The single most effective thing you can do for any fine jewelry is simple: put it on last, take it off first. Applying perfume, lotion, and hairspray before your jewelry — rather than after — and removing pieces before showering, sleeping, or exercising will extend the life of sterling silver and gold-filled jewelry more than any cleaning product will.

Beyond that one habit, a little routine care keeps handmade, delicate pieces looking the way they did the day they arrived. Here's what actually matters.

Everyday Care Habits

• Put jewelry on last. Apply makeup, perfume, and lotion first, then add your jewelry — this limits direct chemical contact with metal surfaces.
• Take it off first before showering, swimming, sleeping, cleaning, or exercising.
• Wipe pieces down after wearing with a soft, lint-free cloth to remove natural oils and residue before storing.
• Store pieces separately, flat or hanging, so metal doesn't rub against metal and cause scratches.
• Keep jewelry dry. Moisture is one of the biggest accelerants of tarnish on sterling silver specifically.

Caring for Sterling Silver

Sterling silver naturally tarnishes over time through a chemical reaction with sulfur compounds in the air — this is normal and not a sign of poor quality. It happens faster in humid climates and with exposure to chlorine, perfume, and skin products.

To clean tarnished sterling silver:

1. Use a dedicated silver polishing cloth (avoid paper towels or regular fabric, which can scratch)
2. For light tarnish, gently rub in straight lines rather than circles
3. For deeper tarnish, a mild silver-specific cleaning solution can help, followed by a thorough rinse and dry
4. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on pieces with pearls or other soft gemstones — the vibration can loosen settings or damage stones

To slow tarnish between wears, store silver in an airtight bag or container, ideally with an anti-tarnish strip, and away from direct sunlight and humidity.

Caring for Gold-Filled Jewelry

Gold-filled jewelry is lower-maintenance than sterling silver since it doesn't tarnish the same way, but the surface can still dull with buildup over time.

To clean gold-filled jewelry:

1. Wipe with a soft, dry cloth after each wear
2. If needed, clean with lukewarm water and a small amount of mild soap, using a soft cloth or very soft-bristled brush
3. Rinse thoroughly and dry completely before storing
4. Avoid abrasive cloths, harsh chemical cleaners, and prolonged soaking

Caring for Pearls Specifically

Pearls are organic and softer than most gemstones, so they need the gentlest handling of anything in a jewelry box:

• Never use ultrasonic cleaners, steam cleaners, or harsh chemicals on pearls
• Wipe with a soft, slightly damp cloth after wearing — never soak
• Apply perfume and hairspray well before putting on pearl jewelry, and let them fully dry first
• Store pearls separately from other jewelry, ideally in a soft pouch, since harder gemstones and metal can scratch the nacre

How to Store Jewelry to Prevent Damage

• Use a lined jewelry box, soft pouches, or a hanging organizer — anything that keeps pieces from tangling or touching
• Keep chains fastened when storing to prevent knotting
• Store silver in anti-tarnish bags when possible
• Avoid storing jewelry in humid rooms (like bathrooms) or in direct sunlight
• If you won't wear a piece for a while, an airtight container with a silica gel packet helps control moisture

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my sterling silver jewelry turn black?

This is tarnish, caused by a natural chemical reaction between silver and sulfur compounds in the air, moisture, or skin products. It's a normal characteristic of sterling silver, not a defect, and can be polished away with a silver cloth or gentle cleaning solution.

Can I shower with gold-filled jewelry on?

Occasional brief water contact is generally fine, but it's best to remove gold-filled jewelry before showering, swimming, or exercising to extend its lifespan, since soap residue and prolonged moisture can dull the surface over time.

How often should I clean my jewelry?

A quick wipe-down after each wear is the most effective habit. A deeper clean every few weeks to a month — depending on how often you wear a piece — is generally sufficient for most sterling silver and gold-filled jewelry.

Is it bad to wear jewelry every day?

Not at all — gold-filled and sterling silver pieces are designed for daily wear. Consistent gentle wear with basic care, like removing before water exposure and wiping down after, typically keeps pieces looking better than jewelry left untouched in humid storage for long stretches.

Can pearls go in water?

Pearls should not be soaked or exposed to chlorinated or salt water, as prolonged moisture and chemicals can damage the nacre surface. A quick wipe with a soft, damp cloth after wearing is sufficient care.

Un. even hand-finishes sterling silver, gold-filled, and pearl jewelry to order in Venice, California.

Gold-filled jewelry offers the closest thing to solid gold's look and longevity at a fraction of the price, because it's made with a much thicker layer of real gold than gold-plated jewelry — permanently bonded, not just coated. For daily-wear pieces, that combination of durability and affordability is what makes gold-filled the material we build most of our collection around.

If you've been jewelry shopping and seen "gold-filled," "gold-plated," and "vermeil" all used seemingly interchangeably, they are not the same material — and the differences matter for how long your jewelry will actually last.

What Does "Gold-Filled" Actually Mean?

Gold-filled jewelry consists of a solid layer of real gold mechanically bonded to a base-metal core (usually brass) under heat and pressure. By legal definition in the U.S., the gold layer must make up at least 1/20th of the item's total weight — a substantial amount compared to plating.

This is different from a coating process. The gold in gold-filled jewelry is a solid, pressure-bonded layer, not a thin electroplated finish, which is why it resists wearing away for years of regular wear rather than months.

Note on terminology: the correct industry term is "gold-filled" — you may occasionally see "gold fill" used informally, but "gold-filled" is the accurate, legally defined term.

Gold-Filled vs. Gold-Plated vs. Vermeil vs. Solid Gold

Gold-plated jewelry has the thinnest gold layer of the group. It's the most affordable option but also the least durable — the plating typically wears through within months of regular wear, exposing the base metal underneath.

Gold vermeil is a step up: a thicker gold plating over a sterling silver (rather than brass) base. It looks and feels more substantial than standard plating, but it's still technically a coating, so it can wear thin over years of use.

Gold-filled uses a genuinely solid layer of gold — not a coating — bonded to a brass core. This is the material that holds up best relative to its price point.

Solid gold is gold all the way through. It will never tarnish, chip, or wear thin, but it comes at a significantly higher price and is heavier and more prone to bending in delicate designs.

Why We Build Around Gold-Filled

For made-to-order, delicate, everyday jewelry — the kind you put on and don't think about again — gold-filled hits the sweet spot for a few concrete reasons:

• It holds up to daily life. Because the gold layer is bonded rather than coated, gold-filled jewelry can generally be worn in the shower, at the gym, and while sleeping without the finish degrading the way plated jewelry does.
• It doesn't tarnish the way plated jewelry does. The solid gold surface means there's no thin coating to wear through and expose brass underneath.
• It's hypoallergenic for most people. The gold surface layer means the brass core doesn't typically come into contact with skin, which is generally better tolerated than base-metal plated jewelry for those with sensitive skin.
• It keeps handmade, made-to-order pieces accessible. Solid gold at the thinness and delicacy we design for would be both prohibitively expensive and structurally fragile. Gold-filled lets us build fine, minimal pieces that are actually meant to be worn, not saved for special occasions.

How to Care for Gold-Filled Jewelry

1. Remove it before swimming in chlorinated pools or the ocean for extended periods — chlorine and saltwater can affect the bond over time
2. Store pieces flat or hanging, away from other jewelry that could scratch the surface
3. Wipe with a soft, dry cloth after wearing to remove oils and product residue
4. Avoid direct contact with perfume, lotion, and hairspray when possible

Frequently Asked Questions

Is gold-filled jewelry good quality?

Yes. Gold-filled jewelry uses a solid, mechanically bonded layer of real gold that is significantly thicker than standard gold plating, making it far more durable for everyday wear.

Can gold-filled jewelry get wet?

Generally, yes — gold-filled jewelry can typically be worn while showering or washing hands without damage. Extended exposure to chlorine or saltwater is best avoided, as it can affect the bond over time.

Does gold-filled jewelry turn skin green?

It's uncommon. Because the gold surface layer prevents the brass core from touching the skin directly, gold-filled jewelry is much less likely to cause skin discoloration than base-metal or heavily plated jewelry.

How long does gold-filled jewelry last?

With normal care, gold-filled jewelry can last for years, even decades, of regular wear — meaningfully longer than gold-plated jewelry, which typically wears through within months to a couple of years.

Is gold-filled the same as gold vermeil?

No. Gold vermeil is a thicker gold plating over a sterling silver base, while gold-filled is a solid bonded layer of gold over a brass base. Gold-filled generally holds up better over time because it isn't a coating.

Un. even designs and hand-finishes gold-filled jewelry to order in Venice, California.