Plated silver jewelry tarnishes and corrodes faster than owners expect
30 posts across 2 communities in the last 30 days; 97% from r/jewelry.
“Hi everybody, i just wanted to share something that happened to me recently i figured some might get a kick out of it the pendant in the bag is my every day wear, i wore it everywhere doing everything and never had a problem, yes 24k gold is soft and can be crushed/bent but i…”
“I don't remember the original color if it was silver or copper, but ignore the silver chain because it used to be a black string chain but it broke apart, so I put the pendant on a silver chain. Why is it this coloring and are there home remedies to get fix it?”
“Hey everyone, I’m looking to buy a layered necklace stack similar to the ones pictured here. The issue is I want it in solid 18K yellow gold for high quality and daily wear, but I really don't want to pay huge designer markups like Tiffany, Cartier, or other big luxury houses…”
Several posts express frustration with jewelry tarnishing, quality concerns (especially Swarovski), and difficulty interpreting markings. Users seek advice on cleaning, repair, and assessing the value of pieces.
SOURCES (60)
“Never really made jewelry before. Criticism welcome. submitted by /u/pouringmud [link] [comments]”
“Hi all! I posted here last week about trying to figure out what to do with the silver castings from my Nana’s old jewelry company. I got so many amazing responses, so I thought I owed it to everyone to show off some of my favorites so far! I’d say I’m only about 10% of the way through everything, and these are probably about 5% of that 10%… so I have a long way to go. I am both in heaven and a little bit of hell, so wish me luck as I continue on! (Bonus points if anyone can figure out what her c”
“I've had this bracelet for as long as I can remember. It used to have gold plating on the outside links, but those have since worn off. It's 925 Stirling silver. Does anyone have any idea what this design/type of links are called? I'd love to find it in solid gold some day. submitted by /u/Ldoyle32 [link] [comments]”
“I am a huge jewelry lover, and love having meaningful pieces to have! This pendant was an idea I had since my husband and I started planning our wedding, and after searching for a few years for the right stones and saving up for the gold, I finally have what I’ve been envisioning for years. All lab grown stones Fancy vivid pink diamond Deep blue sapphire Fancy vivid green diamond All are OEC cuts All around 6.2mm in size (~1ct diamonds, ~1.2ct sapphire) set in a 14k yellow gold bezel setting. I”
“Does anyone recognize beads like these? I think they are antique, and appear kind of unusual. They have a muddy water color as the base of the bead, with floral and golden streak motifs. Any comments are much appreciated, google AI doesn’t know much. Anything remotely similar in appearance is called a “French Ambassador Bead” submitted by /u/IHH831 [link] [comments]”
“i’ve had this necklace for a while and i’ve showered with it before 😭 can someone tell me if this is rust or something else?? and how to get rid of it? submitted by /u/reedzzjo [link] [comments]”
“I'm a silver type of person, and I'm allergic to yellow gold. I've been dreaming of a diamond by the yard single necklace for a while and I'm thinking of getting one for my next birthday. I saw a similar style white gold at mejuri (I know, I know)... so I'm wondering which one to choose. Tiffany's in silver is of course the classic one, though I'm wondering if the silver would be suitable for everyday wear or would it make more sense to get it in gold. Anyone has any”
“These are some of the pendants and earrings that were in the vintage bead bags I thrifted on a market!! Theyre stunning But I have no idea on how to clean or treat them if I wanna use them for anything! (Also not sure if any are real silver etc) So any help is appreciated since i know nothing about this stuff! ♡ submitted by /u/Top_Raspberry7166 [link] [comments]”
“I've worn this silver pendant necklace every day for the last 19 years. Only taken it off a handful of times during that. I noticed today that the loop soldered onto it has worn super thin. I'm not sure how thin, but it's pictured above, laying on a hair from my head for comparison. I'd guess the thin section is maybe 2-3 hair widths. I occasionally repaired the chain myself every few years with small pliers when I would snag it on something and the chain or clasp breaks, but I&#”
“hello!! have been wanting to get the vintage Alhambra necklace for the longest time and am thinking to treat myself this Christmas finally 🤭would love any and all opinions on which color suits me best… I’ve always wanted the white MOP one but now that I’ve put the colors against my skin tone, I feel like black onyx or red carnelian might suit me more (?) just put the earrings for fun but as well but I’m mainly interested in the necklace 🥹I appreciate any advice, or if anyone who has one of the”
“So I always polish my silver jewelry regularly but on a whim I decided to not only polish my silver earrings, but also clean the stone. Typically, I’ll only clean the surface, but after getting married and getting an engagement ring I learned that to truly get a ring to sparkle, you have to clean under the setting. As a result of this I decided to try it on my gemstone studs. Well, the proof is in the pudding! Look at that difference! submitted by /u/Violetteotome [link] [comme”
“Hello! Recently thrifted this cuff and I really like it. Just trying to get a better idea of its production era or if it’s a make shift cuff (tray or napkin ring type deal). I did a quick polish with a micro fiber and it brightened up quite a bit so I’m assuming it may be sterling silver as well. It’s not stamped anywhere! I love all costume jewelry, so I won’t be let down if it’s nothing special. Just curious! Paid $5 for it. submitted by /u/lissdev [link] [comments]”
“I’m not a big ss girl, but found a necklace which is 925 and tarnished. Is there a point where it can’t be brought back to life? I had some necklaces that were tarnished and tried a ss solution, but no luck. Must have been cheap metals mixed in. Anyone have before and after photos? Thoughts? Advice? Thank you in advance. submitted by /u/Diamond212419 [link] [comments]”
“I’ve reached a significant milestone and have created a stack that I absolutely love! The bracelet closest to my wrist is from a brand I found recently called Crowned - it’s gold plated with a jade stone. I don’t expect this to last forever, but for the time being it’s gorgeous. The middle is my newest addition - 14k yellow/ white gold circle/ square diamond bezel tennis bracelet. Found at an estate sale. Third is a mixed metal 14k bracelet I found at an estate sale. Thanks for all the inspirati”
“Trying to clean this necklace and considering the aluminum foil/baking soda method to remove the tarnish. Will that damage the enamel? submitted by /u/sadandtired85 [link] [comments]”
“Hi! So I absolutely love all the stacked bracelet posts, and am looking to start my own set. The problem is I mostly see traditional gold and a bit of rose gold. I would love to see some examples of some personal collections in the silver/white gold color range (other colors mixed in is beautiful too as long as it’s predominately silver) My partner likes to get surprises, but needs a baseline to work from. Anything Celtic themed is also a huge bonus! Thank you!! submitted by /u/Peppe”
“Recently been loving bracelet stacks so invested in a few everyday pieces! Any recommendations? submitted by /u/Front_Conclusion1324 [link] [comments]”
“Some pretty pieces my mom gave me ! Believe theyre all pretty old. What do you think? submitted by /u/usernameiserin [link] [comments]”
“I never stack necklaces but am trying to branch out lol. Does this look okay? submitted by /u/ReadCritical2117 [link] [comments]”
“Hi there, long time lurker here & still confused with what has happened to the necklace that I've had for 16+ years. My father mentioned at the time that it's a platinum chain but sadly there's no markings on the clasp. I recently sent off the necklace to be cleaned at a new jeweler (moved countries) and just a month afterwards, there is a dull look to the chain and even three or four spots where it looks rusted. To be clear, I have not worn it into the sea or the pool within thi”
“my nana’s friend was a jewelry collector and recently passed away. she sent me a box of over 100 pieces that she claimed to be costume jewelry! but when i took a look through, these two pieces caught my attention immediately..after hours of digging through everything else with a fine tooth comb i found (6) 14k rings, (1) 14k bracelet, (3) 10k rings, and a TON of 925 silver. almost all of it vintage italian!! anyone happen to know the decade on these pieces? or more info in general? submitt”
“I’ve worn strictly gold for years, but i’m experimenting with mixing metals lately! i stacked my gold chain (which already has a silver clasp) with a silver tennis necklace to test the waters. i kind of love how the silver brightens up the gold, but i'm still getting used to it. does this combo look intentional, or does it feel mismatched to you guys? submitted by /u/Hot_Complex3533 [link] [comments]”
“Hi everyone. I have like 13 ear piercings and I usually buy sterling silver jewelry from Etsy. I want to invest in an earring stack that won't tarnish, and I like the look of bright silver over titanium. Here are some inspo photos for style. What are some brands/shops that you recommend getting bright dainty silver peices from? Thanks!!!! submitted by /u/Calm_Ad4009 [link] [comments]”
“Hi I wanted to ask where to find a piece of jewelry like this. I lost my old one and the og place is in paris and I can’t find it on their online store. Basically its gold plate, non tarnish, layered with 2 layers of a thin chain and the bottom layer has a straight cylinder piece. It looks like this: https://preview.redd.it/f3sxgi6d1eqh1.png?width=1179&format=png&auto=webp&s=1328f286760880a4f185cd81a311013fe53b095c submitted by /u/kiek0h [link] [comments]”
“Hi everybody, i just wanted to share something that happened to me recently i figured some might get a kick out of it the pendant in the bag is my every day wear, i wore it everywhere doing everything and never had a problem, yes 24k gold is soft and can be crushed/bent but i never really cared as long as it didnt break off well my worst fear happened the other day at work, while taking a 💩, i heard the sound of metal clinking against porcelain, looked down and my pendant was gone. i freaked ou”
“My baby cousin is starting college and I want to gift her some jewelry! She never knows what to buy, she barely has any and I own quite a few but totally diferent style so not sure about the good stores here. I’m thinking of ordering from Gorjana since their style seems nice for her (she's very delicate and romantic) so just wanted to check on reviews before I make the purchase, thanks submitted by /u/Technical-Scene-9418 [link] [comments]”
“Hi everyone! I am in the market for a charm bracelet and finding it really difficult to discover brand that still sell them. I was hoping you guys would recommend me some brands like Roberto Coin, Tiffany’s, Davi’s Yurman, etc that would sell one. Price point isn’t too relevant, just not obscene. Thanks!! submitted by /u/siracha_gummybear [link] [comments]”
“Added various textures/sizes. They are all 10k or 14k. I love the mixed metal look! submitted by /u/Underrated_buzzard [link] [comments]”
“I found this beautiful bracelet at an antique fair and thought I would share. I fell in love with it instantly. I grew up in Arizona and it reminded me of spending time with my grandparents out in the desert. Stamped “sterling” and “SV” submitted by /u/MacaronMonster [link] [comments]”
“Some of my Swaovski crystals in my bangle, have turned dark (seem like it's between the bangle and cyrstals). Is there anyway I can salvage it? My bangle is similar to the one in this photo. I never get this bangle wet, but it is about 10 years old submitted by /u/mspickledick [link] [comments]”
“I posted a piece I got from Etsy that was sterling silver and moissanite, but the seller made such a low-quality piece for me. I should’ve known better because they only had a few sales on Etsy and it was a new shop. I found a reputable shop that’s pretty popular, and I’m planning on ordering the same piece but in 14K gold and lab diamonds. It’s $492 Canadian. I’m from the Middle East, and with that amount of money, I could buy an 18K gold chain and pendant together back home. I’m familiar with”
“Pretty sure these are real sapphires and little diamonds too. Was my mom’s from when she was a teenager. She gave it to me because she knows I love precious metals. I’m not going to wear it (I’m a male) but anyways read online today that P after the K mark means plumb not plated, and found out what that meant. Pretty cool to know! submitted by /u/DemonCaller420 [link] [comments]”
“I don't remember the original color if it was silver or copper, but ignore the silver chain because it used to be a black string chain but it broke apart, so I put the pendant on a silver chain. Why is it this coloring and are there home remedies to get fix it? submitted by /u/ducky_unlikely [link] [comments]”
“hellooo, i love wearing gold jewelry and need recs for rings/bracelets that don't tarnish. i like keeping my jewelry on 24/7 and affordable too would appreciate any recs thanks <3 submitted by /u/Ok_Confusion743 [link] [comments]”
“Hello , I wanted to gift my partner a silver jewelry . The online ones are either artificial or too generic ,and going to the market is too tiresome . Is there someone who does it here ? I need it for the next month so : submitted by /u/No-Height2081 [link] [comments]”
“I know everyone's divided on Pandora, personally I really love the older charms, so I'm sharing my old Pandora bracelet:) I love it alot! Quality has gone down but old pieces have my heart. (I'm a semi new collector, was too young to buy it back then lol) submitted by /u/Sufficient-Heart1581 [link] [comments]”
“It is a pretty old bracelet so idk what clasp is it but can i salvage it? submitted by /u/Background-Pepper721 [link] [comments]”
“Hi all! I have a small pendant (base metal copper) that I would love to get rhodium plated so that it looks brand new again. (it’s coated in some silvery metal) I can post pictures in the comments if need be. Has anyone had any good experiences with mail-in jewelry repair services, and if so, which one? I live in a small town where many jewelers refuse to plate copper with rhodium because it requires preliminary nickel plating so that the metal underneath won’t corrode — which has forced me onli”
“Here is my recently acquired silver set I’ve had the chains for a while, I recently picked up the libertad and bracelet on here And the bezel from a local jeweler. I kinda feel like the bracelet is a bit small lmk what y’all think of it and the set in general I’m also planning on having a bezel made for a 1/4 oz Aztec calendar and placing that on the smaller rope chain submitted by /u/Fit_Independent_8422 [link] [comments]”
Hey everyone, I’ve been looking at some Gorjana's pieces for a while now cause I'm looking to renew my everyday stack. A couple of my friends had good experiences and honestly the…
“I check my pieces every few months. The 12mm chain from Aporro just hit three months and it's mostly held up. One small thing I noticed: the clasp face looks slightly duller than the rest under direct light. No colour change, chain looks fine otherwise. Now I'm looking at picking up a second chain and it's got me thinking about materials. For a daily chain, is gold vermeil actually worth the premium over plated, or does it just wear the same way, only slower? submitted by”
“I purchased this sterling silver filigree necklace in Croatia 15 years ago. I believe it is handmade, not an antique, but it did have an antiqued/oxidized finish. I don’t wear it too often so some of the shiny parts have darkened and tarnished over time. I’m wondering what would be the best way to clean it, without stripping it from the intended character? submitted by /u/rebeccavt [link] [comments]”
“Hi! My local Tiffany & Co. closed down and the closest one to me is 2 hours away (a distance I'm NOT willing to drive just to get a single necklace cleaned) and I'm wondering now how I should go about cleaning the sterling silver and the enamel, which as you can see is pretty discolored. Is there any way I can clean it at home or should I just find a local jeweler to clean it? submitted by /u/piercedblackcat [link] [comments]”
“My grandma passed down this gold chain to me and she said she hasn’t worn it often. However, the chain doesn’t seem to have that “gold shine” anymore and additionally she told me she washed it rubbing toothpaste with a toothbrush (idk if that’s harmful or not). I tried cleaning with warm water and a little bit of dish soap and it looks the same. However, I still like it and I’ll keep wearing it! Appreciate any thoughts, thanks! submitted by /u/AdorableWhereas6909 [link] [commen”
“Hello I’m a 16 year old male about to turn 17. I’m thinking of buying myself my full chain, I had a gold plated 20 inch rope which I’ve liked but it being plated it’s kind of gone to shit and I now want a real one. So far my conclusion is a flat mariner, 22”, 4mm, 14k, diamond cut. I’m semi a mechanic so how would this be for that kind of job? It would be tucked in shirt mostly. It would either be used shirtless on beach or tucked in shirt at work and only visible on side of neck. I tried a flat”
“I am in LOVE omg! My grandmother passed away September of 2025 and just recently my family was able to go through her jewelry. She had a HUGE collection so all of the nieces and aunts got to pick what we wanted. My aunt has been managing her estate and decided we could all go around the room with painters tape and a sharpie to “claim” the jewelry we wanted. If multiple people wanted it, we either rolled a die or flipped a coin depending on how many people wanted it (although we all have differen”
“I‘ve been collecting Native American made jewelry for a couple years now and I’m finally at a place where I feel like my stacks are complete. Most pieces are from the 60s/70s but a couple are newer. To my knowledge, most of these pieces are Zuni. On another note, are these stacks too much? I’m still in undergrad and I wear these to class/my non-corporate summer job. I feel like I’ve gotten blind to how much I wear over the past few years. I love my collection with all my heart, but should I step”