How to Care for Gold-Plated Jewellery: 9 Simple Tips to Keep It Looking Beautiful

Gold-plated jewellery is a beautiful way to add a touch of everyday luxury to your style. From delicate gold necklaces such as our Teal Green Stone Pendant Necklace to timeless hoops like our Gold Plated Orange Enamel Hoop Earrings, the right pieces can elevate an outfit and become treasured favourites in your jewellery collection.

With a little care and attention, you can help your gold-plated jewellery stay looking its best for longer. Whether you love wearing your favourite pieces every day or save them for special occasions, a few simple habits can make a difference.

At Oscar & Ava, we believe jewellery should be enjoyed, worn and treasured. Here's our guide to caring for your gold-plated jewellery, keeping it clean and helping to protect its finish.

Our Teal Green Stone Pendant Necklace, a colourful finishing touch.

1. Put Your Jewellery on Last

One of the easiest ways to care for gold-plated jewellery is to put it on after you've finished getting ready.

Perfume, moisturisers, hairspray, makeup and other beauty products can affect the finish of plated jewellery over time. Applying these products before putting on your jewellery helps minimise direct contact.

Make it part of your routine: finish your skincare, apply your perfume, allow everything to dry, and then add your favourite earrings, necklaces or bracelets. For a delicate finishing touch, explore our Gold Butterfly Enamel Stud Earrings.

It's a small change that can help keep your jewellery looking beautiful.

2. Remove Jewellery Before Showering or Swimming

Water alone won't necessarily damage every piece of gold-plated jewellery, but regular exposure to moisture, soaps, shampoos and swimming pool chemicals can contribute to wear and dullness.

For the best results, remove your jewellery before:

• Showering or bathing.

• Swimming in pools or the sea.

• Using a hot tub or sauna.

• Washing up or doing household cleaning.

Chlorine, salt water and cleaning chemicals can be particularly harsh on jewellery finishes. Keeping your pieces dry whenever possible is a sensible way to help preserve their appearance.

3. Clean Your Gold-Plated Jewellery Gently

Gold-plated jewellery doesn't need complicated cleaning products or expensive solutions. In fact, gentle cleaning is usually best.

To clean your jewellery:

1. Use a soft, clean and dry microfibre cloth to remove fingerprints, oils and everyday residue.

2. Wipe gently rather than rubbing aggressively.

3. Pay attention to areas that come into contact with your skin.

4. Make sure your jewellery is completely dry before storing it.

Avoid abrasive cloths, jewellery polishing compounds, harsh chemicals and ultrasonic cleaners unless the manufacturer confirms they are suitable for your specific piece. These can damage delicate plating or finishes.

When in doubt, follow the care instructions supplied with your jewellery.

Soft textures and timeless detail: the Gold-Tone Pearl Necklace.

4. Store Your Jewellery Properly

How you store your jewellery can make a real difference to how it looks over time.

Leaving necklaces tangled together or earrings loose in a drawer can lead to scratches, friction and unnecessary wear.

Instead, try to:

• Store each piece separately in a soft pouch or jewellery box.

• Keep necklaces fastened to reduce tangling.

• Store jewellery somewhere cool and dry.

• Avoid leaving pieces on bathroom surfaces, where humidity can be high.

• Keep jewellery away from direct sunlight and excessive heat.

A dedicated jewellery box can also make it easier to find the perfect finishing touch for your outfit. Give necklaces such as our Blush Pink Stone Pendant Necklace and Gold-Tone Pearl Necklace their own space rather than storing their chains together.

Beautiful jewellery deserves beautiful storage.

5. Avoid Wearing Jewellery During Exercise

Exercise can expose your jewellery to sweat, friction and repeated movement. Over time, these factors may affect the finish of plated pieces.

Remove your jewellery before going to the gym, running, playing sports or undertaking strenuous activities.

This also helps reduce the risk of necklaces catching, bracelets being scratched or earrings becoming damaged.

Once you've finished exercising, showered and dried your skin, you can put your favourite pieces back on. For relaxed everyday styling afterwards, take a look at our Sage Green Beaded Adjustable Bracelet or Turquoise Beaded Adjustable Bracelet.

A little everyday colour with our Sage Green Beaded Adjustable Bracelet.

6. Be Careful With Perfume, Moisturisers and Sunscreen

Beauty products are part of many people's daily routines, but they can be less friendly to jewellery.

Perfume, body lotions, sunscreen and hair products may leave a residue on jewellery or contribute to deterioration of the plated surface.

To minimise contact:

• Apply skincare and body products before putting on jewellery.

• Allow products to dry fully before dressing.

• Avoid spraying perfume directly onto necklaces or earrings.

• Gently wipe your jewellery after wearing it if you notice a build-up of residue.

You don't need to change your beauty routine. Simply putting your jewellery on last can help reduce unnecessary exposure.

7. Understand Why Gold-Plated Jewellery Can Fade

Gold-plated jewellery has a thin layer of gold applied over another material. The thickness of that layer, the underlying metal, the quality of the plating and how the jewellery is worn all influence how well the finish lasts.

Over time, friction, moisture, chemicals and everyday wear can gradually affect the gold finish.

Some pieces may retain their appearance for a long time with careful use, while others may show signs of wear sooner, particularly in areas that rub against the skin or other surfaces.

If your jewellery begins to look less bright, gentle cleaning may help remove surface residue. However, cleaning cannot restore gold plating that has worn away.

The best approach is to enjoy your jewellery while taking simple steps to minimise avoidable wear.

8. Choose Jewellery Materials That Suit Your Lifestyle

When choosing gold-coloured jewellery, it's worth looking beyond appearance and considering the materials used.

For example, stainless steel jewellery with gold plating can be a practical option for everyday styling. However, its durability depends on the quality of the base metal, the plating process and how the piece is cared for. Our Mint Green Enamel Gold Mini Hoop Earrings feature PVD gold-plated stainless steel, offering one example to explore when comparing materials and finishes.

At Oscar & Ava, we love jewellery that combines considered design with versatile styling. Whether you're looking for understated everyday earrings such as our Mini Gold Beaded Hoop Earrings or a special piece to complete an outfit, choosing jewellery that suits your preferences and lifestyle is an important part of finding pieces you'll love wearing.

If you have sensitive skin, check the specific material and coating information for each item. Hypoallergenic claims should always be considered in the context of the materials used and your individual sensitivities.

Fresh colour, petite proportions: our Mint Green Enamel Gold Mini Hoop Earrings.

9. Make Jewellery Care Part of Your Routine

Looking after your jewellery doesn't have to be time-consuming.

A simple routine can help:

• Every day: Put jewellery on last and remove it before swimming, showering or exercising.

• After wearing: Wipe away oils and residue with a soft cloth.

• When storing: Keep pieces dry, separate and protected.

• Occasionally: Check clasps, chains and settings for signs of wear.

These small habits can help you enjoy your favourite pieces for longer without taking the pleasure out of wearing them.

Find Your Next Favourite Piece at Oscar & Ava

Jewellery is about more than the finishing touch to an outfit. It's a way to express your personal style, celebrate special moments and enjoy the little details that make an everyday look feel special.

At Oscar & Ava, we believe in thoughtfully selected jewellery, considered design and beautiful presentation. Whether you're searching for versatile earrings like our Black & Gold Two-Tone Hoop Earrings or Gold Beaded Mini Hoop Earrings, or a thoughtful gift such as our Ivory & Gold Beaded Adjustable Bracelet, we're here to help you find something you'll love.

For more colour in your bracelet collection, discover the Gold & Navy Blue Beaded Bracelet and Blue-Grey Beaded Adjustable Bracelet, each ready to bring a different finishing touch to your look.

Discover the Oscar & Ava collection and find your next favourite piece.

Explore our jewellery collection and bring a little everyday luxury to your style.