14K gold is durable, but it is not indestructible. A little bit of care goes a long way toward keeping a piece looking the way it did the day you bought it.
The basics
- Take it off before showering, swimming or working out. Chlorine, salt water and sweat all dull gold over time and can loosen prong settings on pieces like our pendants.
- Put jewelry on last, take it off first. Perfume, lotion and hairspray build up on gold and dull its shine faster than normal wear does.
- Store pieces separately. Gold is soft enough to scratch other jewelry and itself if everything is tossed into one drawer or box together.
- Clean it gently. Warm water, a drop of mild soap and a soft cloth is enough for most pieces. Skip harsh jewelry cleaners unless they are specifically rated safe for gold and diamonds.
Classic Rope Chain Necklace in 14K Yellow Gold
Why solid gold matters here
Everything we make uses solid 14K gold, not gold plated base metal. Plated jewelry looks fine for a few months and then starts thinning and discoloring at the edges, especially with daily wear. Solid gold, like what is used in our rope chain necklaces, ages by developing a soft patina rather than flaking or fading.
When to get a piece checked
Bring a piece in for a prong check about once a year if you wear it daily, especially anything with a diamond setting like a solitaire pendant or stud earrings. Loose prongs are the most common reason a stone gets lost, and it is an easy thing to catch early.
Our take
None of this is complicated, it is mostly just taking jewelry off before water or sweat gets involved and storing it properly in between wears. Treat it well and a solid 14K gold piece from our full collection should easily outlast jewelry that was never built to last in the first place.