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As gold has always been the standard for luxury, social status, and quality, gold jewelry is one of the most popular forms of jewelry. Jewelry made of gold goes back further than most jewelry and is one of the types of jewelry most commonly passed down. Gold accessories are found virtually all over the place, from watches and necklaces to gold rings and engagement rings.
Gold does not tarnish in its purest form, but gold used for jewelry is mixed with other base metals, allowing some tarnish to evolve. Let's take a closer look at what constitutes gold jewelry and how tarnished gold jewelry can be prevented or fixed.
Does Gold Jewelry Tarnish?
You will notice a slight discoloration of the jewelry when gold tarnishes (usually a darker color). This implies that the gold surface begins to slightly corrode (oxidation) and a tarnish film develops. There's a lot of speculation about whether or not real gold tarnishes, so we're going to explain exactly how gold jewelry tarnishes.
As an ingredient, gold retains the title as one of the least reactive components. Gold does not rust or tarnish in its pure form, as it does not merge easily with oxygen. This is why it remains as shiny as pure gold. It is very rare to find pieces of pure gold jewelry. As soft as pure gold is, to be formed into strong, durable jewelry, it must be alloyed with other metals. Usually, the metals that are blended with gold have properties that make them tarnishable. This is why, if not cared for, you will see gold jewelry begin to tarnish.
You would want to opt for a higher karat of gold if you are shopping for gold jewelry that is less likely to tarnish. 24 karat gold, for instance, would not tarnish, since it is pure gold, not gold plated. In jewels under 14 karats of gold, you can find further tarnishing. To play it safe, look for 14-18 karat gold jewelry.
One of the greatest myths about gold jewelry is that tarnishing reveals that a piece of jewelry is not real. As this just means that the jewelry is not pure gold, this can not be further from the fact. The bigger the gold karat indicates that fewer metals have been combined with them. Lesser karats seem to tarnish more because of this. Lesser karat gold jewelry, however, tarnishes at a slower rate than sterling silver, another common jewelry option. So what causes the gold jewelry to tarnish, precisely, and what helps to speed the process up? Let's debate!
What Causes Gold To Tarnish?
Oxygen and sulfur are contributing factors to gold tarnishing, almost like rust on a piece of silver. Corrosion on the surface can occur as moisture combines with oxygen and sulfur compounds in the metals combined with gold, creating a tarnished appearance. Because of the way your body works, some people can be tarnished faster than others.
You will also find a rise in tarnish if you regularly use cologne, lipstick, hairspray, and detergents on areas of the body where your jewelry sits. The leading factor may also be acidic foods. Gold jewels will all be tarnished faster by food such as tomatoes, herbs, pickles, and lemons. These chemical reactions can be prevented to keep your gold jewelry looking brand new.
How To Prevent Gold Jewelry From Tarnishing
If it comes to avoiding the tarnishing of your gold jewelry, you would first want to try to avoid exposing them to constant contact with the above chemicals. Here are a few more tips for not tarnishing your gold jewelry and how to clean gold:
When washing your hands or showering, remove your jewelry. Soaps and lotion will leave your jewelry with a dull finish, which will make it more difficult to clean your jewelry over time.
Get a nice box of jewelry that keeps all your jewelry separate. This will lower the likelihood that they will be scratched against each other. Add a silica gel package to help extract moisture from your jewelry box.
Do not let your jewelry remain wet for a long time.
How Do You Remove Tarnish From Gold?
And what are you going to do when your gold jewelry begins to darken? You can use a few drops of mild, non-phosphate dish soap and warm water to help clean up the tarnish if the jewelry has only surface tarnish. With a cotton swab, soft toothbrush, a soft cloth, or just your fingers, this can be achieved. Although some may offer toothpaste or baking soda as a solution, both of these are quite abrasive and can do your jewelry more harm. Use a towel to dry your jewelry once cleaned and allow it to air-dry overnight. Polish the jewelry to a nice shine using a cotton cloth or jewelry polishing cloth. Here is our #1 choice for gold polishing cloths:
Bring it to a competent jeweler like Everyone Of Confidence if you are unable to restore your jewelry to its original shine, or do not feel secure cleaning it yourself. Our team of jewelry specialists will access and polish the gold jewelry back to perfection. A jeweler will also teach you how to take care of your piece correctly and have maintenance advice to help you keep your gold jewelry looking fresh at all times. They can also show you the proper cleaning techniques for solid gold, yellow gold, rose gold, and any other precious metal jewelry you may have.
You can use one of the following jewelry cleaners to remove any build up tarnish and bring back the true luster of your gold piece: