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 habits, your wedding ring will retain its brilliance for decades. This guide covers home cleaning methods, products to avoid, care tips by gold type, how often to clean your ring, 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 gold used in jewellery is always alloyed.

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

The main causes of tarnishing are perspiration (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 evolve slightly over time due to mild oxidation of the copper when exposed to perspiration. Some people love this warm patina; to slow its development, rinse your wedding ring in 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 (typically every 1 to 3 years depending on wear). A rhodium re-plating by a jeweller is periodically required to restore its original brilliance. For everything you need to know on this topic, 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 (such as Marseille soap or a neutral washing-up liquid)
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 tend 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 is perfectly suitable. For wedding rings set with more delicate stones (Emeralds, opals), consult a professional jeweller.

• Marseille soap or mild, fragrance-free soap
• Neutral dish soap (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 will scratch 18K gold
• Pure baking soda: too abrasive in paste form — can micro-scratch polished finishes
• White vinegar: acetic acid attacks copper alloys in rose gold and yellow gold
• Bleach and chlorine: corrode alloys and cause irreversible discolouration
• Concentrated ammonia: acceptable when highly diluted on yellow gold, but risky with gemstones and rose gold
• Domestic ultrasonic cleaner: excessive vibrations pose a risk to set stones and solder joints

Remove your wedding ring before exercising (impact and sweat), cleaning (chemical products), gardening, swimming (chlorine), going in the sea (salt and abrasive sand), and applying creams or perfume.

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

"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 found in rose gold and yellow gold alloys. With prolonged contact, this weakens the surface of the piece.

"Baking soda is a universal remedy" — It depends. 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 at-home care and require the expertise of a professional:

• Deep scratches: professional polishing restores the surface. The jeweller removes a thin layer of metal to bring back the original brilliance. Use sparingly, as each polish removes a small amount of material.
• Misshapen band: an impact or pressure can cause the wedding ring to lose its round shape. 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 away and the white gold takes on a yellowish hue, a rhodium bath at a jewellery workshop restores its white brilliance. Expect to pay around $35 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.

When choosing a professional, look for a jeweller affiliated with the HBJO Federation or the Saint-Éloi Guild.