Tips to Extend the Life of Your Gold Plated Jewelry

Gold plated jewelry is a beautiful, affordable alternative to solid gold. With a thin layer of gold over a brass metal, it delivers the look and shine of real gold without the steep cost. However, to keep your favorite pieces looking flawless, regular care is essential.

Whether you love wearing a delicate initial pendant necklace on a night out or styling your everyday outfit with simple stud earrings, gold plated jewelry can elevate your look with a touch of elegance. But like all accessories, they require gentle handling and proper maintenance.

Many people also treasure their personalized items - like an initial necklace that holds special meaning, or a vibrant piece of birthstone jewelry that reflects their birth month. These sentimental pieces deserve long-lasting brilliance.

In this blog, we’ll walk you through practical, expert tips to help you extend the life of your gold plated jewelry - so you can continue to wear and enjoy each piece with confidence.

Why Gold Plated Jewelry Needs Extra Care

Gold plated jewelry is not made of solid gold. Instead, a thin layer of gold is electroplated over a metal like brass or stainless steel. Over time, this gold layer can wear away due to exposure to moisture, sweat, oils, and friction.

However, with proper care, your gold plated pieces can maintain their shine and finish for years. Here’s how:

1. Keep Your Jewelry Away From Moisture

One of the biggest threats to gold plating is moisture. Water can cause the gold layer to fade faster, especially if the base metal begins to oxidize.

Tips:

Always remove your gold plated jewelry before swimming, bathing, or doing dishes.

Avoid wearing it during workouts, as sweat contains salt and acids that can break down the gold plating.

2. Apply Beauty Products Before Wearing Jewelry

Perfumes, lotions, hair sprays, and makeup contain chemicals that can dull the shine of your jewelry. These products can react with the gold plating and cause it to tarnish or peel off over time.

Tips:

Apply all skincare and beauty products at least 10–15 minutes before putting on your jewelry.

Avoid direct contact with perfumes or body sprays near areas where you wear necklaces or earrings.

3. Store Your Jewelry Properly

The way you store your gold plated pieces matters. Air exposure and contact with other items can lead to scratches, tangling, and tarnishing.

Tips:

Store each piece in a separate soft pouch or anti-tarnish cloth.

Use a lined jewelry box with individual compartments to prevent pieces from rubbing against each other.

Keep your storage area dry and avoid humid places like bathrooms.

4. Clean Gently and Regularly

Cleaning gold plated jewelry is important, but it must be done gently. Harsh cleaning agents and abrasive cloths can strip off the gold layer.

Steps to clean your jewelry:

Use a soft, lint-free cloth or microfiber cloth to wipe off dust and oils after each wear.

For a deeper clean, dip the jewelry in lukewarm water mixed with mild soap.

Gently rub with a soft cloth or your fingers—never use a brush or scrubber.

Rinse with clean water and pat dry with a soft towel.

Pro Tip: Clean your jewelry only when needed to avoid unnecessary wear.

5. Avoid Friction and Impact

Jewelry like hoop earrings and stud earrings are often in constant contact with skin and hair. Necklaces, especially those worn daily, can rub against clothing and cause the gold layer to wear down.

Tips:

Remove your jewelry before sleeping or engaging in physical activities.

Avoid stacking or layering too many pieces together unless they are designed to be worn that way.

Be cautious with zippers and fabrics that may catch on fine chains or pendants.

6. Choose High-Quality Gold Plated Jewelry

Not all gold plated jewelry is created equal. The thickness of the gold layer and the quality of the base metal make a significant difference in how long the piece will last.

What to look for:

Look for pieces that are 18K gold plated with a thick layer (at least 0.5 microns or more).

Choose reputable brands that offer hypoallergenic, tarnish-resistant options.

Rarete Jewelry, for example, offers beautifully crafted birthstone jewelry, initial necklaces, and other gold plated favorites at affordable prices—with a focus on quality and durability.

7. Rotate Your Jewelry Collection

Wearing the same piece every day increases its exposure to wear and tear. Rotating your collection allows each piece to "rest" and last longer.

Tips:

Alternate between different pendant necklaces, earrings, and rings.

Create a weekly rotation schedule if you have a wide variety of gold plated pieces.

8. Protect from Heat and Chemicals

Gold plated jewelry should never be exposed to heat, chlorine, bleach, or other harsh chemicals. These can react with the metals and cause irreversible damage.

Tips:

Don’t wear your jewelry in hot tubs or while cleaning with household products.

Keep your jewelry away from open flames, hair dryers, and curling irons.

9. Get It Replated

If your favorite gold plated piece starts to show signs of fading, all is not lost. Many jewelers offer replating services, where they apply a new layer of gold to restore the piece’s shine.

When to consider replating:

If you’ve owned the piece for over a year and notice significant wear.

If the item holds sentimental value (like a birthstone necklace or initial necklace) and you want to keep it looking new.

10. Give Special Care to Delicate Designs

Delicate pieces like pendant necklaces, initial necklaces, or fine chains need extra care. Due to their minimal build, they are more susceptible to bending, tangling, and wearing out.

Tips:

Handle with care when putting on or removing these pieces.

Use necklace detanglers or storage cards to prevent tangling.

Final Thoughts

Gold plated jewelry can be timeless, elegant, and long-lasting - if you care for it properly. Whether you're wearing minimalist stud earrings, stylish hoop earrings, a sentimental initial necklace, or dazzling birthstone jewelry, a little maintenance goes a long way.

By following the tips above, you’ll not only protect your favorite pieces from fading but also ensure they remain a cherished part of your collection for years to come.

If you’re looking for affordable yet high-quality gold plated jewelry that’s made to last, check out Rarete Jewelry. Their collection of beautifully crafted birthstone pieces, earrings, and personalized designs is perfect for everyday elegance.