In order to understand just how great waterproof jewellery is, you first need to understand how gold plating works in general.
Of course, we would all love to have real gold pieces, but the truth is that for most people, having a large collection of real gold jewellery is not possible.
Costume
The cheapest gold jewellery you can get is actually brass. This is why it immediately tarnishes and turns your fingers green. It’s the copper within the brass that causes this to happen. This is the go-to option for a lot of people because it’s super affordable and allows for wearers to try lots of different styles.
Gold Plated
Then there’s the regular gold-plated jewellery that lasts a bit longer, but not by much. You still have to look after it very carefully and as it’s usually plated over cheap metals like copper and brass, it will still tarnish and turn your skin green in a short amount of time.
More recently people have discovered a type of jewellery known as vermeil which is an extra thick plating of gold over 925 sterling silver. This means no more green fingers and a much longer lasting product, but even this wonderful jewellery has its issues.
Vermeil
It’s not waterproof, if you expose it to water too often it will fade. This is most noticeable with the rings as they aren’t really ideal for everyday wear. They can fade pretty quickly if you have a particular favourite piece that you don’t like to take off. Every time you want to wash your hands, go swimming or do anything with your hands, you’re wearing down the plating. If you don’t follow the care instructions, you may find that your rings don’t last longer than a few months. That’s obviously a massive improvement on regular gold plating – but the price is also a massive increase.
Waterproof
This is where waterproof and tarnish resistant jewellery comes in. It’s a small layer of gold plating of stainless steel that is applied in a special way that bonds it to the base metal. Meaning, no green fingers and you actually can wear it all day, every day. Your jewellery won’t be ruined by water so that means you can wear it whilst sweating it out at the gym, having a leisurely swim, taking a shower or simply washing up.
Now You Know
The world of jewellery has come a long way in recent decades, offering options beyond just real gold or cheap brass costume jewellery, catering to all price points. But if you're looking to build a long-lasting collection without breaking the bank on real gold, then waterproof jewellery is the smartest choice. Not only will it save you money, but it will also protect your skin from turning green. Your wallet (and fingers) will definitely thank you for investing in waterproof jewellery!