become a jewellery box staple. Dressed up or down, gold-plated pieces add a warm glow to any outfit, with just the right amount of shine. From everyday gold-plated earrings to bold gold-plated bracelets, there’s no reason that your Loveness Lee pieces can’t last a lifetime when treated with the right love and care. Keep reading to learn how to take proper care of your gold-plated jewellery.
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.
Tips to Take Care of Gold-Plated Jewellery
To prevent your gold-plated jewellery from tarnishing, there are a few steps you can take to keep the lustre of your pieces intact.
1. Apply perfumes and moisturisers well before adding your jewellery
As tempting as it may be to spritz your perfume before you walk out the door, in reality, it can be damaging your gold-plated jewellery. Moisturisers are a main culprit too, 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
You might be getting your beauty sleep, but your gold-plated jewellery pieces certainly won’t be. Any tossing and turning will cause friction and potential damage to your pieces, as well as some pesky tangles!
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.
4. Keep jewellery away from any harsh chemicals
Exposure to harsh chemicals affects the shine of your gold-plated pieces, so take care to remove your jewellery when carrying out any household cleaning.
5. Store your pieces in a cool, dry place
It’s important to keep your gold-plated jewellery in a safe place, away from any moisture. A jewellery box is a perfect place to store your favourite pieces to protect them from any damage.
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. For pieces that are heavily tarnished or the gold plating has rubbed off to reveal the base metal underneath, you need professional help from a jeweller to get your pieces re-plated.
Can Gold Plated Jewellery Be Revived?
From gold-plated hoops and studs to gold-plated necklaces and rings, all types of gold-plated jewellery can be revived with proper love and care.
If your Loveness Lee pieces need a little love, take advantage of our complimentary Aftercare Program. We’ll fix your jewellery and can even re-plate gold-plated pieces by removing the old gold plating and applying a new layer, reviving them to look brand new.