How to Clean and Care for Your Gold Jewellery

Pure gold doesn't react with air or water, so it never rusts and rarely tarnishes on its own — but the alloy metals mixed in to make 18K, 21K, or 22K jewellery durable can react with chemicals, which is what actually dulls a piece's shine over time. Most of the damage done to gold jewellery comes from three everyday habits: wearing it while applying perfume or lotion, swimming in chlorinated water, and storing pieces tangled together in one box.

What to avoid

Perfume, lotion, and hairspray all contain chemicals that build up a filmy residue on gold over time, which is why the general rule is to put jewellery on last, after getting dressed. Chlorine is more aggressive still — it can weaken the alloy in gold over repeated exposure, so it's worth removing rings and bracelets before a swimming pool or a chlorine-treated spa.

Cleaning it properly

Warm water with a few drops of mild, fragrance-free dish soap, a soft-bristled brush (a clean, soft toothbrush works well), and a gentle scrub along the setting and any engraved detail is usually enough to restore the shine. Rinse thoroughly and dry with a soft, lint-free cloth — avoid paper towels, which can leave fine scratches on soft, high-karat gold.

Storing it right

Store each piece separately — a soft pouch, a lined box compartment, or even a small ziplock bag — rather than letting pieces touch in one drawer, since gold is soft enough to scratch itself. Chains in particular tangle and can kink permanently if stored loose in a pile.

Gold rarely needs saving from damage that's already happened; it mostly needs protecting from habits that would have caused it in the first place.

For anything beyond a home clean — a deep polish, a re-tightened setting, or a professional inspection — Lazurde Rose's showroom offers aftercare on every piece we sell.