How long does gold-plated jewelry last?

Whether a piece of jewelry accompanies you like a good friend for many years, or whether you want to throw it away in frustration after just a few weeks, depends on a variety of factors. Fortunately, you can influence some of these yourself!

Very important: Both gold-plated and solid sterling silver jewelry always consist of a mixture of materials. Jewelry made of pure silver and pure gold does not exist. Jewelry always requires various other metals to be malleable, durable, and scratch-resistant.

Let's take a closer look!

Cheap costume jewelry

This type of jewelry often consists of a core of copper or brass, coated with a thin layer of gold that wears off quickly and is particularly susceptible to natural oxidation processes when exposed to air, water, or perspiration. The result is fading and graying jewelry, but also green earlobes, black marks on the skin, and the core material showing through. In short: costume jewelry from the lower price segment costs as little as it does it quickly becomes uninspiring.

High-quality fashion jewelry or affordable fine jewelry

This jewelry is made of 925 sterling silver or stainless steel , which provides a good base for adhesion and is coated with a high-quality, thick layer of gold. This is achieved through electroplating or galvanic gold plating. The jewelry is waterproof and ideal for allergy sufferers. However, since metals generally react to moisture and other metals, and the applied layer will naturally wear off, even this more affordable type of jewelry should be cared for and stored like genuine jewelry. With proper care, such a piece will remain beautiful for several years.

High-quality genuine jewelry

This type of jewelry is expensive and requires careful selection, as it can last for many years! Because the material is a complete blend, surface wear isn't immediately noticeable until a necklace, bracelet, or earrings break after prolonged wear. That's when the jeweler tells you they can repair your piece, but another break is inevitable.

So what should you look out for if you want to buy an affordable and high-quality piece of jewelry?

1. The thickness and type of gold layer: Pay attention to high-quality gold plating, such as gold fill.
   
2. The core material as a good material for jewelry: I prefer fine silver and surgical stainless steel.
3. Your personal approach to the jewelry: Here, the frequency of wearing, proper storage and loving care play the main role.
4. Buy your jewelry from a reputable jewelry brand you trust .

In conclusion: If you only need a piece of jewelry for a few weeks and frequently change your style, very inexpensive costume jewelry won't disappoint you. However, if you're looking for a true favorite piece that you'll wear regularly and enjoy for a long time, you should spend a little more and choose high-quality costume jewelry or affordable fine jewelry.

ALICIA'S DIARY - Slow Fashion Jewelry

At ALICIA'S DIARY, we pay strict attention to high-quality, clean materials, meticulous craftsmanship, and a generally warm and welcoming atmosphere – from sourcing the metals and designing our pieces to our sales platforms and shipping our jewelry. You can feel it in every single detail, from the jewelry itself to the packaging. We love our products, we love our work!

What makes it special: We don't create our jewelry for any target group, but for ourselves – and therefore for you too! We put every single jewelry design through its paces , the hard way. All our friends and family join in, subjecting our products to their personal and individual everyday lives. We go all out, so we know exactly if there's room for improvement – ​​always keeping our values ​​of love, freedom, and happiness in mind!