by Jesús Zabala - 4 min read

How Long Does Gold Plated Jewelry Last

How long does gold plated jewelry last is a question that many people ask when considering purchasing this type of jewelry Gold jewelry is one of the flashiest, most desirable accessories.

And, gold fanatics tend to invest in many different pieces, from necklaces and rings to bracelets and watches in order to expand their collection and elevate their sense of style.

Source: jewelrylab.co

Gold Plating

Gold plating is a process where a thin layer of gold is bonded onto a base metal. Plating is quite common in the jewelry world, with gold and rhodium being two popular types.

It is commonly used for costume jewelry or to mimic more expensive pieces.

It is almost impossible to tell apart expensive pieces of gold jewelry from inexpensive gold plated imitations.

If you’re shopping for a new piece, consider buying a gold plated chain or bracelet.

This style of creating jewelry can lower the piece, as less gold is used during the process while maintaining the same dope look of a solid gold chain.

Okay, so maybe it’s cheaper, but how long does gold plated jewelry last? Read on to find out the average life of gold plated jewelry and how to properly care for it to prolong its life.

Determining exactly how long a gold plated chain or another gold plated piece will last can be difficult because it is affected by a number of factors.

If the plating is relatively thick, it may last longer than a piece with thin plating.

Pieces that are worn on a daily basis will also tend to wear out more quickly because it is often coming in contact with the outside world and elements that can cause damage.

On average, gold plated jewelry can last about two years before the gold plating begins to tarnish and wear down.

However, the length of time can be much shorter or longer depending on whether or not you decide to properly maintain your jewelry collection.

When the gold plating does begin to fade, you can consider taking it to a jeweler to be re-plated rather than completely replacing it.

How to Care For Gold Plated Jewelry to Increase Its longevity

Cleaning and maintaining gold jewelry is essential regardless of whether it’s solid or plated. However, plated gold jewelry needs even more attention because the layer of gold that adheres to the metal base is thinner than solid gold jewelry, which is made from gold alloy all the way through.

Here are some tips on how to make your gold plated jewelry last as long as possible:

Store your gold plated jewelry somewhere safe.

When you’re not wearing your pieces, you want to keep them in a jewelry box or dresser designed to store jewelry, as this will prevent dust and dirt from building up and eating away at the gold.

Avoid contact with makeup, perfume or cologne, sunscreen, moisturizers, soap, detergent, and any other type of chemical that you come into contact with on the daily.

These chemicals can react with the gold plating and cause it to break down quicker.

Do not wear gold plated jewelry to the beach or pool. Really, you shouldn’t wear any type of jewelry to the beach or the pool because the saltwater and the chemicals in the freshwater will react with your chains and turn that beautiful shiny gold into a chipped-away, lackluster piece.

Always clean your gold plated pinky ring pieces carefully.

To keep your pieces in top-notch shape, you should clean each one once a week using soap and warm water.

Then, we recommend a deep cleaning once per month, during which you can let your jewelry sit in the solution for longer than usual and use a toothbrush to scrub hard-to-reach areas.

Don’t forget to wipe your jewelry off with a soft cloth to prevent damage.

Gold plating can be done on most metals, such as nickel, brass, stainless steel, silver and copper. Modern industrial metals such as tungsten and titanium are also frequently gold plated. Of these, silver and copper are the most commonly used.

Gold Plated Jewelry