I love gold! It’s one of the un-fussiest metals to take care of, it’s slow to oxidize or tarnish, and cleaning it is delightfully simple and straightforward. Here I share my best method for cleaning gold jewelry at home — don’t read too fast or you’ll miss it!
Cleaning
Brass Jewelry and That "Green Shadow"
Jewelry CareCommentI love brass with its deep golden color and its hefty, solid weight. If you prefer wearing gold tones to silver ones (🙋🏻♀️), brass lets you indulge in fun, statement-making jewelry without mortgaging your house (unless you’re Elizabeth Taylor, of course).
But every metal has its dark side — sterling silver tarnishes crazy fast, high karat golds get more red in tone in a way I don’t love, and wearing brass can leave a “green shadow” on your skin.
Tips for Cleaning Brass Jewelry
Jewelry CareCommentWith its deep gold color and substantial weight, brass is a wonderful metal to use in jewelry, and I’m so glad to see more designers and jewelry lovers embracing it. Though I’ve heard people worry about how it might tarnish or wear over time, it’s actually pretty easy to keep clean and looking like new.
Your Jewelry Care Kit
Jewelry CareCommentTips for Cleaning Gold-Plated Jewelry
Jewelry CareCommentI know what it’s like to fall in love with jewelry that’s plated, and wanting to keep it looking good so you can wear it forever and ever. Cleaning gold plated jewelry, though, is a little different from cleaning solid sterling silver or solid gold. Because there’s a different metal underneath all that gold (brass, in our case), you’ll want to be a little more gentle.