Gold Bands: Shine Forever?

Gold wedding bands are a classic choice for a reason. Their shiny, polished finish is captivating and brilliant, almost like a mirror. However, this shine can fade over time as gold is a soft metal that can be scratched, dented, or damaged easily. The good news is that you can restore its shine by having a jeweller re-polish it. Alternatively, you can opt for a matte or brushed finish, which is less reflective and better at hiding scratches. If you're looking for a more durable option that will stay shiny, consider a titanium ring.

Gold wedding bands can lose their shine over time

Gold wedding bands with a polished finish are a classic choice for a wedding band. Often referred to as the "mirror finish," its reflective surface makes it highly popular because it is captivating and radiates brilliantly. However, scratches are very noticeable on a polished finish. Over time, a polished finish will pick up scratches and develop a worn patina. For those who don't like the patina look, a jeweler can re-polish the ring back to a shiny lustre.

Gold wedding bands with a matte finish have a velvet-like surface and are not reflective. The finish absorbs light instead of reflecting it, creating an opaque appearance. As a result, a matte band displays a muted style that is effortless and refined. A matte finish is popular with people who prefer an understated look.

A brushed finish on a gold wedding band is similar to a matte finish due to its non-reflective appearance. However, a brushed finish has a very noticeable texture. The surface of the band is lightly scored with a metal brush, leaving tiny strokes. Due to these deliberate marks, scratches can easily blend in with the design. Brushed finishes hold up better than sandblasted surfaces but do require touching up over time to maintain their matte look.

Gold wedding bands with a hammered finish have a defined, artistic appearance. The band is first hammered to create texture and dimples on the surface, then a satin finish is applied to give it a more muted tone. Hammered finishes are low maintenance since their surface cleverly disguises scratches and wear. The impressions are deep enough that they won't polish away over time.

Gold rings are prone to damage and scratches

The likelihood of scratches and damage depends on the type of gold. 9ct gold is highly prone to marking, which is why it is not recommended for wedding rings, especially those with detailed engravings. 14ct gold is slightly more susceptible to scratching than 18ct gold due to its higher silver content, but the difference is minimal.

Gold rings can be scratched by everyday objects and activities. For example, putting your hand in your pocket and rubbing up against keys or coins can cause scratches. Other common sources of scratches include door handles, washing dishes, carrying a suitcase, gardening, or closing the car door.

To prevent scratches and damage, it is recommended to remove gold rings before performing any manual labour, household chores, or exercising. It is also important to store gold jewellery in a safe, clean place, such as a jewellery box, and to keep the pieces separate to avoid scratching.

While scratches and damage can occur, it is possible to remove light scratches by soaking the gold item in warm water and liquid detergent, then drying and buffing with a polishing cloth. Deeper scratches may require the assistance of a professional jeweller.

Gold rings can be polished to restore shine

Gold rings are a popular choice for wedding bands due to their shine and long-standing trendiness. However, gold is a soft metal that can easily get scratched, dented, or damaged during daily activities, which can cause its shine to fade over time.

Fortunately, gold rings can be polished to restore their shine. Here are some steps you can take to do this:

• Soak the gold ring in a mixture of warm water, a mild dishwashing liquid, and baking soda. This will create a sudsy solution that will help remove any dirt or grime. Soak the ring for a few minutes.
• Gently rub the gold ring with a soft cloth, cotton ball, or your fingers. You can use cotton swabs for smaller or more intricate areas. This step will help remove any remaining debris or residue.
• Rinse the ring thoroughly with warm water to remove any soap residue. Make sure to dry it completely before moving on to the next step.
• Use a gold polishing cloth to restore the shine. Turn the cloth frequently to ensure you're using a clean spot, as this will help avoid scratching the gold.
• If the ring is still dull, you can try machine cleaning it with an ultrasonic, ionic, or steam cleaner. These machines are available for purchase, or you can take your ring to a professional jeweler.

It's important to note that polishing gold too frequently can cause damage, so it's recommended to only polish gold once or twice a year. Additionally, avoid using abrasive materials like toothbrushes or tissue, as these can scratch the gold. Instead, opt for soft cloths and gentle cleaning solutions.

Polishing gold rings removes some of the gold

Gold is a soft metal that is prone to scratches and can be damaged easily during day-to-day activities. Polishing gold removes some of the gold, especially if done with abrasive paper. However, the amount of gold removed is minuscule and not visibly noticeable with standard polishing for maintenance.

Gold jewellery is typically made from a gold alloy, mixing gold with other metals such as copper, silver, or rhodium. These alloys are necessary because 24-karat gold is very soft and cannot be shaped into jewellery. The higher the karat of gold, the higher the gold content and the longer it will retain its lustre. However, even 22-karat gold, the highest grade typically used in jewellery, will corrode over time due to the other metals in the alloy.

Gold plating is also common, where gold is coated over another material. These pieces are cheaper but corrode faster and lose their shine more quickly.

Gold jewellery can also be damaged by exposure to chemicals, such as in cosmetics, perfumes, and cleaning agents. It is recommended to avoid wearing gold jewellery when handling these substances or engaging in strenuous activity that will cause sweating.

To maintain the shine of gold jewellery, it should be cleaned regularly with mild soap and water, and stored in a separate box or pouch when not being worn.

Gold rings can be soldered to prevent wear

Gold rings are a popular choice for wedding bands, but their soft material means they can easily get damaged, dented, or scratched. Over time, gold rings can also lose their shine. One way to prevent wear and tear on gold rings is to solder them. Soldering is the process of joining metal parts together using another metal with a lower melting point.

When soldering gold rings, it is important to use a gold solder, as most other solders will not work to join gold. The type of gold solder used will depend on the karat of the gold being joined and the intended use of the solder. For joining two pieces of gold together, a stronger solder with a higher gold content is recommended. This type of solder requires more heat to melt and can be found in "plumb", "medium", or "hard" varieties, or with 14 karats or above. For small repairs, a solder with a lower gold content can be used, such as "repair" or "easy" solder, or solder below 14 karats.

In addition to gold solder, other tools and materials needed for soldering gold rings include a soldering block, flux, a hand torch or precision torch, copper tongs, tweezers or a clamp, a water bath, and a pickle bath. The flux and pickle bath help to clean the gold and remove any impurities, while the soldering block and tools are used to hold the gold in place during the soldering process. The hand torch or precision torch is used to heat the gold and solder, and the water bath is used to cool the joined pieces after soldering.

To solder gold rings, first clean the gold thoroughly by soaking it in a pickle solution and then rinsing it with water. This will remove any dirt or grease that could interfere with the soldering process. Next, secure the gold ring in tweezers or a clamp on a soldering block, ensuring that the pieces fit together tightly. Apply flux to the areas being soldered, then heat the flux with the torch until the water boils off. Add a small chip of gold solder to the join and heat the surrounding metal with the torch, moving the flame back and forth to heat the entire length of the join. Once the solder has melted and flowed across the seam, turn off the torch and allow the piece to cool. Quench the joined ring in the water bath, then use copper tongs to lower it into the pickle bath to remove any fire-scale. Finally, rinse the ring in the water bath again and inspect it for any discolouration or excess solder, which can be polished or filed off.

Frequently asked questions