Gold jewelry can elevate an outfit, especially during the day. It is only natural to pair it with that summer dress for an afternoon lunch or a trip to the beach. Gold jewelry may be significantly more resilient to the external elements, but it still requires a certain degree of care and occasional cleaning.
Sun may damage gold jewelry over prolonged exposure. However, the extent of damage depends on several factors like carat of gold, the moisture in the air and the temperature. Exposure to other chemicals or harmful substances in the air can also expedite the oxidation or blackening.
Therefore, it is advisable to determine what factors may cause gold jewelry to lose its shine and take care of it. One of these factors involves direct sunlight on gold jewelry and the consequences of leaving it outdoors for too long.
Does the sun affect gold jewelry?
Yes, sun can have some negative effects on gold jewelry; some are direct while others are indirect. In most cases, long exposure to direct sunlight can cause a certain degree of discoloration to appear on the surface of the gold jewelry.
How gold jewelry reacts to the sun or other factors depends on the metals present in it. Therefore, to truly understand what effects the sun has on gold jewelry, you must know the different types of gold jewelry. That is:
Type | Material | Durability |
Yellow Gold | The jewelry made from this gold contains a mixture of gold, sterling silver, copper and zinc. | It is the most resilient form of ornamental gold capable of withstanding high temperatures like a summer day. |
White Gold | This type of gold is an alloy of gold, nickel and zinc. | It is more durable as a result of its rhodium coating. |
Rose Gold | Rose gold is made from 75% gold and 25% copper, which has that reddish color. | Rose gold jewelry with a lower carat stamp is more likely to tarnish if it comes in contact with moisture. |
Is it bad to leave gold jewelry out in the sun?
Yes! It can have some impact on the surface of the jewelry. Gold jewelry left out in the sun for extended periods can:
- Experience a slight degree of deterioration on its surface. This is because the sun tends to have a bleaching effect on certain types of gold jewelry.
- The climate that the jewelry is exposed to and the sun can also contribute to the dullness it develops.
- The impact may be higher in the case of jewelry that has been left out in areas that are close to a beach. The salt present in the air can contribute to the corrosion of any non-ferric metals like copper and zinc. Although this may not affect yellow gold or white gold jewelry, it can impact rose gold jewelry due to the aforementioned composition.
Can you wear a gold chain in the sun?
Yes, you can. There are no major concerns when wearing a gold chain for a short period or occasionally when you are out in the sun. The problem arises when you are wearing a gold chain daily, exposing it to direct sunlight for hours at a time. Over time, this chain will see a slight decrease in its shine, meaning that the sun’s bleaching effect can be seen.
Another indirect factor is that we perspire more when we are under the sun. This will affect the natural shine of the jewelry as well.
However, the degree of dullness or surface-level deterioration that gold jewelry experiences in the sun can differ based on the carats that it possesses.
In general, the higher the carats, the lesser is the deterioration upon exposure to any elements or chemicals.
Direct effects
Does UV light harm gold jewelry?
There can be minimal damage when gold jewelry is exposed to sunlight. This is because the UV light present in sunlight is scattered and not concentrated at one point. However, if the gold jewelry contains gemstones and is in the presence of concentrated UV light for long periods. In that case, it can cause some damage to the structural components of the gemstone.
UV radiation can be a problem if this gold jewelry contains a gemstone like:
- Sapphires
- Opals
- Citrine
- Beryl
- Amethyst
Upon exposure to UV radiation, these gemstones tend to lose their varnish or external layer and should, therefore, be protected from the harsh sun.
Indirect effects
Does heat affect gold jewelry?
Gold jewelry will not experience a high degree of damage in the presence of the sun’s heat. Heat can only truly impact the structure of the jewelry if it is subjected to temperatures above 1900 degrees Fahrenheit or 1060 degrees Celsius. Since these temperatures are extremely high, the normal heat from the sun will not cause much damage.
The only issue that occurs is when this gold jewelry possesses gemstones. In this case, long exposure to heat can cause minute cracks in the precious stones like amethyst and others present within the jewelry.
Does sweat affect jewelry?
The effect that sweat has on the surface of the jewelry is the most prominent. There are essentially two reasons why sweat affects gold. These include:
- Salts
Gold and other metals do not react very positively to chemicals. Sweat is loaded with a singular chemical that causes the surface of the gold to lose its shine. This chemical is salt. Ornamental gold is created after mixing pure gold with several other metals to make it more durable.
When salt from your sweat mixes with these metals, it can cause the jewelry to fade to a certain degree. Therefore, the salt in the sweat cannot damage the gold but damages the other metals present in the jewelry.
The effects of this reaction between the salts in your sweat and the jewelry are usually seen in jewelry with gold plating. Still, the interior is made of other metals like silver and copper. Silver on exposure to the salts in your sweat tends to tarnish more quickly than gold.
Therefore, if the outer gold plate erodes over time, exposing silver to sweat, it will result in the jewelry turning green. This is also a problem that is common with rose-gold jewelry as well since it contains copper.
- Moisture
Moisture, in general, can cause gold to lose its shine. It would help if you refrained from wearing gold jewelry while showering, as it can cause the jewelry to develop a dull surface. However, this damage is only seen with gold jewelry containing fewer carats, namely, any jewelry below the 10-carat mark.
Protecting gold jewelry from the sun
How can you protect gold from the sun?
It is possible to protect gold jewelry from sun by little maintenance. Some of them are:
- Regular cleaning
When you are cleaning your jewelry, use a polishing cloth of a soft fabric. Please refrain from using tissues or paper towels as they can have rough surfaces that will be abrasive.
When it comes to cleaning solutions, keep away from harsh chemicals like bleach. You can even consult with a jeweler regarding what solution can be used for cleaning.
- Clean your jewelry with a jewelry cleaning solution. Some jewelers will recommend using a mixture of dawn dish soap with lukewarm water and a few drops of ammonia.
- Leave the jewelry in this mixture for 20 to 30 minutes to allow it to act on the surface of the jewelry. The ammonia works towards loosening any stains or dirt that may be present on the surface.
- After this, rinse it in lukewarm water, and air dry it. If brushing is required, use a soft toothed baby toothbrush to do so.
- Occasional professional polishing
The best way to prolong the life of jewelry or reverse the effects of exposure to the sun is to hire professional cleaning. This should be carried out occasionally for all jewelry to retain its shine. This can also be a chance for the jeweler to check other structural aspects like the fittings and the mountings.
- Appropriate storage
To provide 100% protection for your jewelry, you can choose to completely shield it from the sun by storing it in a safe place. However, certain jewelry pieces require specific conditions for storage depending on the gemstones present on them. These are some ways to store gold jewelry:
- Use a small case that has several compartments to store gold jewelry without gemstones.
- Remember to cover every piece that has gemstones with a small cloth to prevent scratching each other. Keep away from plastic coverings in this case.
- If you store jewelry instead of wearing it, keep it away from harsh sunlight or high temperatures.
Does sunscreen hurt gold jewelry?
While sunscreen does not hurt gold jewelry of higher carat, it may blacken low carat gold jewelry over time. While the chemicals present in sunscreen are mild, they may react with metals like cooper, zinc present in low carat gold jewelry. You will see that a 22 carat chain will not be affected but a 14 or 18 carat chain may develop black patches on being exposed to sunscreen or other beauty products.
It is advisable to remove your jewelry before you apply sunscreen to the surrounding area. Wait for the sunscreen to be absorbed in the skin (roughly 15-25 minutes) and then wear the piece of jewelry back again.
Conclusion
Apart from the sun, gold jewelry can sustain damage when worn during several outdoor activities like a trip to the beach, gardening and more. As a general thumb rule, keeping your jewelry in a safe place during such activities is important. However, it is perfectly fine to wear jewelry in the sun for other occasions like social events where you will not be exposing your jewelry to the sun for long hours.
