Tarnish-free gold jewelry sounds too good to be true and often it is, unless you’re ready to really invest. With “waterproof,” “sweat-proof,” and “swim-proof” jewelry styles dominating social media, how do you actually avoid dreaded green-tinged fingers? Or be certain that that “gold” necklace won’t resemble a rusty spoon after a couple of swims in the sea? Forever skeptical of grand marketing claims, we set out to find out.
Gearing up for a strenuous month of jewelry styling, we loaded our wrists, ears, and necks with a good helping of pretty gold pieces to see which ones still glistened after a few weeks of wear.
The general consensus among jewelry experts is that solid gold is the only way to guarantee your jewelry will remain tarnish-free. That said, many budget-friendly brands have put a new gold-plating technique into practice, and so far it’s seen impressive results. Known as physical vapor deposition (PVD), this new technique is ten times thicker than regular gold plating, making pieces much less susceptible to corrosion, tarnishing, or fading. Comparing the real-deal investment pieces with these cost-friendly PVD picks, we’ve yet to notice a difference in the tarnish-free stakes following several showers, sea swims, and sweat sessions.
Keep scrolling to read our reviews of tarnish-free jewelry brands to suit every budget, from standout styles you’ll want to save up for to payday pick-me-ups that seem to last just as long.
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“I’ve been following Umara for a while now. The brand’s 18 Karat Yellow Gold Piercing Ring hasn’t left my earlobe in over a year, and I’ve just added the Flower Stud. It’s simple, chic, and subtle: perfect for those who like tiny, dainty pieces. Even better, you’ll be supporting a small brand and are unlikely to spot anyone else wearing your special piece.
Every item is crafted from 14- and 18-karat gold, fusing traditional Indian craftsmanship with modern design. This makes it more expensive, but there’s no risk of it tarnishing so consider it a long-term investment.”—Lauren Cunningham, Freelance Writer
Umara 18 Karat Solid Gold Flower Stud, $, available at UmaraPhoto Courtesy of Umara
“When I was introduced to Flaire & Co., I was unsure if such affordable jewelry could be so high-quality and tarnish-resistant. But I’ve happily been proven wrong. The stainless steel pieces don’t tarnish or rust, and the PVD gold-plated stainless steel ones don’t turn your fingers green. Plus, it’s all water-safe.
I have a few pieces from the brand, including the By The Seashore Gold Necklace and the Two Layer Dainty Waist Chain in Gold. But my favorite is the Adjustable Pearl Ring, which I wore throughout the entire summer and while on vacation in Sicily, where sweat and salt water were abundant. I can safely say that it’s water-safe and has remained tarnish- and rust-free. It’s the best $14 you could spend on long-lasting gold jewelry.”—Victoria Montalti, Associate Affiliate Writer
Flaire & Co. 18K Gold Plated Adjustable Pearl Ring, $, available at Flaire & Co.
“Monica Vinader needs no introduction for the jewelry fans out there. Selling seriously stylish pieces, from simple chains to enamel earrings, it’s one of the best brands for bling, from the everyday to the exceptional. Offered the chance to try it out, I went in. On one wrist sits the Mini Nugget Gemstone Beaded Bracelet and the Alta Textured Chain Bracelet. On the other, the Nura Reef Bangle with the Siren Muse Medium Hoop Earrings in my lobes for good measure.
All look exceptional, and so far I’ve noticed no tarnish. But that’s not to say it won’t come, as the brand does not claim to be waterproof or tarnish-free. What it does offer is a five-year warranty, during which time any piece will be repaired, no questions asked. You can also pay to activate a lifetime warranty to keep pieces looking pretty forever, which seems like a no-brainer to me.”—Lauren
Monica Vinader Mini Nugget Gemstone Beaded Bracelet, $, available at Monica VinaderPhoto Courtesy of Monica Vinader
“Many R29 editors are Ana Luisa fans, including myself. I’ve worn my Paris twisted earrings nearly every day for the last year because I love the style so much (and, no, I don’t regularly take them off to shower). They haven’t dulled or tarnished in the slightest, and have become a staple to my daily outfits.
In addition to recycled solid gold, Ana Luisa also uses durable gold-plated brass and rhodium-plated- and gold-plated sterling silver. The brand’s hypoallergenic and tarnish-resistant jewelry is also backed by a 2-year warranty, so you can be confident in its quality and longevity.”—Victoria
Ana Luisa Paris Twisted Hoop Earrings, $, available at Ana Luisa
“If you’re after a little bit of luxury, Kitty Joyas may be the brand for you. A Joyas Heart Necklace is one of the brand’s bestsellers, and for good reason. It catches everyone’s eye, and I get a lot of compliments every time I wear it out and about. It makes a lovely gift for someone special in your life — you can even receive a discount when buying in bulk. Bridesmaid presents, perhaps?
My favorite piece has to be the XS Signature Hoops made from recycled sterling silver and plated with 3 microns of 18-karat gold. The brand says that the color of its jewelry can fade but offers a renew service from $16 to keep your pieces looking perfect.”—Lauren
Kitty Joyas A Joyas Heart Necklace, $, available at Kitty JoyasPhoto Courtesy of Kitty Joyas
Luxury resort jewelry brand Dorne only just launched in November 2023, so while we haven’t officially put it to the test on a summer vacation, we’ve gotten some of the waterproof swim jewelry kits that we’re excited to try. The white-plated and 18k gold body jewelry is designed to accentuate your swimsuits, whether you attach the charms to the center of your bikini top or sside of your string bikini bottom.
Dorne Swim Mini Stylist Memento Kit, $, available at Dorne
“Otiumberg pieces are really very special and will arrive at your door beautifully gift-wrapped and tied with a bow. Founded by sisters Christie and Rosanna, the London-based brand stocks delicate pieces crafted from solid gold, gold vermeil, and sterling silver. The look is very much old-money luxury — think initial necklaces, dainty rings, and small studs.
The (now sold out) Solid Gold Square Hoops, stood out as my favorite — they’re chic, subtle, and luxurious, which you can feel from their weight. They are seriously spendy compared to most other pieces in this list, but they will most likely last a lifetime, tarnish-free, so I consider them an investment.”—Lauren
Otiumberg Solid Gold Diamond Edge Square Huggie, $, available at OtiumbergPhoto Courtesy of Otiumberg
While Made by Mary has an entire jewelry care page with best practices for cleaning and keeping your pieces brand new (ex: not swimming with them on), it also uses high-quality and durable materials that also ensure you’ll enjoy your pieces for a long time. Made by Mary’s gold-filled jewelry has gold coating, a.k.a. a thick layer of 14k gold. This creates durable pieces that prevent tarnishing and chipping.
Made By Mary March Birth Flower Necklace, $, available at Made By Mary
“I’m not alone in my love of Astrid & Miyu. In fact, the only downside about picking a piece from this brand is that you may find a number of your friends have had the same idea — great if you’re a safety-in-numbers kind of fashion fan, not so much if you prefer to have a signature style.
Astrid & Miyu makes no claims about being tarnish-free. There’s a whole page on its website dedicated to caring for your jewelry to make it last longer, including keeping it away from lotions, sweat, and water. So I can’t claim that it’s tarnish-free, although I did fall in love with the Essential Medium Hoops in Gold, and just made sure to follow all good jewelry-owner steps to keep them looking sparkly: no showers, baths, or sea swims on the menu.”—Lauren
Astrid & Miyu 18K Gold Molten Open Ring, $, available at Astrid & MiyuPhoto Courtesy of Astrid & Miyu
Being a longtime fan of the brand, I made the most of my testing time, donning the Bermuda Bracelet, £43, Bermuda Necklace, £52, Marbella Ring, £52, and Huggies Set, £68, plus a couple of extras. Did they stand up to the test? Absolutely, thanks to that pretty clever PVD coating.Photo Courtesy of Hey Harper
D. Louise has seen some impressive success since its launch in 2021. There’s a host of gold-tone necklaces, rings, bracelets and earrings on offer, all sold as “waterproof”. The brand claims its gold-plating process, utilising 361L stainless steel with a LifeGuard™ coating, is ten times stronger than standard gold plating and that the colour won’t fade.
Was I sceptical of such grand claims? Absolutely. But after wearing the Essentials Bracelet, £40, the Paperclip Necklace, £50, and the Pleated Huggie Earrings, £45, for over one month, I’ve been proved wrong. Several baths, showers and a dip in the sea later, each piece is as glistening gold as it was when it arrived. What’s more, almost all of the brand’s jewelry is priced under £100. Need I go on? Photo Courtesy of Otiumberg D.Louise
By Rae uses the same PVD gold plating as D. Louise and Hey Harper so unsurprisingly it yields the same results. The brand claims its pieces are waterproof, sweat-proof and sea-proof, and I can’t argue. The Lily Box Chain Bracelet, £28, has sparkled on my wrist for over a month now and is showing no sign of silver specks or going green.
It’s also the cheapest piece of jewelry on this list so anyone after a bargain buy better pay attention. In fact, the most expensive piece from the brand comes in at £54. It seems slightly less sturdy than some of the pricer picks but hey, at this price, who can complain?Photo Courtesy of By Rae
Galleria Armadoro stocks both gold-tone and silver jewelry and is a treasure trove for those who like chunkier, costume-like pieces. The brand doesn’t claim to be tarnish-free and is honest that its “gold vermeil plated pieces are subject to fading over time”. But what it does do to ensure your pieces sparkle forever is offer free replating and repairs, which may be even better. This does mean that its prices are a little higher than some of the other brands here.
The Speira Icon Gold Vermeil Ring, £97.50, is one of my favourites, along with the Baby Salma Gold Vermeil Hoops, £123.50, neither of which I’ve had to send for replating yet.Photo Courtesy of Galleria Armadoro
If you love the stacked jewellery look but don’t know where to start, allow me to introduce you to Maya Brenner’s Delicate Trio Stacking Rings, £212. This stunning trio makes building a jewellery look much more simple. In the name of journalism, I also had to trial the 14k Gold Asymmetrical Letter Necklace, £220 (also worn by Meghan Markle, so certainly fit for a princess).
These pieces aren’t cheap so this is a brand for investment buys rather than little pick-me-ups. But if I had the choice, I’d never take off either of these items (and I haven’t for weeks now while I pretend they’re mine). They’re made from solid 14-karat gold so they won’t fade or tarnish but they are incredibly delicate. Luckily, the brand has a quick-turnaround repair shop to sort you out should the worst happen. Photo Courtesy of Maya Brenner
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