K Gold

Gold is a precious metal that never goes out of style. Jewelry made from k gold is timeless and can be worn on any occasion. You will often find stamps ranging from 9k to 18k on your favorite k gold jewelry. This indicates the percentage of pure gold used in making the piece. Jewelry that is stamped 9k is comprised of 37.5% pure gold and those that are 18k usually contain about 75%. The most popular percentage found in k gold jewelry is roughly 58.5%, otherwise known as 14k.

Gold jewelry can easily lose its luster after long periods of wear. This can be fixed by regularly polishing your gold jewelry with a gold polishing cloth. Rub gently to avoid any scratching. To actually clean your k gold jewelry, use a gold jewelry cleaner. However, please keep in mind that if your gold jewelry contains stones or other decorative elements, it is best to avoid using a gold jewelry cleaner. Use a mild soap and some lukewarm water instead. Attack dirt found within crevices with a soft bristle brush, but be very careful so nothing ends up falling out. After your jewelry is clean, pat dry with a lint free cloth.

Make sure your k gold jewelry is completely dry before putting it away. Moisture often causes springs and clasps to weaken over time. Remember to store each piece separately to prevent the jewelry from scratching each other. If there are any visible signs of wear and tear that a good cleaning cannot fix, bringing your jewelry to a professional jeweler will do the trick. Most jewelers provide special services to fix any prongs, clasps or links. They can even smooth out the surface of your jewelry so scratches disappear. Paying a visit to your local jeweler is an essential part of caring for your gold jewelry.

Gold Filled

Jewelry that is gold filled is usually 14k gold mixed with other metals to produce the same look of k gold, but at a much lower quality. Gold filled can also be known as rolled gold. It is approximately 100 times thicker than any kind of gold plating so gold filled jewelry can last almost as long as their k gold counterparts if cared for properly.

The steps involved to clean and care for gold filled jewelry are almost identical to those used for k gold. However, be a little more careful when polishing, and go with the soap and water instead of gold jewelry cleaner. When wearing your gold filled jewelry, avoid constant contact with hard surfaces.

Vermeil Gold

Vermeil gold usually refers to sterling silver jewelry that has been gold plated. The gold plating is often 18k. This type of jewelry is a step down from gold filled, because after all it is still just gold plating. The plating can easily wear off over time to reveal the sterling silver underneath.

Never use gold or silver jewelry cleaners on vermeil gold jewelry, both of which will easily damage the thin layers of plating. Cleaning vermeil gold with soap and water is also not recommended. The only way to clean this type of jewelry is to polish it very gently with a polishing cloth.

Plated Gold

Gold plating is usually used on fashion jewelry, which is not meant to last more than a few seasons. Gold plated jewelry is very susceptible to wear and tear. Avoid regular contact with rough and abrasive surfaces, because any scratch that results can cut right through the thin layer of gold plating.

Just like the instructions used for vermeil gold, do not attempt to clean gold plated jewelry with any jewelry cleaners or soap and water. Only use a gold polishing cloth to gently buff the surface. Do not polish it regularly as that can cause more harm than good.