14k Gold Filled + 14k Rose Gold Filled Jewelry

What is gold filled jewelry?

Unlike solid gold jewelry, gold-filled jewelry isn’t an alloy, and isn’t one solid metal all the way through—it’s actually a layered material. The middle layer is a jeweler’s brass core, and the outer layer is gold (typically 14k). The gold on the outside is mechanically bonded to the brass core with heat and pressure so it’s more resistant to fading or tarnishing than gold-plated jewelry. To legally be considered “gold-filled,” a piece of jewelry has to be 5% (or 1/20th) gold by weight.

What are the benefits of buying gold filled jewelry?

Gold-filled jewelry is second only to solid solid gold in terms of quality (making it your best, most affordable option for gold jewelry). Gold-filled jewelry is much more affordable and offers many of the same benefits as solid gold! It looks the same, it can be worn pretty much 24/7 (as long as you keep it away from harsh chemicals and beauty products) and it’s typically great for those with sensitive skin. Plus, when compared to gold-plated jewelry, gold-filled jewelry contains much more gold and won’t turn your skin green! 

Does Gold-filled Jewelry tarnish?

Our 14k gold-filled jewelry can absolutely last you a lifetime. The fact is, there are a variety of things that can affect your jewelry—your lifestyle, how often you wear it and how often you clean it have massive effects on the longevity of 14k gold-filled pieces. So, does 14k gold-filled tarnish? It can—but there are small steps you can take to prevent it and make your gold-filled jewelry last a lifetime!

Pools & Hot Tubs:

Pools and hot tubs are a nasty chemical bath that’ll ruin your gold jewelry. The chemicals used to kill bacteria in pools create a harsh environment for jewelry, and they’re even more concentrated in hot tubs.

    The Sea:

    Saltwater + gold-filled jewelry = not great. Salty water can trigger a corrosion process that’ll eventually wear down and weaken your gold-filled pieces, creating tarnish and possibly even breaking thin chains! If your gold-filled pieces accidentally come in contact with salt water, don’t sweat it—just gently rinse your piece(s) with clean, non-chlorinated water and pat to dry.

    Sweat:

    We recommend removing your gold-filled jewelry before a workout just to be safe.

      Beauty & Cleaning Products:

      Perfumes, hairspray, lotions—and worst of all, sunscreen —can tarnish your gold-filled jewelry like no other. We always recommend putting on your jewelry after any of these beauty products, and take it off for certain activities that warrant heavy sunscreen use.

      Here are a list of some common products and their tarnish ratings:

      • Sunscreen
      • Perfume
      • Lotions
      • Cleaning Products with Bleach
      • Mild Dish Soap (if rinsed off): all good!
      • Nail Polish Remover
      • Hairspray 

      Caring for 14k gold-filled jewelry:

      Day-to-Day Maintenence

      To keep your gold-filled jewelry sparkly and shiny, gently remove makeup and oils from your pieces with a soft cloth (like a flannel or lens cloth) after each wear. If your pieces contacted sunscreen, saltwater or sweat, we recommend giving them a quick rinse in clean, lukewarm water and immediately drying them with a soft cloth. Removing your jewelry before sleep will do wonders in helping it last longer, too!
       

      Deep Cleaning

      Does gold-filled jewelry tarnish? It can, but it’s way less likely with a deep cleaning every month or two! If you know your gold-filled jewelry contacts sunscreen, sweat or any other chemical-heavy product, it's best to give it a nice, deep clean ASAP.

      • Grab a bowl of warm water with a drop of gentle soap (I use Dove) or mild dish soap.
      • Let the piece soak for about a minute.
      • Give it a scrub with an ultrasoft toothbrush, really getting into the chain where dirt and products like to build up.
      • Rinse it in lukewarm water a few times to make sure all the soap is removed.
      • Gently dry it afterward with a soft cloth; make sure it’s 100% dry before storing it!

      Proper Storage

      The number one way to store your gold-filled jewelry so it lasts is in something airtight. (Less airflow = less chance for any chemical reactions that cause tarnish!)

      • Store it clean after your day-to-day maintenance (see above).
      • Ideally, use a little ziplock bag—they're compact, airtight and don't contain any chemicals that cause tarnish. If you’re traveling (and want more protection for your piece), place the bag in a small, hard container. We know ziplocks aren’t as aesthetic as some other options, but they’re simple, inexpensive and effective!
      • Store in a low humidity environment.
         

      Can you wear gold-filled jewelry everyday?

      The answer is YES! Made by mechanically bonding a thick layer of 14k gold to a base metal, 14k gold-filled jewelry looks and wears just like solid gold without the price tag. The layer of gold in gold-filled jewelry is much thicker than you’d find in gold-plated or gold vermeil jewelry, making it less likely to fade over time.

      So, will gold-filled tarnish? It can if it constantly comes into contact with sweat, chemicals and chlorine, but by following the care instructions above, you can wear your beloved jewelry every day (and keep it looking shiny and new). ✨

       

      925 Sterling Silver Jewelry

      Sterling silver can last forever if you care for it properly.

      Made up of 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper, sterling silver requires some special care. 

      Wear Your Sterling Silver Jewelry Often

      If you're worried about your sterling silver jewelry dulling out, you should wear it more often. Believe it or not, your body's natural oils will keep your sterling silver shining.

      The more often you wear your sterling silver jewelry, the nicer and brighter it will look.

      Leaving your jewelry sitting in a box or drawer will only allow the color to dull out quicker. The materials will be sitting still, leaving the copper composition of the sterling silver to oxidize.

      Remove Your Jewelry While You're Cleaning

      While you're cleaning your home, you shouldn't be wearing any of your jewelry. This rule especially applies to your sterling silver pieces.

      If you do wear your jewelry while cleaning, it will be exposed to numerous chemicals. The most worrying of these chemicals is sulfur.

      When these kinds of chemicals come into contact with your jewelry, it can become ruined. Even just the fumes of cleaners can destroy pieces of jewelry. Whether you're deep cleaning or doing a light cleanse, you need to make sure to protect your jewelry.

      Keep Your Jewelry out of Direct Sunlight

      If sterling silver jewelry is left outside in the sunlight, it can become tarnished. Tarnished jewelry becomes discolored and rusted. If your jewelry is left directly in sunlight, tarnishing can happen even quicker.

      Put Your Jewelry on Last

      If you want to take extra special care of your sterling silver pieces, you should make sure to put your jewelry on last. By this, we mean that you should put on your jewelry after your clothes, lotions, perfumes, makeup, and everything else.

      If you were to spray perfume on your chest while you have a sterling silver necklace on, you may end up accelerate the tarnishing process. You'll literally spray the color of your silver away.

      Store Your Jewelry in an Air-Tight Space

      As we discussed, sterling silver can become tarnished and oxidized. One of the biggest culprits in the tarnishing and oxidizing process is actually the air around us.

      If your jewelry is kept out in a bowl or hanging on a hook, it can become tarnished more quickly. This is understandable as it is exposed to the oxygen in the air while it is out like that.

      We recommend keeping your jewelry in an air-tight container. This will prevent constant exposure to air.

      Keep Your Jewelry in a Cool Place

      We all understand how jewelry can be when it is kept in a hot place. You don't want to overheat your jewelry and ruin in by keeping in hot temperatures.

      You should be keeping your jewelry in a cool, dark place. By doing this, you're minimizing the amount of light and heat exposure that is being placed on your sterling silver jewelry.

      Be Careful What You Store Your Jewelry With

      If you are storing your jewelry in a box or other kind of organizer, you should be sure to avoid putting other things in the organizer with your jewelry.

      You shouldn't store your sterling silver jewelry with paper, cardboard, or cotton. These materials may contain sulfur. As we discussed earlier, sulfur is not good for your sterling silver.

      If your jewelry is packaged with these materials, it may end up becoming tarnished quicker than it normally would be.

      Store Your Jewelry Separately

      If you want to be safe, you may just want to store your jewelry separately. Not only does this keep your pieces from becoming tangled. It also prevents scratching.

      Your sterling silver may easily show scratches if it is against other pieces of jewelry.

      Take the Time to Clean Your Jewelry

      You should clean your jewelry regularly, especially if you do find that your sterling silver is tarnishing. We recommend cleaning your sterling silver jewelry with soap and water and/or clean it with a soft cloth or a silver polishing cloth to remove tarnish.