Gold-tone and silver-tone jewellery can last a genuinely long time with a bit of basic care — most of what shortens their life comes down to a handful of avoidable habits.
Keep it dry
Moisture is the biggest factor in how quickly a coated finish wears. Take pieces off before showering, swimming, or exercising, and avoid spraying perfume directly onto jewellery.
Last on, first off
A simple rule that covers a lot of ground: put your jewellery on after getting dressed and doing hair/makeup, and take it off before undressing at the end of the day. This limits contact with perfume, hairspray, and lotion — all of which are harder on coated finishes than most people expect.
Store pieces separately
Tossing jewellery into one drawer together causes scratching and can accelerate wear where pieces rub against each other. Keeping pieces in a soft pouch or divided tray, separated from one another, protects the finish far longer.
Wipe, don't scrub
A soft, dry cloth after wearing is usually enough to keep a piece looking its best. Avoid household cleaning products, chlorine, and abrasive cloths or brushes on coated finishes.
Not everything is anti-tarnish — and that's fine
Not every piece is treated to resist tarnishing, and that's worth knowing rather than discovering the hard way. If a specific piece is anti-tarnish, that'll be stated on its own product page — we don't apply that label across the board, because it genuinely isn't true of every piece. Whether or not a piece is treated, the care steps above still make the biggest real difference.
When to expect natural change over time
Some colour or shine change over months of regular wear is normal for any coated finish, not a sign something's wrong. How much depends on how often it's worn and how it's cared for — which is exactly why the steps above matter.