If you have invested in a beautiful piece of gold-plated jewellery, you will want to protect the item to preserve its value and keep it looking as stunning as the day you bought it.
When you browse jewellery online, for instance, you will most likely be dazzled by the range of jewellery on offer and have your eye on at least one or two pieces you would like to own.
If you take the plunge and buy one of these jewellery items. You will want to know how to take care of it in the best possible way. So here are some tips on how to do that.
Understanding what gold plated is
A good starting point would be to learn the characteristics of gold-plated jewellery to understand how it will respond to being worn and what you need to keep it clean and shiny.
Gold-plated jewellery is an excellent option if you love buying fashionable items and want to stay within a budget.
The process of gold plating involves using electrolysis or chemicals to apply a very thin layer of gold over a lower-value metal. Such as copper or silver.
The gold layer can fade and tarnish over time if you don’t care about it. This is down to the molecules of the base metal transferring to the layer of gold over a period of time.
Be vigilant with certain substances.
You will want your gold-plated jewellery to look its best, and the same applies to how you look. Which means that you may use products such as nail polish, oils, and perfumes.
The problem with substances like these is that they can react with your jewellery, resulting in some tarnishing.
This is avoidable to a certain extent if you take extra care around these substances. The best tip is to remove your jewellery before applying any of these items to your skin or nails and only put it back on once everything dries.
Sweat can be an enemy too.
It is also well worth pointing out that sweat can cause your gold-plated jewellery to tarnish.
If you are going to do some running or swimming or any physical exercise that will make you break out into a sweat. The best thing to do would be to remove your jewellery beforehand.
Perfumes can be harmful.
Perfumes deserve a special mention as the chemicals used to make your favourite fragrance can interact with your jewellery. Causing the gold plating to lose its shine if too much perfume is sprayed on the metal over time.
Again, a simple and effective tip would be to spray your perfume and let it sink into your skin before putting your jewellery on.
The same applies to lotions and creams.
You will probably have a cleaning and beauty regime that involves applying certain creams and body lotions to keep your skin looking as good as possible.
The potential issue to consider is that these lotions and creams could cause damage to the gold plating over time. Especially if you are applying them daily with your jewellery on.
Don’t put your jewellery on until the cream has been fully absorbed into your skin so that your skin and gold have the most incredible opportunity to look their best at all times.
A quick clean after use
Although you might be tempted to simply put your jewellery away after use until the next time you want to wear it. You will prolong its life and lustre for much longer if you commit to a quick cleaning routine before putting it away.
All you need to do is use a cotton ball, like the ones you might use for your face. And remove any dust or dirt that might have settled on the surface while you were out and about.
Another option would be to buy a soft jewellery cloth to buff it up gently and restore its shine.
This simple cleaning routine won’t take any time. But it could make a big difference to the life and appearance of your gold-plated jewellery.
Don’t be tempted by jewellery cleaners.
Some products claim to be the perfect solution for cleaning your jewellery. Still, they are not always suited to gold-plated items, and as you can’t be sure of the ingredients, it is best to give these offerings a wide berth.
You don’t need to spend money on them as you can do the job with warm soapy water.
Carefully immerse the item in the solution and gently clean any dirt with a soft brush.
Watch out for scratching.
Scratches can be frustrating as they can start to spoil your jewellery look. But it is pretty easy to minimise the prospect of damage with a bit of care in storing your gold-plated item.
The best storage option would be to wrap the jewellery in a soft cloth after cleaning it. And keep it away from different types of jewellery so that the two don’t contact each other.
Take your jewellery off at night.
It might be tempting to climb into bed after a big night out and a long day. But you will risk the prospect of friction tarnishing your jewellery while you move around in bed during the night.
Any friction can soon wear away the gold plating. So be mindful of giving each item the best chance of looking its best whenever you decide to wear it.
Gold-plated jewellery can give you years of enjoyment. If you take as much care looking after each item as you did in choosing it.
