How Long Will My Gold Plated Earrings Stay Golden? | Lasting Care Guide

Understanding Gold Plating: What It Is and How It Works

Gold plated jewellery consists of a base metal (usually brass, copper, or sterling silver) covered with a thin layer of real gold. This layer is bonded to the base through an electrochemical process that creates a beautiful golden finish at a more affordable price than solid gold.

The thickness of this gold layer is the most important factor in determining how long your jewellery will keep its golden appearance. Quality gold plated pieces, like those from Ella & Eve, use a thicker gold layer than budget options, giving them a longer lifespan and better wear resistance.

It's important to understand that all gold plated jewellery will eventually show signs of wear as the gold layer naturally thins over time. This isn't a flaw – it's simply the nature of plated jewellery. With proper care, however, you can significantly extend how long your gold earrings and other plated pieces maintain their beautiful finish.

What Affects How Long Gold Plating Lasts?

Several key factors influence the lifespan of your gold plated jewellery:

• Plating Thickness: Higher quality pieces have thicker gold layers (measured in microns) that last longer. Budget pieces may have very thin plating that wears quickly.
• Base Metal Quality: The metal beneath the gold affects durability. Quality base metals resist corrosion better if the plating thins.
• Wear Frequency: Items worn daily naturally experience more friction and exposure to elements than occasional pieces.
• Contact Areas: Parts that rub against skin, clothing, or surfaces (like the back of earrings or the underside of bracelets) will show wear first.
• Body Chemistry: Everyone's skin has a unique pH and produces different amounts of oils and sweat, which can affect how quickly plating wears.
• Environmental Exposure: Chemicals, moisture, and even air pollution can accelerate wear on gold plating.

With proper care, quality gold plated jewellery typically maintains its appearance for six months to two years of regular wear. Some pieces, especially those worn occasionally and cared for meticulously, can look beautiful for much longer.

Daily Care Tips for Gold Plated Jewellery

The way you treat your gold plated pieces day-to-day has the biggest impact on how long they'll stay golden. Follow these simple habits:

• Last On, First Off: Put your jewellery on after applying makeup, perfume, hairspray, and lotions. Take it off before showering, swimming, or exercising.
• Avoid Chemical Contact: Keep your gold earrings and other plated jewellery away from household cleaners, chlorine, and beauty products containing alcohol or acids.
• Minimise Moisture Exposure: Remove jewellery before washing hands, bathing, swimming, or any activity where it might get wet. Moisture can accelerate tarnishing of the base metal if it reaches through thin spots in the plating.
• Gentle Handling: Put on and remove your jewellery carefully, avoiding pulling or tugging. Handle necklaces by their clasps rather than chains.
• Wipe After Wearing: Use a soft, lint-free cloth to gently wipe your jewellery after each wear to remove oils, sweat, and residues that could affect the plating.
• Rotate Your Collection: Give pieces a break between wears to reduce constant friction and exposure. This is a perfect reason to expand your collection with our special offer: Buy 1, get 50% OFF a second piece!

Cleaning Your Gold Plated Jewellery: A Gentle Approach

Regular Cleaning Method

Gold plated jewellery requires gentler cleaning than solid gold. Follow these steps:

1. Fill a small bowl with lukewarm water (never hot).
2. Add a tiny drop of mild, phosphate-free washing-up liquid.
3. Swish to create a gentle solution without strong bubbles.
4. Soak your gold plated piece for just 1-2 minutes (no longer).
5. If needed, use an extra-soft brush (like a clean baby toothbrush) to very gently clean crevices.
6. Rinse thoroughly with clean, room-temperature water.
7. Pat completely dry with a soft, non-abrasive cloth.
8. Allow to air dry fully before storing or wearing.

What to Avoid

These cleaning methods can damage gold plating and should always be avoided:

• Abrasive materials (including toothpaste, baking soda, or rough cloths)
• Ultrasonic cleaners (the vibrations can loosen plating)
• Jewellery dips or solutions (too harsh for plated items)
• Polishing cloths designed for solid gold (too abrasive for plating)
• Excessive rubbing or scrubbing (even with soft cloths)

Remember: Less is more when cleaning gold plated jewellery. Gentle, infrequent cleaning is better than aggressive cleaning that can wear away the gold layer.

Storing Your Gold Plated Treasures

Proper storage is crucial for preserving your gold plated jewellery when not being worn:

• Individual Storage: Store pieces separately to prevent scratching and tangling. Ideally, each piece should have its own compartment or pouch.
• Use Your Ella & Eve Packaging: Every piece of our jewellery comes with a complimentary gift box and gift bag. These aren't just for presentation – they're designed to protect your jewellery between wears.
• Control Humidity: Store in a cool, dry place. Avoid bathroom cabinets or areas with high humidity that can accelerate tarnishing.
• Anti-Tarnish Strips: Consider adding anti-tarnish paper strips to your storage area for extra protection.
• Sealed Containers: Airtight containers or ziplock bags can help protect pieces from air exposure, which can affect the base metal if the plating has any thin spots.
• Silica Gel Packets: These moisture absorbers can be placed near your jewellery storage to keep humidity levels low.

For necklaces, fasten the clasp before storing to prevent tangling. For anklets and delicate chains, consider storing them flat rather than hanging to prevent stretching.

Extending the Golden Glow: Advanced Care Tips

Beyond basic care, these strategies can help maximize the lifespan of your gold plated jewellery:

• Consider Re-plating: When the gold layer eventually wears, quality pieces can often be professionally re-plated by a jeweller, giving them a fresh golden finish.
• Apply Clear Nail Polish: For pieces that aren't worn against skin (like parts of earrings), a thin layer of clear nail polish can create a protective barrier. This works best on areas prone to discolouration but not in direct skin contact.
• Match Jewellery to Activities: Save your finest gold plated earrings for special occasions, and choose more durable pieces for everyday wear.
• Remove During Hand Sanitizing: The alcohol in hand sanitizers can damage gold plating, so remove bracelets and rings before using these products.
• Be Mindful of Layering: While layered jewellery looks beautiful, pieces rubbing against each other accelerates wear. If layering, choose combinations that won't create excessive friction.

Remember that even with perfect care, gold plating will eventually show signs of wear. This is part of the natural lifecycle of plated jewellery. When this happens, it may be time to treat yourself to a new piece from our beautiful collection.

The Ella & Eve Touch: Gifting, Value & Style

At Ella & Eve, we believe in making luxury accessible. Our gold plated jewellery offers the beauty of gold at a fraction of solid gold prices, while still providing excellent quality and durability when properly cared for.

Every single Ella & Eve gold plated jewellery order includes our elegant free gift box and branded gift bag. These aren't just beautiful packaging – they're designed to help protect your jewellery when not being worn.

Ready to add a golden touch to your collection or find the perfect gift? Explore our stunning range of gold earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and anklets. Plus, take advantage of our current promotion: Buy 1 piece of jewellery, get a second piece 50% OFF! It's the perfect opportunity to build your collection with pieces you can rotate to extend their lifespan.

Your Gold Plated Jewellery Questions Answered

Is it normal for gold plated jewellery to eventually fade?

Yes, this is completely normal. Gold plating is a thin layer of gold over a base metal, and with regular wear, this layer will gradually thin. The timeframe varies based on the quality of the plating, how often you wear the piece, and how well you care for it.

Can I shower with my gold plated earrings?

We don't recommend it. Water exposure, especially with soaps and shampoos, can accelerate the wearing of the gold plating. For maximum longevity, remove all gold plated jewellery before showering, swimming, or activities