How to take care of your gold-plated jewelry

Gold-plated jewelry is coated with a layer of gold and requires special care to preserve its brilliance! On average, without regular maintenance, gold-plated jewelry can retain its brilliance for up to 2 years.

Over time, however, your ring, necklace, bracelet or collar may become tarnished or brittle. Water, perfume and manicure are the sworn enemies of many jewels, including gold-plated ones. Here are a few easy-to-apply tips to help you keep your gold-plated jewels looking their best. Discover the 4 key steps of your jewelry routine!

1. Avoid contact with water

Gold-plated jewelry offers excellent value for money. They have the brilliance of gold, yet are more affordable than jewelry made entirely of gold. Of course, the quality of the jewelry depends on the thickness of the plating. At Once Jewelry, our jewelry is 1-micron gold-plated. This type of plating gives the jewel strength and brilliance. 

This technique makes it possible to create a wide variety of jewelry styles, to suit all tastes and trends. It's no wonder that fashionistas regularly turn to gold-plated jewelry. They can mix and match styles with the seasons, without suffering a major dent in their shopping budget.

But, as with many items of jewelry, care must be taken to ensure longevity.
And, like most jewels, water is not their best ally.

The first thing to do is remove your gold-plated jewelry before washing.
This also applies if you're going to the sea or swimming pool. Chlorine or salt water can alter the quality of your jewelry. So don't forget to remove your gold-plated jewelry before swimming.
If you play sport, excessive perspiration can also damage your jewelry. As a precaution, remember to remove them before strenuous sports activities.

2. Put on your jewelry after your beauty routine

Just like contact with water, gold plating can react to certain substances. Your moisturizer, lotion, perfume or hairspray, for example, can cause damage and dull your jewelry.

It's best to wear your jewelry after moisturizing and perfuming. Eau de Cologne, hairspray or the alcohol in your perfume can damage either the gold layer or the metal underneath the plating.
This advice also applies to your manicure. Varnish or nail polish remover can damage the quality of your jewelry's gold plating.

3. Avoid violent impacts

Even though it is resistant, the gold layer of your jewelry can become brittle in the face of certain shocks. To avoid scratching it, you should not wear your gold-plated jewelry when lifting heavy loads.

Avoid contact with hard materials, even when storing your jewelry.
You can store your jewelry in soft bags or jewel cases.
You can also store them in the small linen bags you receive when you place your order with us.

4. Clean your gold-plated jewelry regularly

As soon as you can, remember to clean your gold-plated jewelry. It's the best way to keep them looking their best!

Use a soft cloth, such as chamois or absorbent cotton, to remove any dirt or substances that may dull the gold layer.

For a more thorough cleaning, you can soak your jewelry for a few minutes in hot, soapy water, then dry it with a soft cloth. Opt for this type of cleaning once a week.
Once a month, you can reinforce this soapy water ritual by gently scrubbing less accessible areas with a toothbrush.

Answers you need to care for your gold-plated jewelry

- Is gold plating water-resistant?

Although your gold-plated jewelry is guaranteed for up to 10 years, after 2 years it may lose its lustre if certain precautions are not taken, such as keeping your jewelry on when you wash or go swimming.
Therefore, on a daily basis, it's ideal to remove your jewelry before showering, swimming and washing your hands.
Salt and chlorine will tend to damage the gold plating and the metal underneath.

- Does gold plating blacken?

Your gold-plated jewelry may come into contact with water, perspiration or certain cosmetics such as perfume, and begin to blacken. To prevent this, remember to clean your jewelry regularly.

- How do I clean blackened gold-plated jewelry?

Cleaning gold-plated jewelry involves removing dirt and oil that have accumulated on the surface of the object. To do this, use a soft cloth or toothbrush dipped in lukewarm water and mild soap, such as Marseille soap, or washing-up liquid, to restore the jewelry's shine and lustre.
Avoid toothbrushes with hard bristles, abrasive sponges, acidic products and powdered products (undissolved bicarbonate).

- Is gold plating better quality than brass or gold colored jewelry?

Gold-plated jewelry is the most competitive in terms of value for money. Their plating in 18-carat gold, meaning 75% pure gold, guarantees the longevity and brilliance of the jewel. Unlike brass or gold colored jewelry, whose protective layer is much thinner, and therefore more fragile.

- How is gold-plated jewelry made?

Gold-plated jewelry has a layer of gold. This is deposited on the jewel for added shine and strength. French legislation defines the characteristics of gold-plated jewelry.

How do I restore a gold-plated ring?

Has your gold-plated jewelry tarnished? To restore its shine, you need to clean it with soap. To do this, immerse your jewel in a glass of soapy water for about 1 hour. Once this time has elapsed, remove your jewelry from the glass. Rinse with clean water. Then dry with a soft cloth.

Conclusion

As you can see, taking good care of your jewelry will keep it shining for longer. Even if 1-micron gold plating is a guarantee of quality, it's still important to adopt simple gestures to preserve your jewelry.
Avoid contact with water or substances such as perfume or lotion. Clean your jewelry at least once a week with soapy water and once a month with a toothbrush. Remove dust with a soft cloth. And store your jewelry in our dedicated linen bags, to avoid any scratches.

Find all your trendy gold-plated pieces in our online shop.