How to clean gold-plated and silver jewelry

Know what you have

925 sterling silver is 92.5% silver. It can tarnish but it does not wear away. Gold-plated or gold-coated pieces have a thin gold layer that can fade with friction, sweat, and chemicals.

The listing shows the material and finish on each piece. For its 925 silver rings with 18K plating, the warranty covers the silver for the life of the piece and the plating for 3 months.

Cleaning

• Wipe with a soft, dry microfiber cloth after wearing.
• For grime, dip briefly in lukewarm water with a drop of mild soap, then rinse and pat completely dry.
• Do not use silver dip, toothpaste, or abrasive polishing cloths on plated pieces. They remove plating.
• Kundan and stone-set pieces: clean only with a dry cloth. Water can loosen settings and dull foil backing.

Habits that protect plating

• Put jewelry on last, after perfume, lotion, and hairspray.
• Take it off for swimming, the gym, showering, and cleaning.
• Store each piece separately in a soft pouch or lined box so pieces do not scratch each other.

Kundan, zircon, and plated jewelry are not the same job

Kundan and stone-set necklace sets are for events. They have foil behind stones and do not like water. Gold-plated hoops and jhumkas are everyday pieces that still hate perfume and the gym. 925 silver rings can be worn more often; they tarnish and polish back.

Shop Kundan necklace sets and open a product for weight and finish. Pair a set with a Shoulder or crossbody bag if you need a complete gift, and keep the care card with the box.

• 925 silver: tarnish is normal; a silver cloth is fine on unplated silver.
• 18K gold plated over silver: wipe dry; no dip, no toothpaste.
• Kundan / foil-backed stones: dry cloth only.

A weekly and a seasonal routine

Weekly: wipe what you wore, check clasps, and put each piece back in its pouch. Seasonal: look at plated rings and bracelets for a bright base metal showing through. That is wear, not dirt. You cannot plate it back at home.

If you are gifting, include this care note. A Holiday gift guide for her is the shorter list; this page is the care manual that should travel with the box.

What we will not claim

We do not claim plating lasts a lifetime. The maker's own warranty language on plated 925 rings covers the silver for the life of the piece and the plating for three months. We repeat that, we do not stretch it.

We do not sell solid gold kundan. If a listing says gold plated, it is plated. Read the specification table on the product page before you compare our price with a solid-gold jeweler.

Common questions