The Durability of Fine Jewelry: Choosing Jewelry That Won’t Tarnish

Many wonder if there is truly “water-resistant” jewelry that won’t tarnish over a short period of time. The short answer is yes, but it boils down to the type of material and how you take care of your jewelry.

With fine jewelry, the grade of precious metals matters when looking at their durability. Let’s list them:

Silver Jewelry Durability

Silver is the standard and the most durable grade is .925 sterling silver. This means your jewelry is made of .925 silver and the rest is completed by another alloy, typically nickel, which helps with durability.

IMPORTANT: Sterling silver .925 tarnishes over time and, mainly, if not properly taken care of. Even Tiffany and Co. established this about their items. This also means that any silver below .925 is even likelier to tarnish over time. Why is sterling silver expensive? Because it is a rare and precious metal.
TIP: Ask the jeweler if the pieces are rhodium-plated, which is now a common practice for silver pieces. The rhodium helps with durability.

Gold & Platinum Jewelry Durability

Gold and platinum are the most durable metals used in fine jewelry, especially if they are of a high grade. For gold, 14k and 18k, and for platinum, 900 and 950, are very resistant to chemical reactions over time.

IMPORTANT: While 24k gold is the purest form of gold, the standard and best quality is 18k gold.
TIP: While the recommendation is to not expose fine jewelry that you care about regularly to water and other chemicals, we understand some items you’d like to have on most of the time. Practice cleaning your jewelry regularly. Just like clothes, jewelry gets dirty and opaque when not properly taken care of.

Gold-Plated Jewelry Durability

Gold-plated jewelry might not be the best choice for water resistance and long-term use. Plating on jewelry is more susceptible to sweat, water, humidity, and chemicals.

IMPORTANT: Gold-plated jewelry can be a good choice if you’re looking for a gold effect at a lower cost and are not pressed about long-term use.
TIP: Gold-filled jewelry can be a better option to lower the price point, have a thick layer of gold, and increase durability.

Non-Precious Metal Jewelry Durability

Non-precious metal jewelry is the best kind to go in the water with, leave on, travel, etc. Typically, it is inexpensive and made from a range of very durable materials, including stainless steel, plastic, resin, lacquer, aluminum, fiberglass, sea glass, etc.

IMPORTANT: Anything with sentimental value is meant to be used and taken care of properly.
TIP: There are tons of gold-colored, water-resistant jewelry to shop from.

Hope this brief guide helps!

¡Salud y Éxito!

Daniela Barquet

Daniela Barquet is the 4th generation owner of her family's jewelry store located in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico since 1965. The business tradition was started by her great-grandfather, Issac Barquet, in 1920. Daniela graduated from Boston University with a Bachelor's in the History of Art and Architecture and a Minor in Italian Studies. Daniela continues to grow under the mentorship of her father, Natalio Barquet Perez, who is a renowned, certified jeweler in Puerto Rico.