18k gold jewellery is durable enough for everyday use because it’s strengthened with metal alloys. But it’s not the most suitable gold caratage for everyday use. So, to prevent damage when wearing it every day, store it properly and clean it often.
18k gold is the best when it comes to maintaining the awesome sparkle of pure gold while being durable.
But if you don’t want your 18k gold jewellery to lose its enchanting sparkle, there are some things you need to know.
We’ll cover most of those things in this article.
Let’s get started!
Can 18k gold be worn daily?
While 14k gold is the best for everyday wear, 18k gold should also be fine because it comprises 75% pure gold and 25% strengthening metals.
Pure gold is not ideal for making jewellery because it’s too soft. So, metals are usually mixed (alloyed) with pure gold in jewellery. The more alloying metals the gold jewellery contains, the more durable it’ll be.
But then, the more alloying metals the jewellery contains, the less pure gold it contains; hence the less lustre (the shining property of gold) it’ll have.
So, in choosing gold for everyday wear, you’ll be sacrificing some lustre for durability.
With 75% pure gold and 25% alloying metals, 18k gold retains the glorious shine of pure gold while being very durable.
Can you wear 18k gold-plated jewellery every day?
Wearing 18k gold-plated jewellery every day will cause the thin gold coating to wear off quickly.
An 18k gold-plated jewellery is made from a metal (with less worth than gold) and then covered with a very thin layer of 18k gold. This gives it the appearance of being real 18k gold jewellery.
18k gold-plated jewellery is budget-friendly but cannot withstand the rigours of everyday use.
When using gold-plated jewellery every day, the thin gold layer can start flaking off only after a few weeks of use. With proper care, gold-plated jewellery can only last up to two years.
Instead of buying 18k gold-plated jewellery that’ll wear off in a few months (or at most, in 2 years), it is best to buy relatively cheap authentic 18k gold jewellery that’ll last many years.
Aquae Jewels is one of the only places where “relatively cheap” and “18k gold jewellery” can be used in the same sentence.
With a wide range of options, we have 18k jewellery with similar designs but different gold weight (in grams). This allows you to get real 18k gold at low price points.
For example, the 18k Necklace Chain Essential now costs $4,207. Instead of being put off by this price and going for an 18k gold-plated necklace, consider the 18k Necklace Chain Classic. This is basically the same necklace as the Essential but cost only $436.
Can you wear an 18k gold necklace every day?
You can wear 18k gold necklaces every day.
Like other 18k gold jewellery, 18k gold necklaces have 25% of other metal, making them relatively durable. And necklaces are less likely to come in contact with something hard when wearing them.
Some of the best 18k gold necklaces for daily wear include:
- The budget-friendly Necklace 18k Gold Chain. A simple and elegant design that you can match with virtually any pendant.
- The Necklace 18k Gold Red Carpet Constellation. It has small round golds dispersed throughout a fine chain that’ll grace your neck with an elegant “Y” design.
Can you wear 18k white gold daily?
In terms of durability, there is not much difference between 18k white gold and their 14k counterparts, which have much more alloying metal. So, 18k white gold is fine for wearing every day.
In making white gold, pure gold is alloyed with metals like zinc, nickel, and copper. After this, it is plated with rhodium to make it more white and durable.
Because of the additional coating in rhodium, the durability of 18k white gold is close to that of 14k white gold despite the 14 carats having much more alloying metals than 18 carats.
The extra coating of white gold also means that 18k white gold is relatively more durable than 18k rose gold and 18k yellow gold. So the perfect gold jewellery for daily use is 18k white gold.
Can you wear 18k gold in the ocean?
The salty ocean water has little or no effect on pure gold. However, saltwater easily corrodes most metals alloyed with gold. So, the general advice is not to wear your 18k gold jewellery in the ocean.
When saltwater corrodes alloys in 18k gold jewellery, it tarnishes the jewellery and makes it look dull.
Copper is the most vulnerable to corrosion. So, the more copper is in 18k gold, the more susceptible it is to being corroded by saltwater.
Apart from tarishing your 18k gold jewellery over time, you can also lose it in the ocean.
Is it okay to wear 18k gold in the shower?
If showering entails running ordinary water over your body, it may be okay to wear 18k gold when in the shower. The reaction of the alloyed metals with ordinary water is not as fast as with saltwater.
However, most often than not, showering entails more than running water over the body. There’ll be soaps, gels, and other bath chemicals, which react more readily with the alloyed metals than ordinary water.
For this reason, wearing your 18k gold jewellery when in the shower may not be wise. It’ll expose your gold to different chemicals that’ll accelerate the corrosion of the alloyed metals, thereby tarnishing the jewellery faster.
Note that when using your 18k gold in the shower, even with just ordinary water, you’ll need to clean it often.
Can you sleep in 18k gold?
It is generally okay to sleep in 18k gold jewellery, except if you’re likely to hit it against something hard or you’ll sweat while sleeping.
The salt and other chemicals in sweat can hasten the corrosion of alloyed metals and cause your gold jewellery to tarnish. And even if your space is air-conditioned or it’s winter, sleeping with your 18k gold may not be best.
This is because no one can predict exactly what’ll happen when sleeping. You just may turn somehow and hit the jewellery against something hard, or it just may hook something, causing it to scratch, bend, kink, or break.
Does 18k gold tarnish?
Pure gold does not tarnish. But 18k gold is not pure gold. It includes alloyed metals that are susceptible to corrosion, making 18k gold tarnish over time.
Generally, the more alloyed metals, the higher the chance of tarnishing. Thankfully, 18k gold has a high amount (75%) of corrosion-free pure gold, and only a relatively small amount (25%) of alloyed metals.
So, 18k gold tarnishing is not a very common phenomenon.
How do you maintain 18k gold if you wear it every day?
You do this by:
- Proper storage
- Responsible use
- Cleaning
Responsible Storage
Store your 18k gold in their original jewellery boxes, separate from other jewellery.
This way, the different jewellery will not rub against each other, and become scratched or broken.
Responsible Use
While you can use 18k gold every day, it is not the gold caratage most suitable for everyday use.
For example, you should remove your jewellery when engaging in activities where they’re likely to contact hard surfaces. You should not keep 18k gold rings on when lifting weights.
Also, you should avoid exposing your 18k gold jewellery to chemicals.
- Take off your 18k gold before swimming in the pool because of the chlorine in the water.
- Remove your 18k gold before bathing, especially when you’ll use soaps, bathing gels, etc.
- Wear rubber gloves or take off your gold 18k gold before washing or cleaning
Cleaning
When you use your 18k gold jewellery every day, it will begin to tarnish with time. However, cleaning it will restore it to its original shine.
You can clean it yourself or engage professional jewellers to clean it for you.
Cleaning your 18k gold yourself
One simple method is using vinegar.
- Soak the gold piece in a bath of vinegar (or mild dish soap) for 10 – 15 minutes
- Gently turn the jewellery a few times.
- Remove from the jewellery and gently scrub it using a cotton swab or very soft brush.
- Rinse the jewellery in warm water
- Dry with a soft cloth
Engaging professionals to clean your 18k gold
Even if you clean your 18k gold jewellery yourself, you should send it to a professional jeweller for cleaning at least once a year.
These jewellers use ultrasound and other techniques to restore the shine of your 18k gold jewellery to how they were when you bought them.
Conclusion
18k gold makes high-quality gold jewellery that’ also durable. With proper storage, responsible use, and responsible cleaning, you’ll be able to use your 18k gold jewellery every day.
Aquae Jewels is the final destination for 18k gold jewellery. We have a great collection of 18k gold that you can use every day. We also offer jewellery cleaning services.
Visit our store to find exquisite 18k gold creations for the modern woman, as well as some of the best 18k gold jewellery designs for men.
