How to care for your wedding ring's gold?

Your wedding ring is the piece of jewellery you wear most every day. It is in constant contact with your skin, perspiration, household products, and cosmetics. 18K gold (750 thousandths), the standard used by Mayuri, is composed of 75% pure gold alloyed with other metals — silver, copper, or palladium depending on the colour. It is these alloys that react with the environment, not the gold itself.

Good news: with a few simple steps, your wedding ring will keep its brilliance for decades. This guide covers the home-cleaning method, products to avoid, care tips by gold type, how often to clean, and when to consult a professional.

Pure gold (24K) does not oxidise — it is one of the few chemically inert metals. However, pure gold is too soft for jewellery: its hardness of 2.5 on the Mohs scale is comparable to that of a human fingernail. This is why jewellery gold is always alloyed.

18K gold (hardness 3–3.5 Mohs) contains copper, silver, or palladium. It is these alloying metals that react over time: copper oxidises when exposed to sweat and acids, while silver tarnishes when exposed to the sulphur found in the air and in cosmetics.

The main causes of tarnishing are sweat (acidic pH), creams and perfumes (alcohol, acids), household products (chlorine, ammonia), pool water (chlorine), and seawater (salt). A wedding ring worn daily loses approximately 1 to 2% of its weight per decade through mechanical wear: friction against surfaces and micro-scratches.

Yellow gold (75% gold + 12.5% silver + 12.5% copper) is the easiest to care for. It tarnishes slowly and has no surface coating to preserve. A simple clean with soapy water is enough to restore its full brilliance.

Rose gold (75% gold + 20% copper + 5% silver) contains more copper, making it more reactive. The rosy patina may shift subtly over time due to slight oxidation of the copper when in contact with sweat. Some people love this warm patina; to slow it down, rinse your wedding ring with clean water after exercise.

White gold (75% gold + 25% palladium or nickel-free alloy) is coated with a thin layer of rhodium that gives it its brilliant white lustre. This rhodium wears away over time (1 to 3 years depending on wear). A re-plating at a jeweller's is periodically required to restore its original brilliance. For everything you need to know on the subject, consult our dedicated guide.

The safest method is also the simplest. Here are the 5 steps recommended by professional jewellers:

1. Prepare: fill a bowl with lukewarm water (85–105°F) and add a few drops of mild soap (Marseille soap or a neutral dish soap)
2. Soak : leave the wedding ring in the soapy solution for 15 to 20 minutes to dissolve any residue
3. Brush : gently scrub with a soft-bristled brush (an old toothbrush works perfectly). Pay extra attention to the inside of the band, where skin and soap residue tends to accumulate
4. Rinse : hold the wedding ring under lukewarm running water, making sure the sink drain is closed
5. Dry : immediately pat dry with a soft, lint-free cloth (microfibre or polishing cloth). Avoid air-drying to prevent limescale marks

If your wedding ring is set with Diamonds or Sapphires, this method remains perfectly suitable. For wedding rings set with more delicate stones (Emeralds, opals), please consult a professional jeweller.

• Marseille soap or mild, fragrance-free soap
• Neutral washing-up liquid (neutral pH)
• Lukewarm water (30–40°C)
• Soft-bristled brush (an old toothbrush)
• Microfibre cloth or polishing cloth
• Pre-moistened jewellery wipe for a quick refresh

• Toothpaste : contains micro-abrasives (silica, calcium carbonate) that scratch 18K gold
• Pure baking soda : too abrasive in paste form — can cause micro-scratches on polished finishes
• White vinegar: acetic acid attacks copper alloys in rose gold and yellow gold
• Bleach and chlorine: corrode alloys and cause irreversible discoloration
• Concentrated ammonia: acceptable when highly diluted on yellow gold, but risky with gemstones and rose gold
• Domestic ultrasonic cleaner: excessive vibrations, risk of damage to set stones and soldered joints

Remove your wedding ring before sports (impact and sweat), household chores (chemical products), gardening, the swimming pool (chlorine), swimming in the sea (salt and abrasive sand), and applying creams and perfumes.

The morning routine matters: get ready first (moisturizer, perfume, makeup), then put on your jewellery. Cosmetics contain chemical agents that attack metal alloys. By letting them dry before putting on your wedding ring, you significantly reduce its exposure.

For storage, opt for an individual jewellery case kept away from light. Avoid contact between pieces: metals scratch one another. When travelling, use an individual jewellery pouch — never your toiletry bag, where contact with products can cause damage.

"Toothpaste makes gold shine" — False. Toothpaste contains abrasive agents (silica, calcium carbonate) whose hardness exceeds that of 18K gold. The result: visible micro-scratches on polished finishes. Toothpaste may work on solid silver (which is harder), but it is damaging to gold.

"White vinegar cleans everything" — Best avoided. The acetic acid in vinegar can attack the copper present in rose gold and yellow gold alloys. With prolonged contact, this weakens the surface of the piece.

"Baking soda is a universal remedy" — With reservations. Dissolved in lukewarm water, baking soda is acceptable for yellow gold. Applied as a paste rubbed directly onto the surface, it scratches polished finishes. Mild soap remains the safest alternative.

"Coca-Cola makes gold shine" — False. The phosphoric acid in cola is corrosive to metal alloys. No professional recommends this method.

Some situations go beyond home care and require the intervention of a professional:

• Deep scratches: professional polishing restores the surface. The jeweller removes a thin layer of metal to recover the original shine. Use sparingly, as each polish removes a small amount of material.
• Misshapen ring: an impact or pressure can cause the wedding ring to become oval-shaped. The jeweller reshapes it on a mandrel without weakening the metal.
• Loose setting: if a stone moves or feels unstable, have it checked immediately. A loose setting risks losing the stone — the most common claim reported by jewellery insurers.
• Rhodium re-plating (white gold): when the rhodium wears off and the white gold takes on a yellowish hue, a rhodium bath at a workshop restores its white brilliance. Expect to pay around $40 to $60 for 30 minutes of work.
• Professional cleaning: the jeweller uses a professional ultrasonic cleaner (calibrated and controlled, unlike domestic devices) followed by a diamond paste polish.

To choose a professional, look for a jeweller affiliated with theHBJO Federationor the Saint-Éloi Guild.