How to Care for Gold-Plated Jewellery:

Gold-plated jewellery should be kept away from anything that can affect the surface finish.

The gold plating is the outer layer of the jewellery, so it is exposed to daily products and habits. Perfume, lotion, sweat, chlorine, salt water, soap, shampoo, makeup and rough storage can all make the finish dull faster.

Avoid:

• Showering with jewellery
• Swimming with jewellery
• Wearing jewellery in hot tubs
• Spraying perfume directly on jewellery
• Applying lotion after jewellery is already on
• Sleeping in jewellery
• Exercising heavily in jewellery
• Using alcohol-based cleaners
• Using toothpaste or baking soda
• Scrubbing with rough cloths or hard brushes
• Storing earrings loose with other jewellery

This does not mean gold-plated jewellery is difficult to own. It simply means it should be treated as demi-fine jewellery, not waterproof gym jewellery.

Gold-plated jewellery should be cleaned gently.

For regular care, a soft, dry jewellery cloth is usually enough. Wipe the jewellery after wearing to remove oil, sweat, makeup and product residue. If the piece needs a deeper clean, use a very gentle approach and avoid soaking it for a long time.

Step	What to Do	Why
1	Place jewellery on a soft cloth	Prevents scratching
2	Wipe gently with a dry, lint-free cloth	Removes oils and buildup
3	Use a slightly damp soft cloth only if needed	Helps remove light residue
4	Dry fully with a clean soft cloth	Prevents moisture from sitting on the finish
5	Store separately once dry	Protects the surface

Do not use harsh jewellery dips, ultrasonic cleaners, toothpaste, baking soda, bleach, alcohol cleaners or rough brushes on gold-plated jewellery unless the brand specifically says it is safe for that piece.

Gold-plated jewellery does not need deep cleaning often. It needs gentle regular wiping.

Everyday earrings should be wiped more frequently because they sit close to the skin and collect natural oils, skincare, hair products and makeup. Occasion earrings may only need wiping after events.

For IWantJewels, everyday pieces like Cadenza S, Cadenza M, Amadea Huggie and Laluce should be wiped regularly. More detailed pieces like Farfalla, Orsola and Lusso should be cleaned gently and stored with extra care.

It is better not to shower with gold-plated jewellery.

Shower products such as shampoo, conditioner, soap and body wash can affect the finish over time. Moisture can also sit around earring posts, hinges, settings and small design details if jewellery is not dried properly.

The safest habit is to remove gold-plated jewellery before showering, bathing or washing your hair.

This is especially important for 14kt gold-plated jewellery over 925 sterling silver. The jewellery can be worn and enjoyed, but repeated water exposure is not ideal for preserving the finish.

It is better not to swim with gold-plated jewellery.

Pool water contains chlorine, and sea water contains salt. Both can be harsh on jewellery finishes. Swimming can also expose jewellery to sunscreen, sweat, friction and repeated moisture.

Remove gold-plated jewellery before:

• Swimming pools
• Hot tubs
• Beaches
• Saunas
• Steam rooms
• Long baths

If jewellery accidentally gets wet, wipe it gently with a soft cloth and let it dry fully before storing.

Sweat can affect gold-plated jewellery if it sits on the surface for too long, especially when mixed with perfume, lotion, sunscreen or makeup.

Normal wear is different from heavy workouts. Wearing earrings during a normal day is fine when they are wiped after use. Wearing jewellery during intense gym sessions, running, swimming or sports is not recommended.

At IWantJewels, jewellery is described as sweat-proof with care. That means it is designed for real wear, but the wearer should still avoid heavy sweat exposure and clean the jewellery gently after wearing.

Best habit: remove jewellery before heavy workouts and wipe it after normal daily wear.

Storage is one of the most important parts of caring for gold-plated jewellery.

Even clean jewellery can lose its shine faster if it is thrown into a drawer, handbag or jewellery bowl with other pieces. Rubbing and friction can affect the gold finish.

Storage Rule	Why It Helps
Store separately	Prevents pieces from rubbing together
Use a soft pouch or jewellery box	Protects the finish
Keep jewellery dry	Reduces moisture exposure
Avoid humid spaces	Bathrooms are not ideal
Keep earrings paired together	Prevents lost backs and scratches
Do not travel with loose jewellery	Reduces bending, rubbing and tangling

For earrings, use a soft pouch, jewellery box or organiser with separate sections. Make sure the jewellery is fully dry before storing it.

Gold-plated stud earrings are usually the easiest earrings to care for because they are small and simple.

Wipe the front, back, post and backing after wearing. Pay attention to the post and back because these areas sit close to the skin and can collect oil, sweat and product buildup.

Cadenza S lab-grown diamond studs are strong for everyday wear because they are subtle and easy to clean. Cadenza M diamond stud earrings are better if the shopper wants more visible sparkle while keeping the style classic.

Huggies and hoops need care around the hinge, curve and closure.

Use a soft cloth to wipe both the outside and inside of the earring. If the huggie has a hinge, make sure the area is dry before storing. Avoid forcing the closure or cleaning roughly around moving parts.

Amadea Huggie earrings are ideal for everyday styling and ear stacks, so they should be wiped regularly if worn often. Pave Hoops should be stored separately to avoid friction and protect the diamond details and gold finish.

Gold-plated drop earrings need slightly more careful storage because they may have movement, length or delicate details.

After wearing, wipe the earrings gently with a soft cloth. Avoid pulling on the drop section. Store them separately so they do not tangle, bend or rub against other jewellery.

Orsola drop earrings, Concetta Short earrings and Concetta Long earrings are strong occasion pieces. They should be wiped after weddings, dinners or parties, then stored carefully in a pouch or jewellery box.

Butterfly earrings often have more detailed shapes, so they should be handled gently.

Use a soft cloth to clean the front and back of the earring. If the design has small spaces, clean carefully without scrubbing. Store butterfly earrings separately so the wings or detailed areas do not rub against other pieces.

Farfalla butterfly earrings and Alidi Farfalla butterfly earrings are especially strong for gifts and symbolic jewellery. Because they often carry emotional value, proper storage helps preserve their special feeling.

Bold statement earrings need more careful care because they are usually more detailed and more visible when worn.

Wipe them after every event, especially if they were worn with perfume, hairspray, makeup or evening styling products. Store them separately in a soft pouch or protected box. Do not place heavy jewellery on top of them.

Lusso bold statement earrings should be treated as occasion jewellery. They are designed to stand out, so protecting the finish and stone details matters.

Travel can be rough on jewellery if pieces are packed loosely.

Use a travel jewellery case, soft pouch or small organiser. Keep earrings separate from chains, rings and bracelets. Do not throw jewellery into a makeup bag, handbag or suitcase pocket without protection.

For travel, Cadenza S, Cadenza M and Amadea Huggie earrings are practical because they are easy to style and easier to store than larger statement pieces.

Easiest Gold-Plated Earrings to Care For

Choose Cadenza S lab-grown diamond studs or Laluce minimalist diamond earrings. These are simple, easy to wipe and easy to store.

Best Everyday Gold-Plated Earrings

Choose Cadenza M diamond stud earrings for visible daily sparkle or Amadea Huggie earrings for a modern everyday look.

Best Gold-Plated Earrings for Ear Stacks

Choose Cadenza S with Amadea Huggie earrings. Add Laluce for a softer, minimalist stack.

Best Gold-Plated Earrings for Gifts

Choose Cadenza M for a safe classic gift, Farfalla for a meaningful gift or Orsola for a romantic occasion gift.

Best Gold-Plated Earrings for Weddings

Choose Orsola drop earrings for elegant movement, Concetta Short for softer styling or Cadenza M for detailed outfits.

Best Gold-Plated Earrings for Parties

Choose Lusso bold statement earrings for high-impact styling. Wipe them after wearing and store separately.

Gold-plated jewellery care is simple when you build the right habits. Choose studs and minimalist earrings for easiest care, huggies for everyday stacking, butterfly earrings for meaningful gifts, drops for weddings and Lusso for bold occasions.

One common mistake is showering with gold-plated jewellery. Shower products and moisture can affect the finish over time.

Another mistake is applying perfume after jewellery is already on. Perfume should be applied first, then jewellery should be worn after the product has settled.

A third mistake is storing earrings loose with other jewellery. Friction can affect the gold finish and cause scratches.

Another mistake is using harsh cleaning methods. Toothpaste, baking soda, alcohol cleaners, bleach and rough brushes are not suitable for gold-plated jewellery.

A final mistake is forgetting to wipe jewellery after wearing. A quick wipe removes oil, sweat and product buildup before it sits on the surface.

Before wearing or storing gold-plated jewellery, ask:

• Have I applied perfume, lotion and hairspray before putting jewellery on?
• Am I avoiding showering or swimming with the jewellery?
• Will I remove it before heavy workouts?
• Will I wipe it after wearing?
• Is the jewellery fully dry before storage?
• Am I storing it separately?
• Am I avoiding rough cloths and harsh cleaners?
• Am I protecting detailed earrings from rubbing?
• Am I treating the piece as demi-fine jewellery, not waterproof jewellery?
• Do I have a pouch, box or organiser for storage?

If these habits are followed, gold-plated jewellery can stay brighter, cleaner and more polished for longer.