The appeal of silver jewelry is the soft color and natural shine of the material itself. On the other hand, there are many people who prefer gold color because "gold blends in better with the skin" and "it looks more glamorous."
However, creating voluminous designs out of real gold is often not realistic in terms of cost, especially in today's world where the price of gold is soaring.
So what is often used is gold-coated jewelry based on "Silver 925 (SV925)". Silver is valuable as a metal, is lighter than gold, and can produce a luxurious finish while keeping costs down.
What causes discoloration even in gold coating?
However, silver is also a metal that easily tarnishes when it reacts with oxygen and moisture in the air. Even though the surface is protected by gold coating, it may tarnish to a reddish-brown color depending on sweat, constitution, and storage environment.
Particular care should be taken in the following cases:
- Left exposed to air for a long period of time
- I left it sweating.
- It was stored in a humid place
- The item was left with cosmetics or chemicals on it.
How to remove tarnish from silver and precautions
For uncoated silver jewelry, commercially available silver cloths and cleaners can restore its original shine, but using them on gold-plated items may remove the coating.
If the discolouration is minor, you can try cleaning it with household baking soda , but be aware of the following points:
- If the discoloration is severe, it will be difficult to remove without scrubbing, and there is a risk that the coating will peel off.
- If the design has small grooves, dirt is more likely to remain.
- Pearls and gemstones are difficult to treat with baking soda.
Recommended jewelry cleaners for gold plating
In response to the request, "Is there an easier cleaner that can also be used on gold plating?", I was told about a foam (mousse) type jewelry cleaner by someone who runs the same jewelry brand.
It looks simple, but it's actually very effective. It comes out as a foam, not a liquid or cream, so it spreads evenly to the finer details.
How to use:
- Spray on discoloured area
- Leave it for about 1 minute
- Rinse with water
This will clean even the fine grooves.
Another great feature is that it can be used not only on plain silver items, but also on jewelry with stones or pearls (there are some stones that cannot be used, so please check the product description for details) (please avoid soaking for long periods of time).
For more information on how to use it and what it looks like before and after use, please watch the video below.
If the coating becomes thin, it can be recoated.
If the coating becomes thin, it can be re-coated.
If you are concerned about discoloration or stains but find it difficult to clean them yourself, we can also provide cleaning services.
Please feel free to contact us here and we will examine the situation and propose the best solution.
