Can You Shower With Gold-Plated Jewelry? How to Care for It

Short answer: no. Take gold-plated jewelry off before you shower, swim or work out. Water, soap, sweat and chemicals are what wear a plated finish down fastest, and keeping them away is the habit that makes the biggest difference. Here is the longer answer, including what we can say about our own pieces and what we can't.

Can you shower with gold-plated jewelry?

Gold plating is a thin layer of gold over another metal. Our care advice is the same for every piece: avoid contact with water, perfume, creams and chemicals, and take jewelry off before showering, swimming or exercising. Soap and shampoo are the worst offenders, because they sit on the surface and get rubbed in every time you wash.

One accidental splash is not the end of a piece. Pat it dry with a soft cloth as soon as you can and don't leave it damp in a pouch.

How long does gold-plated jewelry last?

There is no honest single number. How long a plated finish looks good depends on how often you wear it, how much it rubs against skin, clothes and other jewelry, and how often it meets water, lotion or perfume. A ring that works hard on your hand all day wears faster than a pendant that hangs under a shirt. We don't promise a number of months or years for our pieces, so we won't put one in an article either.

Why does jewelry tarnish or change color?

With plated pieces, the gold layer slowly wears away where it rubs, and the metal underneath starts to show or react. With sterling silver, the surface darkens naturally with air and moisture. Our collection includes pieces in 925 sterling silver, gold-plated brass and fashion alloys, and some are stainless steel. The product page lists the material for each piece, so check it before you buy.

Stainless steel generally holds up to moisture better than plated brass, but we don't promise that any piece will stay unchanged over time. If a piece leaves a mark on your skin or irritates it, stop wearing it. If you know you are sensitive to certain metals, read the product description first or write to us and we will help you choose.

How to care for gold-plated jewelry

1. Put your jewelry on last, after lotion, perfume and hair spray, and take it off first when you get home.
2. Remove it before you shower, swim or exercise.
3. If it gets wet, pat it dry with a soft cloth.
4. Clean it gently with a soft, dry cloth. That is all we recommend for plated pieces. Skip polishing pastes and abrasive cleaners, which can rub the plating off.
5. Store each piece on its own, in a soft pouch or a jewelry box, so pieces don't scratch one another.

Can you wear gold-plated jewelry every day?

You can, but daily wear is what uses the finish up. If you have a favorite, keep it for dry hours and rotate other pieces in. Rings and bracelets take the most friction, so they show wear first.

What if a piece has a defect?

Normal wear is not a defect. If a piece arrives with a factory defect, tell us within 7 days of delivery. The details are in our FAQ, along with what is and isn't covered.

Frequently asked questions

Do gold-plated pieces turn your skin green?

It can happen once the plating has worn through in a spot and the metal underneath meets sweat. If it does, stop wearing that piece and wipe it with a soft cloth.

Can you shower with stainless steel jewelry?

Our advice doesn't change by material: take jewelry off before showering, swimming or exercising. Stainless steel tends to cope with moisture better than plated brass, but we don't promise it.

How do I keep gold-plated jewelry from tarnishing?

Keep it dry, keep it away from perfume and creams, wipe it with a soft cloth after wearing and store it on its own. That covers most of it.

Browse by piece

See our rings, necklaces, bracelets and earrings. If you wear stacks, our guide to how to stack rings covers how to mix them without scratching.

Related: gold plated vs gold filled vs vermeil explains how plating compares with other gold finishes.