The Best Ways to Care for Real Gold Jewelry
While silver's popularity has surpassed gold's in recent years, there is no doubt that gold is a timeless metal that will never go out of style.
Whether you only own a few gold pieces or your jewelry box is dominated by gold, these tips will help ensure your favorite pieces last a lifetime.
How to prevent gold from spoiling?
If treated properly, gold jewelry should last for years. Here are some things to keep in mind when wearing gold jewelry:
- Gold is a soft metal: While gold has its own shine and luster, it is also a soft metal. It is therefore susceptible to knocks, scratches, and dents. Be careful with your gold rings, watches, and bracelets when wearing them and remove them when participating in high-contact sports.
- Chlorine is gold's worst enemy: with repeated exposure, chlorine weakens the structure of your gold jewelry and eventually breaks it. Be sure to remove your jewelry before entering a pool or spa.
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Cover or remove them during cleaning: Household cleaners containing acids or abrasives will damage the finish of your jewelry. Be sure to use rubber gloves during cleaning (we recommend doing this to protect your skin) or remove your jewelry.
- Put on your jewelry last when getting ready: Makeup, perfume, hairspray, and lotions can damage your gold. Be sure to put these products on before your jewelry to limit exposure.
- Remove your jewelry before swimming: Wearing jewelry while swimming can cause soap buildup that will form a film on your jewelry.
How to clean gold jewelry?
When worn regularly, your gold jewelry is exposed to skin oils, perspiration, dust, makeup, and more. To maintain its shine, you should clean it regularly with a solution of 10 parts warm water and 2 parts dish soap. A few additional tips:
- Soaking is key: Soak your gold jewelry for 3 hours, then gently scrub it with a very soft brush. Rinse it with clean water and dry it with a cloth.
- Bonus tip: For extra shine, follow with a jewelry polishing cloth! Don't use a paper towel or tissue, as these can scratch your jewelry.
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Clean with soap if necessary: Clean your jewelry at home, but don't overdo it! Only clean your jewelry when it's visibly dirty or develops a patina.
- Other jeweler-approved cleaners: Rubbing alcohol is excellent for cleaning and disinfecting, but avoid bleach!
- Beware of damage: When cleaning your jewelry regularly, check it for damage and loose stones. Cleaning damaged pieces can only make the problem worse.
How to store your gold jewelry?
After wearing and cleaning your gold jewelry for the day, the next step is to store it properly.
- Use a jewelry box: A clean, dry, fabric-lined jewelry box is the best option.
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Wrap each piece in a soft cloth: If you don't have a jewelry box, save the clothes from your phone screen and use them to wrap each piece of jewelry individually.
- Store jewelry separately: this will prevent them from getting tangled or scratching each other.
SCHEDULE AN ANNUAL CLEANING
All of the above tips are excellent ways to care for your fine gold jewelry on a daily basis. However, they are not enough on their own. We recommend having your jewelry professionally cleaned every six months and having it checked once a year to ensure the prongs are not loose or damaged.
If you would like to schedule an inspection or cleaning of your gold jewelry, visit Janvier Jewelers or call us at (302) 366-7448 to speak with one of our experienced jewelry associates! We offer flexible hours, so you can drop off and pick up your jewelry at a time that works best for you!
WHAT TO CONSIDER BEFORE BUYING GOLD
If you don't have many gold pieces in your wardrobe, you may want to familiarize yourself with this material before purchasing any. Here's what you need to know:
- 24-karat gold isn't all it's cracked up to be: While many people are drawn to the purity of 24-karat gold (99.99%), few people realize that it's actually too soft to be used in most jewelry.
- Alloyed gold is stronger: 10, 14, and 18-carat gold is alloyed (mixed) with other metals to make it stronger.
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Look for a quality label: No matter what quality you choose, your gold should bear a quality label indicating the karat value.
TYPES OF GOLD ALLOYS
As briefly mentioned above, alloys are the result of combining two or more metals. This increases the strength of the base metal. Below are several types of gold alloys that you are probably already familiar with. Keep in mind that this list does not include all types of gold, only the most common ones:
- Yellow gold: Most people think of yellow gold when they imagine traditional gold jewelry. It's often a blend of pure gold, silver, copper, and zinc. Of all the types of gold, it's the most hypoallergenic and requires the least maintenance.
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White gold: White gold is an alloy of gold with nickel or palladium, zinc, and copper. It is a popular type of gold because it is affordable and fits in with the white metal trend. White gold is more durable and scratch-resistant than traditional yellow gold.
- Rose gold: Rose gold is all the rage in the jewelry industry. Its "not quite gold, not quite pink" color comes from an alloy of gold and copper. The result is a variety of flesh-pink tones that are all the rage with women of all ages right now! Due to its copper content, it is more durable than yellow and white gold.
We hope these tips help you take better care of your gold jewelry in the long run! If you care for it properly, your gold jewelry should be able to be passed down from generation to generation! Do you have more questions about caring for your jewelry? Visit our store or call us at (302) 366-7448 today - we'll be happy to help!
