How to Care for Gold Plated Jewellery — Complete Guide to Making It Last | Abdesigns
Gold plated jewellery is one of India's most loved choices — it gives you the warmth and richness of gold at a fraction of real gold's cost. But many women make simple mistakes that cause their beautiful pieces to tarnish, chip, or dull far faster than they should. With the right care, a good quality gold plated jewellery piece from Abdesigns Jewellery can stay beautiful for years.
This complete guide covers everything you need to know to make your gold plated jewellery last as long as possible.
Why Gold Plated Jewellery Needs Special Care
Gold plated jewellery consists of a base metal — typically brass or copper — coated with a thin layer of gold through an electroplating process. This gold layer, while beautiful, is thin and can be worn away by friction, moisture, chemicals, and improper storage. Understanding this helps you protect the gold layer and extend the life of your pieces significantly.
The Golden Rules — What to Always Do
1. Last On, First Off
Always put on your jewellery as the last step of your getting-ready routine — after applying makeup, perfume, hairspray, and lotions. Chemicals in these products are some of the most aggressive attackers of gold plating. And always remove jewellery first when undressing.
2. Wipe After Every Wear
After wearing your jewellery, wipe each piece gently with a soft, dry, lint-free cloth before storing. This removes sweat, skin oils, and any product residue that could accelerate tarnishing. This simple 30-second step can double the life of your gold plated pieces.
3. Store Separately
Never throw jewellery pieces together in a box or bag. Friction between pieces causes micro-scratches that dull the gold plating rapidly. Store each piece in its own soft pouch — the ones Abdesigns provides with every purchase are perfect for this purpose.
4. Keep Away from Water
Remove all gold plated jewellery before bathing, swimming, doing dishes, or any water activity. Water — especially hot water, chlorinated pool water, and saltwater — is one of the fastest ways to damage gold plating.
5. Rotate Your Collection
Wearing the same piece every day accelerates wear. Rotate between multiple pieces to give each one recovery time. This is also a wonderful excuse to build a larger jewellery collection at Abdesigns' honest prices.
What to Absolutely Avoid
- Perfume directly on jewellery: Alcohol in perfumes strips gold plating rapidly
- Ultrasonic cleaners: Too aggressive for gold plated pieces — removes the plating
- Harsh chemical cleaners: Bleach, acetone, and cleaning products destroy gold plating instantly
- Sleeping with jewellery on: Friction against pillows and sheets causes consistent daily wear
- Exercising with jewellery on: Sweat is acidic and attacks gold plating
- Stacking without separators: Metal-on-metal friction is a plating's worst enemy
How to Clean Gold Plated Jewellery
- Mix a drop of mild dish soap in a small bowl of lukewarm — not hot — water
- Dip a soft cloth or cotton ball in the solution
- Gently wipe the jewellery surface — do not scrub
- Rinse with a slightly damp clean cloth
- Dry immediately and completely with a soft dry cloth
- Allow to air dry for 10 minutes before storing
What to Do When Gold Plating Fades
Gold plating will eventually wear through with regular use — this is normal and expected. When the base metal starts showing, there are two options: re-plating (available at local jewellers) or replacing the piece. At Abdesigns Jewellery prices, replacing a piece is often more economical than re-plating.
Shop Long-Lasting Gold Plated Jewellery at Abdesigns
All Abdesigns jewellery uses premium tarnish-resistant gold plating specifically designed for durability. Nickel-free, skin-friendly base metals. Prices from ₹299. Handcrafted in Surat, Gujarat. Trusted by 1,00,000+ happy customers.
