Does Gold Plated Brass Tarnish
Yes, gold plated brass or gold over brass does tarnish once gold plating wears off. Gold plating can take about 3 to 4 months of regular use to wear off completely. With this, base metal brass gets exposed to atmospheric reaction and takes about 1 month to tarnish completely. In total, it takes about 4 to 5 months to tarnish gold plated brass.
This can only be undone by re-plating gold plated brass every time plating wears off. This will not only keep it in better looks but also save it from tarnishing.
In this article we’ll answer will gold plated brass tarnish, why it tarnishes, how long will it take and how can you stop it from happening.
Does Brass Rust?
No, brass does not rust. It does not contain any iron which is the main reason for rusting of any metal. It is made by combining copper and zinc.
Does Brass Turn Green?
Yes, brass does turn green on tarnishing and can also turn skin green if you wear that jewelry.
Why Does Gold Plated Brass Tarnish
Gold plated brass is composed of a very thin gold plating done over brass. Brass is an alloy of copper which can tarnish pretty fast. Once it is exposed to atmospheric chemicals, it starts tarnishing. However, in gold plated brass, it is protected by a thin layer of gold. As soon as this gold plating wears off, brass is set free to react with atmospheric chemicals like sulfur which tarnishes it pretty fast.
In order to save your gold plated brass jewelry from tarnishing, you will have to just re-plate it every time it wears off.
How long it Takes to Tarnish Brass
Gold plating on brass takes about 3 to 4 months of regular usage to wear off. This time can vary depending on usage and quality of gold plating. After that, exposed brass can take a few weeks to 1 or 2 months of regular usage to develop visible tarnishing. There are some ways like sealing brass and using water repellents which can slow down this process.
Is Brass a Good Metal for Jewelry?
Brass is not a good metal if you have sensitive skin or want to get a durable and maintenance free metal. It should be bought only if you have low budget or want fashion jewelry.
Brass vs Gold
Brass is a very low cost alloy of copper and zinc. It can have some resemblance with gold but does not shine as it.
Is Brass Hypoallergenic?
Brass is not a hypoallergenic metal. It can react with skin and turn skin green and cause skin problems like allergies.
Does Brass have Nickel in It?
Brass does not have nickel. However, very cheap quality brass jewelry can have it. It is better to ask jeweler first about nickel.
Factors Fastening Tarnishing
Here are factors which can make your jewelry tarnish faster.
1. Contact with Water
Water can damage your brass jewelry very badly. It reacts with copper of brass and forms tarnish deposit on its surface. Avoid those tasks that involve water such as swimming, laundering, washing hands and showering. Best way is to remove jewelry before getting into water.
This damage can be worst if you live near to coastal areas where high level of humidity can significantly tarnish brass. For avoiding water damage, people often use wax sealing and water repellents.
2. Sweating and Cosmetic Items
Our sweat contains salts and chemicals that can fasten tarnishing. Jewelers recommend to not wear brass jewelry on a hot day or a rainy day where you are expected to get a lot of sweat.
Apart, cosmetic items like lotions, perfumes can also be a cause of tarnishing. Avoid excess use of these items while wearing brass jewelry. Wear your jewelry after applying these items.
3. Wear and Tear
Abrasion and friction can also be an indirect cause of tarnishing. This leads to wearing off of gold plating which will eventually expose the inner brass metal to atmospheric chemicals. And tarnish will start.
4. Uncleanliness
Not cleaning your jewelry can also be a cause of tarnishing. In case of not cleaning, deposits of dirt and chemicals get over the surface and react with it to expose the base metal. Its better to clean your jewelry with a gentle soap and warm water. Immediately clean the jewelry once cleaned with a soft cloth. Never let it dry on its own.
Another thing to note is to don’t over clean it. Excess cleaning can also remove gold plating. Only clean when dirt becomes visible or shine gets dim.
Does 24k Gold plated Brass Tarnish?
24k gold plated brass does not exist. If someone tells you about 24k gold plated brass, they are lying.
Does 18k or 14k Gold over Brass Tarnish?
Yes, 18k and 14k gold over brass tarnish if gold plating wears off.
How to Keep Brass From Tarnishing
So how to protect brass from tarnishing. Here are tips you can use to avoid tarnishing of gold plated brass.
1. Avoid Contact with Water
Water can damage your brass jewelry pretty quickly. Typically your jewelry comes in contact with water when swimming, hands washing, laundering clothes and tasks which involve water. Try to remove your jewelry before getting into these tasks.
2. Make Sure Gold plating does not wear off
Your gold plated brass jewelry will never tarnish unless gold plating is eroded away. So, as long as gold plating is there, you don’t have to worry about tarnishing. Make sure gold plating does not wear off.
Common causes of wearing of gold plating are scratches, falling on rough surfaces, water damage etc.
3. Re-plate Jewelry every 2 to 3 Months
If you intend to use your gold plated brass jewelry for long, its better to re-plate it from time to time. This time can vary depending on how quickly the gold layer erodes off. Generally, it is a good practice to re-plate it every 2 to 3 months if you use it regularly.
4. Safe storage
Storing your jewelry in a professional storage is a must. It can save you a lot of money in repairs and extra maintenance. Always place your jewelry in a sealed air tight container. If you live in a coastal area, its better to use anti-tarnishing strips as well.
5. Avoid Harsh Chemicals
Never ever use home made chemicals like baking soda for cleaning your jewelry. There are a number of commercially designed jewelry cleaning chemicals available. Using these specific chemicals will intact your jewelry’s looks.
6. Don’t overclean your jewelry
Overcleaning of jewelry can also be a problem. Specifically if you have plated jewelry. Overcleaning or rough cleaning can cause top plating to erode away quickly.
Apart, never use rough clothes for drying purposes.
Should You Buy It?
Gold plated brass can be a problem at times. It can tarnish. But it all comes at an affordable cost, so you pay much less compared to other expensive jewelry metals like gold, platinum etc.
Its a trade-off. You get some, you lose some. If you intend to use your jewelry on daily basis, and can take proper care of it, then you must buy gold plated brass. If you can’t take care of it, then it is better to not buy it.
Alternatives to Brass
There are some alternatives which you can use if gold plated brass jewelry does not fit your demands.
1. Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is a popular metal being used in fashion jewelry. It comes with hypoallergenic properties which brass does not provide. Apart, it does not tarnish or corrode as well. So, if you want to buy an affordable piece of jewelry, stainless steel can be a good option.
2. Sterling Silver
Sterling silver is one of the most commonly used metal in jewelry. Its history dates back to centuries. With white bright lustrous looks, sterling silver is easy available in the market. It can also be a good buy if you want to stay classic with price in affordable range. Sterling silver does tarnish as well but not as quickly as brass.
3. Titanium
Titanium is another cool metal to wear. It is known for its light weight properties. It does not tarnish as well and is by far the best hypoallergenic metal used in jewelry. However, it is gray in color which might not be much appealing to many people. Colored options are also available in titanium, though they are attained by plating. If you can compromise on looks, titanium can also be a good choice.
FAQ’s about Brass Jewelry
Here are common FAQ’s about brass jewelry.
1. Is Gold plated Brass good?
Gold plated brass is not durable and is expected to cause skin problems. You should only buy it if you want gold alike looks at a very low price for a short time.
2. Is Gold plated Brass Expensive?
No. Gold plated brass is very low cost jewelry. You can easily get a pair of earrings for about $40.
3. Who Should Buy Gold Plated Brass?
Gold plated brass is only for those who don’t have the budget for gold filled or solid gold jewelry but they want to get gold alike looks. Apart, one who has no history of sensitive skin can wear gold plated brass.
4. Does Plated Brass turn Green?
Yes, it can turn skin green as it is non-hypoallergenic and can react with the skin.
Conclusion
Gold plated brass can tarnish very fast. It is one of the fastest metal to tarnish due to big copper content. That’s why there are a need for every buyer to be aware of it. Apart, they should follow the steps to protect it from tarnishing. Factors like sweating, use of cosmetic items, water and humidity can tarnish brass way faster. Metals like stainless steel, sterling silver and titanium can be a good alternative of gold plated brass.