How to care for 22 carat gold – so it lasts a lifetime
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You've just bought something special. Maybe it's a ring you've been eyeing for months, or a pendant someone gave you for a milestone birthday. 22 carat gold isn't your everyday high street jewellery. It's different. Softer. Warmer. And it deserves to be treated that way.
Let me be honest with you – most people have no idea how to care for high-carat gold. They scrub it with toothbrushes, sleep in it, shower in it, and then wonder why it's lost its glow. Don't be that person.
Here's everything you need to know, in plain English.
First, understand what you're dealing with
22 carat gold is 91.6% pure gold. The rest is a tiny amount of other metals to give it just enough strength to hold a stone.
That means it's softer than the 9ct or 14ct gold you might be used to. And here's the thing – that's not a flaw. It's a feature. Pure gold has a warmth, a depth of colour, a way of catching the light that nothing else quite matches. But it does mean you need to be a little more thoughtful about how you wear and store it.
Think of it like a silk blouse versus a cotton t-shirt. Both beautiful, but you wouldn't throw silk in the washing machine.
What your jewellery loves (and really doesn't)
Chemicals are the enemy. Perfume, hairspray, cleaning products, chlorine – they all leave a film on the surface that dulls the gold over time. Not overnight, but gradually. And once that layer builds up, it takes more than a quick rinse to bring the shine back.
The golden rule: jewellery on last, off first.
Get dressed, do your hair, spray your perfume, and only then put on your ring or necklace. At night, take it off before anything else. It takes two seconds and makes all the difference.
Water isn't the end of the world, but... washing your hands with a ring on now and then won't kill it. But wearing it in the shower, the bath, or (please no) the swimming pool – that's where the trouble starts. Soap scum builds up in the crevices, chlorine can react with the other metals in the alloy, and over time, the gold loses its warmth.
Just take it off. It's not hard.
How to clean it (the right way)
Forget the toothbrush. Forget the silver dip. Forget anything abrasive.
This is all you need:
1. A small bowl of lukewarm water
2. A couple of drops of mild, unscented dish soap
3. A super-soft cloth (the kind you clean glasses with)
Let the jewellery sit in the water for a few minutes. Swish it gently. If there's dirt in the crevices, use your fingertips – never a brush. Rinse with clean water. Pat dry with the soft cloth.
That's it. Five minutes, once a month, and your gold stays glowing.
If your piece has diamonds or sapphires, this method works fine. If it has opals, emeralds or pearls – that's a whole different conversation. Those stones are porous and delicate. But that's a blog post for another day.
Where to keep it when you're not wearing it
22 carat gold is soft. That means if you toss a ring loose into a jewellery box with other pieces, they'll scratch each other. Not deeply, but enough to dull the finish over time.
The solution is simple: keep each piece separate. Use the little pouch it came in, or a soft cloth bag, or a box with individual compartments. And store it somewhere dry – not the bathroom, where humidity is high.
A dressing table drawer, a shelf away from direct sunlight, a dedicated jewellery box with fabric lining. Any of these work.
What about the patina?
Here's something they don't tell you. 22 carat gold develops a patina over time. A slight softening of the surface, a gentle warmth that wasn't there when it was new. Some people love this – it makes the piece feel yours, like a favourite leather wallet that's moulded to your back pocket.
Others want it gleaming like the day they bought it. Both are fine. If you want to keep the high polish, clean it gently every few weeks and take it to a jeweller once a year for a professional once-over.
If you love the patina, wear it, love it, and let it live.
One last thing
Wear your jewellery. Please don't leave it sitting in a box waiting for "special occasions". 22 carat gold is meant to be worn. The light catching the surface, the warmth of it against your skin – that's what it's for.
A few tiny scratches, a slight softening of the edges – that's not damage. That's history. That's the memory of every day you chose to wear it.
Take care of it, yes. But more importantly, enjoy it. That's what it's here for.
Have a piece that needs some love? Drop us an email at clientcare@pouje.com. We're always happy to help.
