How to Keep Your Gold Jewelry from TarnishingJuly 12, 2023
Gold jewelry are exquisite and timeless. They effortlessly elevate any outfit and add a touch of luxury. Gold is generally a good investment too as their resale value may be higher. Unfortunately, gold jewelry doesn’t always stay as bright and luxurious as the first day - but it can. Preserving gold jewelry is important to ensure your gold jewelry doesn’t tarnish and remains as bright as the first day. In this blog post, we will talk about some tips on how to keep your gold jewelry tarnish free.
Does Real Gold Tarnish?
Only 24K gold doesn’t tarnish as it is pure gold and doesn’t contain other metals. But 10K gold (which is 41.7% pure gold hardened with metal alloys made of silver, nickel, and iron) and 14K gold (which is 58.3% pure gold, mixed with silver, copper, and palladium alloy metals) may tarnish over time due to the use of other metals.
So you might find yourself thinking, if 24K gold doesn’t tarnish, why don’t we use it for jewelry? The answer is simple: because gold is a soft metal, it is prone to scratching and bending. Therefore, other metals are used in making jewelry to make it harder and more durable. So even though 24K gold does not tarnish, it’s not ideal for jewelry as it’s not as durable as 10K and 14K gold.
So let’s look at how to keep your gold jewelry from tarnishing.
Store Separately in a Dry Place
Moisture is one of the main causes of tarnishing so you should keep your gold jewelry in a cool, dry place. You can use a jewelry box or pouch to minimize the exposure to moisture, and you can also use anti-tarnish strips or silica gel packets to reduce the humidity in your jewelry box or pouch and prevent tarnishing.
You should also avoid contact with other metals, so you should place different metals in separate compartments or pouches. But, for instance, even if you have the same metal jewerly like a 14K yellow gold Cuban Link Chain Necklace and a 14K Cuban Link Chain Bracelet, you can still choose to store them separately in order to prevent scratching.
Keep Your Jewelry Away from Chemicals
Now when we say chemicals, we mean all chemicals - household cleaning products, lotions, hair sprays, perfumes etc can all damage your gold jewelry. So you should avoid wearing your gold jewelry when cleaning your house, taking a shower, doing skincare, or basically getting ready in the morning. You don’t want lotion stuck on your stylish Nugget Ring or perfume stains on your Herringbone Chain Necklace; lotions can blemish your jewelry and perfumes and can contaminate the metal. Just think of it this way - your gold jewelry should be the last touch.
Avoid Excessive Sunlight
Gold jewelry is a must during summer; whether we are sunbathing on the beach, sightseeing on holiday, or simply having a BBQ in the garden, gold jewelry elevates our summer outfits. But unfortunately, sunlight and heat can cause tarnishing. So you should try to avoid excessive sunlight in order to preserve your gold jewelry.
Remove Your Gold Jewelry Before Swimming & Exercising
We know gold jewelry is a must for any beachwear but unfortunately both chlorine and sweat tarnish gold. Now of course we naturally sweat during summer so when we say sweat, we mean excessive sweat during exercise. So you should avoid wearing your gold jewelry before hitting the gym or going for a swim, which includes your Stud Earrings.
Clean Regularly
We are all human so it’s only natural that some of the above happens. That’s why it’s important to clean your gold jewelry regularly to remove residues that contribute to tarnish. You don’t need to do anything over the top to clean your gold jewelry, just mix warm water with a few drops of mild dishwashing detergent and leave your gold jewelry in there for 5 minutes. After that, rinse your gold jewelry and allow it to air dry - simple!
How to Clean Tarnished Gold Jewelry
If you haven’t been doing the above and your gold jewelry is already tarnished, you can try the above cleaning method and use a microfiber cloth to buff it if there is residue on your gold jewelry. Alternatively, if you want to be safe and prevent damage to your gold jewelry, you can just take it to a jeweler who can clean it for you. If your gold jewelry has gemstones, it’s especially important to take it to a jeweler in order to prevent damaging the gemstones.
Conclusion
We know gold jewelry isn’t cheap but it’s one of those things that as long as you look after it, it will never fail you. Unlike imitation gold or plated gold jewelry, real gold jewelry can last so long that they can be a sentimental piece passed down from generation to generation.
Whether you have a yellow, white or rose gold necklace, ring or earrings, you should give the same care to each piece.
At Bayam Jewelry, we guarantee that our gold jewelry is worth the money. They are made with the highest quality materials with excellent craftsmanship, so not only are they stylish, but they are also strong and durable. We also offer lifetime warranty for all our products against defects in material and workmanship.
So whatever your jewelry preferences, we’ve got you covered. We offer a variety of Chains, Necklaces, Pendants, Bracelets, Rings, and Earrings ranging from elegant, minimalistic styles to bold, statement-making styles. So go to Bayam Jewelry and find your forever gold jewelry today.