Plated silver jewelry tarnishes and corrodes faster than owners expect
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)
“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…”
“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”
“I just bought this bronze or copper bangle and I'd like some tips to preserve it as long as possible! Is there anything l can do to not make it tarnish as quickly? PS: I know it's dirty, I just didn't clean it yet lol submitted by /u/rendeere [link] [comments]”
“I got these earrings as hand-me-downs from my sister years ago and they've always been this tarnished brown color (image 1 for reference) and would stain my ears which i never minded because I like them. Today, I put them on and didn't notice anything, but when I took them off at home, they're bronze colored (see image 2)! I have no clue what could've happened because I was just at work! I don't think they came in contact with anything different than usual! Any clue what coul”
“I’m trying to get more into mixed metals and recently got a piece that already has both gold and silver in it but now I’m not sure what to pair it with... Do I add more gold or more silver? What do you usually pair yours with?? thanks! submitted by /u/Hot_Complex3533 [link] [comments]”
“I’m not good with changing out my jewellery so I love building stacks that I can just wear for years until I get bored of them or want to switch something out. I’ve been trying to find/build a great yellow gold stack of necklaces for a while and yesterday bought the last piece from my local jeweler. Top: 14k dainty from Baby Gold Middle: 14k from my local jeweler, been eyeing it for so long! Bottom: 18k Cartier, got as a gift from my husband and started me down this yellow gold path submit”
“Hi everyone :) I'm 25f and looking to build my own collection of jewelry. Most of what I have is low-quality, tarnishing, costume jewelry from over the years and i would really like to start my "big girl" collection, for lack of a better term. Can anyone recommend any brands that sell solid metal pieces (I mostly wear silver and sterling silver, but any solid material is fine, too) that are affordable? I'm a young lady lol so...not a ton of money to be spending but enough where”
“Hi everyone, I inherited this silver-colored chain from my late grandfather. It holds a lot of sentimental value to me, but unfortunately, it's a bit too short for me to wear comfortably. I would love to get your help with a few questions: What is the exact name of this chain link style? I only find slighty similar design. How can I make it longer while keeping its look? Since it's a heirloom, I want to preserve it as best as possible. Have any of you successfully lengthened a chain”
“when I touch them, a little bit of silver dust comes off onto my finger. submitted by /u/Asleep_Amphibian_280 [link] [comments]”
“The stack just built throughout the day and this is what I ended up with. Vintage, 1 TJ maxx bracelet, solid gold, sterling AND costume. I mix it all. submitted by /u/dietjewelry [link] [comments]”
“some dark lines have started to appear on my necklace. Is this tarnish? gunk? scratches? and how could i get rid of these lines? submitted by /u/mecdelasavane [link] [comments]”
“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 just for a brand name. I’ve been searching forever with no luck finding a solid 18K version with good craftsmanship. Does anyone have recommendations for trustworthy brands, Instagram jewelers, Etsy shops, or independen”
“I went out thrifting with just the string bracelets (Pura Vida, also thrifted) on because it matched my shirt, and kept finding sterling bracelets I loved. Instead of leaving them in my car, and since I had a tiny purse, I just wore them. Spent about $50 on all the bracelets combined. submitted by /u/Mochigood [link] [comments]”
“The makers are Börje & Karin Tennung and I found the same one on etsy which seems more polished. I would like to clean the black residue but am not sure if it is an intentional wash… those water vibration cleaners are unfortunately too expensive. I would really appreciate some cleaning tips! submitted by /u/Ok-Independent-3074 [link] [comments]”
“Does anyone know if "Tribal Ornaments" website is genuine or not?!! Also if someone could share their experience with the brand. I want planning to buy some silver jewellery from here..as i really liked the designs but I am bit sceptical about the brand!! Please help out... submitted by /u/conqueror990 [link] [comments]”
“Loving my stack today! One wrist has some bling bead bracelets I made paired with my Gold Pandora bracelet and gold and crystal swarovski. Next wrist has another crystal beaded bracelet i made and 2 vintage Gold Name plate bracelets with my Blue Dolphin bracelet from FAHLO (Fahlo is an animal tracking app...you pick which animal you want to track and you get a bracelet too 💙 this one tracks a Dolphin named Debbie) submitted by /u/BabyGorgeouz [link] [comments]”
“My mom let me go through some of her old jewelry that she doesn’t wear anymore, and this is what I ended up with. I thought it all looked really pretty in the bowl lol submitted by /u/SceneLarge8345 [link] [comments]”
“Should I tuck or wear it out for days out in town etc? submitted by /u/Jmatteau [link] [comments]”
“I went through my mum's old jewelly and took some absolute stunners. Some off them i wear frequently or atleast know what kind of top they go well with but the first two necklaces I honestly dont know. For the first one I tried to shorten it by wrapping it arround my neck a few times the thing is that it doesn't make styling any easier and it kinda chokes me. submitted by /u/Super_Pollution_5649 [link] [comments]”
“Top bangle with baguette, bottom thick bangle & necklace are Taxco Mexico. Circle bracelet & multi bangle are Silpada. All the silver is vintage. submitted by /u/dietjewelry [link] [comments]”
“Thought I’d share my pin collection. I inherited most from my mom & grandmothers, some I’ve had since childhood, some I purchased at antique stores. Mostly costume except the silver ones are sterling, the green jade is 18kt & sapphire/diamond is 14kt. I try to wear them when I have a blazer on or sometimes will wear one on a shirt collar or cuff. I know pins aren’t as popular anymore, but please share if you have any brooch’s you love in your jewelry collection! submitted by”
“Since I got good feedback last time, what do you guys and gals think of this for everyday casual look? The pink little hearts is just a cute costume jewelry piece. The pearls I believe are real (14k clasp) are my late grandmother’s. The watch was previously owned, but I got such a great deal! I think the two without the watch look cute together. Is there a more appropriate time to wear pearls? submitted by /u/PhotographStunning37 [link] [comments]”
“Hi all! Looking for any info on this necklace I have. Have had for many years and haven’t worn it much due to not knowing how to style it and it looking tarnished and dingy… thought that’s how it was supposed to be. Decided to try and polish it, and to my surprise it’s actually a stunning silver! Worked on the whole piece and now it’s beautiful. I would love to know more information on it. The only markings I could find are “1000” which is seen in the second photo (the before of the piece). Than”
“When I see people post their disappointment about cheap modern costume jewelry, the kind that lasts for only a few months, I'd just like to share (as others have) that you can get some wonderful, affordable quality pieces second hand if you have the patience to look. For inspiration, none of the individual pieces here cost me more than $22 (and that includes tax and shipping). Mostly vintage - some newer, all sterling silver (a few continental silver), some real stones and some synthetic/gla”
“thrifted this necklace today, white residue all over the back and small nooks. not sure what it is or if this piece is beyond saving? I’ve tried soaking it in hot water and scrubbing with dish soap. The residue can be scrapped off with a toothbrush but I’m struggling to get in the grooves…Any thoughts? submitted by /u/kalishaf [link] [comments]”
“thrifted this necklace today, white residue all over the back and small nooks. not sure what it is or if this piece is beyond saving? I’ve tried soaking it in hot water and scrubbing with dish soap. The residue can be scrapped off with a toothbrush but I’m struggling to get in the grooves…Any thoughts? submitted by /u/kalishaf [link] [comments]”
“lately i’ve been feeling very uninspired by my collection. most days i think i just want to have the same set of jewelry to take the thinking out of it. other days, i want to have all the charms and chain links to stack and mix. i’ve sold off some stuff i don’t wear because i genuinely feel guilty buying something and not getting my wear out of it. however, i was “auditing” my box earlier and it made me wonder, how long do you usually leave a piece in your box without wearing before you decide i”
“(mostly concerned abt the such short time it took for it to look so dull and have grey marks) hi guys i polished this necklace yesterday using Goddard’s Silver Polish Foam, then finished it with a silver polishing cloth. It looked shiny and had no grey marks afterwards. While cleaning it, the polishing foam turned black as I rubbed the chain back and forth through it (see attached pics). The same thing happened the last time I cleaned it which was no more than 12 hrs ago I then wore the necklace”
“hey y'all! my mother was cleaning out drawers from her old dresser, gifted from my great-grandmother. i was wondering if anyone knew how to restore the yellowing on the piece? i'm not sure what material it's made from, neither does my mother, but i know it would mean a lot to her if i restored it to its' full glory. thoughts? thank you so so much! submitted by /u/MaintenanceSlight489 [link] [comments]”
“do you go mostly one metal with a little of the other or full 50/50? submitted by /u/lifejess [link] [comments]”
“Everything except my necklace is solid gold today. Necklace is Judith Ripka & it’s my birthstone submitted by /u/dietjewelry [link] [comments]”
“link to original post: https://www.reddit.com/r/jewelry/s/4LPkZNj4cd So turns out that my inheritance necklace has a matching bracelet and earrings. We’ve also uncovered the story behind the jewellery and why nobody knew about it’s existence My dad flew to India with his siblings to deal with the estate that my grandmother had and met my grandmother’s best friend from childhood. She told my dad the story behind this necklace and gave him the matching bracelet and earrings. They had been stored i”
“How does this gold owl pendent look on my silver chain with the rest of my silver jewelry? To add, my ruby wedding set is gold and I also wear some gold bracelets as well as silver. I can’t tell if this all looks weird or blends well together. I can’t tell if gold or silver looks better on me overall.🤣❤️ submitted by /u/Gypsykait11 [link] [comments]”
“Top bracelet is 22k gold Everything else is sterling silver & vintage Wedding set, gold faceted ring, thumb ring & pinky ring are solid gold (pinky ring & thumb ring are vintage) Bangles are 22k gold Cigar band is 950 silver, mixed metal ring is sterling silver (all vintage) Necklace is sterling & vintage A few of the pieces I’m wearing today are from Silver Girls on whatnot! I mainly buy from silver from them or from eBay. submitted by /u/dietjewelry [link] [co”