Care instructions

Gold-filled is a great compromise between cost and quality and an affordable option for gold jewelry. The core is jeweler’s brass, and the outer layer is 14 k gold. Gold-fill edis 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.

14k gold-filled jewelry can last you a lifetime. Your lifestyle, how often you wear it and how often you clean it have massive effects on the longevity of your pieces. There are steps you can take to prevent tarnishing. 

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

1. What touches it: water, chlorine, chemicals from beauty products, body chemistry, etc.

2. How often you clean it

3. How you store it: more airflow = more chance for oxidization

Avoid pools and hot tubs - chlorine  damages even pure solid gold jewelry. Also salt water can  trigger corrosion. People’s hormones and various bodily chemistry, like sweat and sebum can tarnish gold differently with different people. So I highly recommend removing jewelry when going to the pool, sea swimming, excersising and sleeping. Beauty products that can cause tarnishing are for example sunscreen, perfume, lotion and hair spray. A good rule is to add your jewelry after applying any of these products. If your pieces contacted sunscreen, saltwater or sweat, I recommend giving them a quick rinse in clean, lukewarm water and immediately drying them with a soft cloth. If your jewelry includes freshwater pearls, its best to avoid water all together, to preserve the soft sheen of the pearl.

 Step by step cleaning:

• Grab a bowl of warm water with a drop of gentle soap (I use Dove) or mild dish soap.

• Let the piece soak for about a minute.

• Give it a scrub with an ultrasoft toothbrush, really getting into the cracks where dirt and products like to build up.

• 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!

• Store in a low humidity environment

 So the big question is, will gold-filled jewelry tarnish? It can if it constantly comes into contact with corrosing environments, but by following the care instructions above, you can wear your beloved jewelry every day for a long time to come.