Article Index
- Why Gold-Plated Jewelry Requires Care
- How to Wear Gold-Plated Jewelry: The Right Routine
- Proper Storage: Where and How
- Cleaning Gold-Plated Jewelry: A Safe Method
- What to Absolutely Avoid
- When to Remove Gold-Plated Jewelry
There are lights that should never go out: the light of a smile, a kind gesture, or the glow that reflects on a golden jewel when it meets the sun’s rays. It’s a light that speaks of you—your style, your elegance, your personal story.
18-karat gold-plated jewelry is designed to accompany you over time, preserving the same radiance that captivated you at first glance. But like anything precious, it also asks for attention, gentleness, and small daily acts of care.
In this guide, you’ll discover everything you need to keep your gold-plated jewelry shining like the first day.
Why Gold-Plated Jewelry Requires Special Attention
Gold-plated jewelry is made with a thin layer of real gold (18 karats) applied over a metal base. This technique offers the beauty and warmth of gold at a more accessible price, but it requires specific care to preserve its longevity.
What “18K Gold-Plated” Means
Gold plating consists of a layer of pure gold deposited electrolytically onto a quality metal base. The thickness of this layer determines the durability of the jewel: Medema pieces use high-quality plating to ensure lasting resistance.
How Long Gold-Plated Jewelry Lasts
With proper care, gold-plated jewelry can maintain its shine for years. Longevity depends on:
✓ Frequency of use
✓ Exposure to chemicals
✓ Storage methods
✓ Daily care applied
Wear Them as a Ritual, Not as a Habit
Every time you choose a jewel, you choose how you want to feel. Wearing it mindfully is the first step to keeping it beautiful over time.
The Golden Rule: Put Them On Last
First: complete your beauty routine
Then: get dressed
Finally: put on your jewelry as the finishing touch!
This order ensures that perfumes, creams, and hair products don’t come into direct contact with the gold plating.
What to Avoid Before Wearing
Perfumes and fragrances: the alcohol can oxidize the plating
Body and face creams: create a film that dulls the gold
Hairspray and styling products: contain harsh agents
Oils and lotions: can build up in the crevices of the jewel
❤︎ Tip from the Rome Collection: As with the Rome Collection, where charm is measured in details, daily care is a gesture of elegance—small, yet essential. The attention you devote to your jewelry reflects the attention you give yourself.
Discover the Rome Collection →
Protect Them When You’re Not Wearing Them
Like the most authentic emotions, jewelry needs rest. Proper storage is essential to prevent oxidation, scratches, and loss of shine.
Where to Store Gold-Plated Jewelry
✓ In a dry place: humidity is the number one enemy
✓ Away from direct light: sunlight can alter the color
✓ At room temperature: avoid thermal shock
✓ In separate cases: each piece in its own space
The Ideal Case
- Fabric-lined jewelry boxes: protect from scratches and dust
- Individual pouches: perfect for separating pieces when you travel
- Compartmented organizers: keep everything tidy
Careful with the bathroom: humidity can accelerate oxidation. If possible, store your jewelry in the bedroom or a desk drawer.
❤︎ Tip from the Copenhagen Collection: The Copenhagen Collection, with its clean, geometric lines, is perfect for those who love order in beauty. Its jewels remain impeccable when kept with the same care with which they were created—organized, protected, respected.
Discover the Copenhagen Collection →
Clean Them Gently, Like Stroking a Memory
To bring your jewelry back to its glow, you don’t need much: just attention, gentleness, and the right products.
The Correct Method for Cleaning Gold-Plated Jewelry
After each use:
- Gently wipe with a soft, dry cloth
- Remove any traces of makeup or sweat
- Check that no product residue remains
Deep cleaning (once a month):
- Prepare a solution of lukewarm water and gentle neutral soap
- Dampen a soft cloth (never immerse the jewel directly)
- Pat the jewel delicately
- Dry immediately with a dry microfiber cloth
- Let it air-dry completely before storing
The Right Tools
✓ Microfiber cloth: doesn’t scratch and polishes perfectly
✓ Mild neutral soap: pH neutral, no harsh agents
✓ Lukewarm water (never hot): avoids thermal shock
✓ Cotton swabs: to reach the finest details
What Never to Use
✗ Abrasive sponges: scratch the plating
✗ Chemical cleaners: irreparably damage the gold
✗ Baking soda or lemon: too aggressive for plating
✗ Hard-bristle brushes: can remove the gold layer
✗ Acetone or alcohol: dissolve the plating
❤︎ Tip from the Cairo Collection: Just like in the Cairo Collection, where every curve and reflection is designed to capture the light, daily cleaning becomes a small personal ritual—a moment to find yourself and reconnect with the beauty of your jewelry.
Discover the Cairo Collection →
What to Absolutely Avoid with Gold-Plated Jewelry
Certain behaviors can irreparably damage the plating. Here’s what to avoid:
Aggressive Chemicals
Swimming pool chlorine: literally dissolves gold plating
Sea salt water: accelerates oxidation
Household cleaners: corrode the underlying metal
Cleaning products: contain agents that are too strong
Activities to Avoid While Wearing Gold-Plated Jewelry
Sports and gym: acidic sweat damages gold
Cooking: steam, oils, and heat can alter the plating
Gardening: soil and humidity are not friends of gold
Shower and bath: repeated water and soaps cause dullness
When to Remove Gold-Plated Jewelry: The Checklist
To preserve long-term brilliance, always remove jewelry before:
Before sleeping:
✓ Prevents friction with sheets
✓ Reduces exposure to night sweat
✓ Prevents accidental breakage
Before physical activity:
✓ Protects from sweat corrosion
✓ Avoids bumps and scratches
✓ Reduces the risk of loss
Before baths and showers:
✓ Prevents exposure to soaps and shampoos
✓ Avoids prolonged humidity
✓ Protects against patina build-up
Before applying beauty products:
✓ No contact with perfumes
✓ No exposure to creams
✓ No risk from hair products
6. True Brilliance Is the One You Choose to Preserve
Taking care of your jewelry is not only a way to preserve it physically, but also a sign of respect for what it represents: an elegance that doesn’t need time—only daily attention.
The Benefits of Consistent Care
Extended longevity: your jewels keep their beauty for years
Cost savings: fewer replacements or repairs
Sentimental value: you preserve your precious memories
Sustainability: less waste, more awareness
Because a jewel, when cared for with love, never loses its light—it transforms it. It becomes more personal, more yours, more alive. And when, one day, you wear it again for a special occasion, you’ll notice it still shines—perhaps not only because it’s gold, but because it carries the story of the one who loved it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Caring for Gold-Plated Jewelry
Can I wear gold-plated jewelry every day?
Yes, but remove it before activities that could damage it (sports, shower, cleaning). With proper care, it can accompany you daily.
How long does gold plating last?
With proper care, from 2 to 5 years or more. Durability depends on the quality of the plating and usage habits.
Can gold-plated jewelry be re-plated?
Yes, many jewelers offer replating services to renew pieces that have lost their shine.
Is it normal for the color to change?
A slight change over time is normal, but with the right care this process can be significantly slowed down.
Conclusion: Small Gestures, Big Difference
Caring for gold-plated jewelry doesn’t require great effort, only small, consistent attentions. Every time you gently clean an earring, every time you store a bracelet with care, you’re making a gesture of love toward yourself and the beauty you’ve chosen to wear.
Medema collections: from the essential geometry of Copenhagen to the timeless charm of Rome, to the fluid energy of Cairo—all are created to last. But their true longevity also depends on you, your hands, your daily care.
Remember: a well-cared-for jewel is one that tells stories for years. Your story.
Discover Medema’s 18K Gold-Plated Collections
Copenhagen Collection
Pure Lines, Modern Elegance
Discover Copenhagen →
Rome Collection
Timeless Classic Charm
Discover Rome →
Cairo Collection
Golden Energy & Movement
Discover Cairo →
