Care

What is 2% gold filled jewelry?

Unlike solid gold jewelry, gold-filled jewelry is a layered material. The middle layer is a jeweler’s brass core, and the outer layer is gold (14k). The gold on the outside is mechanically bonded to the brass core with heat and pressure so it’s more resistant to fading or tarnishing than gold-plated jewelry. To legally be considered “gold-filled,” a piece of jewelry has to be 5% gold by weight. Our items are 2% and that’s how we’re able to make it so affordable for our customers. 

Does Gold-filled Jewelry tarnish?

Other people might tell you that gold-filled will never tarnish and lasts forever. 14k gold-filled jewelry could last years depending on how you care for them. There are a variety of things that can affect your jewelry—your lifestyle, how often you wear it, sweat, dirt, and day to day chemicals.

 So, does 14k gold-filled tarnish? It can—but there are small steps you can take to prevent it. 

How long can gold filled jewelry last?

How long 14k gold-filled jewelry can last depends on three things:

  1. What touches it: water, chlorine, chemicals from beauty products, sprays, lotions.
  2. How you store it: more airflow = more chance for oxidization 

Caring for 14k gold-filled jewelry, PART 1:

  • Avoid wearing your jewelry in chlorine/salt water.
  • Remove your jewelry when doing sports, sweaty activities or exercising. 
  • Avoid contact with lotion, cologne, perfumes, or other chemicals.
  • To clean them, wipe with a soft cotton cloth. No jewelry cleaner, this is not solid gold! (Remember our items are very affordable $30-$85! You cannot treat as solid gold) 

Know what causes tarnish:

Does gold-filled tarnish? It can—but you can also prevent it from happening (and make it last beautifully for many years). But we’ve found that the wrong chemicals, when left on the surface of your pieces, can cause the gold to darken more quickly than it should.

Pools & Hot Tubs:

Just don’t do it. Pools and hot tubs are a nasty chemical bath that’ll ruin your gold jewelry. 

Tarnish Rating: XXXXX

    The Sea:

    Saltwater + gold-filled jewelry = not ideal. Salty water can trigger a corrosion process that’ll eventually wear down and weaken your gold-filled pieces! If your gold-filled pieces accidentally come in contact with salt water, don’t sweat it—just gently rinse your piece(s) with clean, non-chlorinated water and pat to dry.

    Tarnish Rating: XXX

      Sweat:

      There are a lot of chemicals in your sweat, and depending on your personal body chemistry (or medications you may be taking), it could be hard on your pieces. We recommend removing your gold-filled jewelry before a workout to be safest. 

      But personally I have worn my gold filled necklaces for months while working out! But everyone is different.

      Tarnish Rating: X to XX (depending on body chemistry)

      Beauty & Cleaning Products:

      Perfumes, hairspray, lotions—and worst of all, sunscreen (!)—can tarnish your gold-filled jewelry like no other. We always recommend putting on your jewelry after any of these beauty products, and take it off for activities that require heavy sunscreen use.

      • Sunscreen: XXXXX
      • Perfume: XXX
      • Unscented Lotion: XX
      • Perfumed Lotion: XXX
      • Cleaning Products with Bleach: XXXXX
      • Nail Polish Remover: XXXXX
      • Hairspray: XXX

       Personal Experience:

      I have been wearing my 14k gold-filled necklaces for over a year now, and they're still great. A few chains aren't as sparkly as they were brand new, but it's not as noticeable against my skin (vs. on white paper, for example).

      Keep in mind, 2% gold filled is a fraction of the cost of 100% gold for a reason— they are not priced to last forever. 

       

      Deep Cleaning

      Does gold-filled jewelry tarnish? It can, but it’s way less likely with a deep cleaning every month or two! If you know your gold-filled jewelry contacts sunscreen, sweat or any other chemical-heavy product, it's best to give it a nice, deep clean ASAP.

      • Grab a bowl of warm water with a drop of baby soap.
      • Let the piece soak for about a minute.
      • Rinse it in lukewarm water a few times to make sure all the soap is removed.
      • Gently dry it afterward with a soft cloth; make sure it’s 100% dry before storing it!
      • NO CHEMICAL CLEANER! 

         

        Back to blog