JEWELRY CARE 101: Gold-Filled Jewelry

Gold-Filled metals are made by permanently heat-bonding a layer of 14K gold to an alloy/base metal core. Gold-Filled has 100 times the amount of 14K gold as plated jewelry. It is strong, durable, and resistant to tarnish – it will not flake off. This is true for both our yellow gold-filled & rose gold-filled products. Gold-Filled jewelry is legally required to be at least 5% or 1/20 gold by weight. This 5% is described by the karatage of the gold alloy on the surface. Most gold-filled material is 12K, 14K, or even 18K Gold-Filled. At J. Sterling Jewelry we don’t use any Gold-Filled materials below 14K.

Wipe down your Gold-Filled jewels regularly with a soft, dry cloth. Although Gold-Filled jewelry is tarnish-resistant, it will still get dirty. The oils from your skin can transfer to the metal and may need to be washed off periodically. If your jewels are very dirty from something other than typical wear-and-tear, the easiest way to clean your Gold-Filled jewels is to lightly scrub it with an old soft toothbrush and lukewarm water. If you must use soap, use a mild shampoo or dish soap. Rinse well, pat dry, and air dry. Make sure your jewelry is completely dry before storing!