Question About Plated Jewelry

[SingFrAbsoltion]

I'm looking to buy gold hoop earrings because my fake ones always get dark and i'm sick of cleaning them

but I really can't afford solid gold ones, and I found a really cute pair of 18k gold plated ones. Will I a problem with them getting dark and looking all dirty and gross?

TIA!

 

[panda0410]

Depends of the a) quality of the plate, b) thickness of the plate, and c) karat used. Softer karat plate like 18 or 22 tends to rub of fairly quickly leaving the base metal which is usually sterling silver or an alloy, showing. I am allergic to alloys and anything not pure sterling sterling silver or solid gold and my plated bracelet - which was a gorgeous gift, within about 8 weeks had rubbed back to alloy and caused me a severe allergic reaction. You can get thicker plate jewellery, but like anything you will pay a bit more for it. If you take good care of it it shouldnt get all dirty, but avoid over cleaning or you will eventually rub back to the base metal underneath.