Does Imitation Jewellery Tarnish or Fade? Why It Happens and How to Slow It

Almost every fashion jewellery buyer asks this sooner or later, and the honest answer is that colour change is normal for plated pieces. How fast it happens depends on the plating, how often you wear the piece and how it is kept. This guide explains why it happens and what slows it down, with Mumbai's monsoon in mind. For full cleaning and storage steps we point you to our separate care guides rather than repeating them here.

Does imitation jewellery tarnish or fade over time?

Yes. Over time most plated pieces dull, fade or change colour at the edges, and pieces worn daily change sooner than those worn at a few weddings a year. Most of our pieces are plated brass or alloy, and some are genuine sterling silver, which can also darken with air and moisture but can be polished back.

This is how plated jewellery works, not a sign of a fake or a faulty piece. Good care slows it down, but no plated piece stays unchanged forever.

Tarnish and fading are not quite the same thing. Tarnish is a dark or dull film that forms on the metal, while fading is the plating colour thinning out. Both can be slowed, and the steps below help with each.

Why does the colour of imitation jewellery change?

The gold or silver colour is a very thin layer of plating over brass or alloy. As that layer wears thin, the metal underneath reacts with air and moisture and shows up as a darker patch, a greenish film or a paler, brassy tone. Rubbing against clothes, other jewellery and skin wears the layer down where contact is greatest, such as clasps, edges and the back of earrings.

Stones and kundan settings can look dull for a different reason: dust, oil and sweat build up around and behind them, and a wipe removes much of it. Our guide on why fashion jewellery turns skin green or black explains the skin-contact side in more detail.

What makes imitation jewellery tarnish faster?

Sweat, perfume, water, humidity and friction are the main causes. Sweat carries salts and mild acids, perfume and hairspray contain alcohol and other chemicals, bath, pool and sea water leave moisture and salts behind, humid air keeps the metal damp, and rubbing wears the plating away mechanically.

Sleeping in jewellery, wearing it to the gym or keeping it on while cooking adds to the wear. A piece worn every day in a hot, sweaty season will usually change colour sooner than the same piece worn on weekends.

Small exposures matter when they repeat. A spray of perfume on a necklace every day does more harm over a month than one night out in the rain.

How can I slow down tarnishing and fading?

Put jewellery on last, after perfume, hairspray and cream, and take it off first when you get home. Wipe each piece with a soft dry cloth, let it air for a few minutes and then put it away. Remove it before a bath, swimming, washing up or exercise.

Store each piece in its own small pouch in a dry box, with a silica gel packet inside. Our guide to caring for gold-plated jewellery covers wearing and wiping, and the guide to storing jewellery at home covers pouches and boxes, so we will not repeat the steps here.

Rotate your pieces instead of wearing the same favourite every day, because rest between wears lets sweat and moisture dry out completely. Keep a pair of everyday earrings separate from your occasion sets, so the good pieces are worn less often and stay fresh for the events that matter. If a piece is slightly damp at the end of the day, leave it on a dry cloth for a few minutes before it goes into its pouch.

What helps in Mumbai's monsoon?

Humidity is the biggest test. In the rains, wipe pieces carefully after wearing, make sure nothing goes into the box damp, and use fresh silica gel packets, drying them in the sun every few weeks. Keep the box on a shelf away from outside walls, not in a damp cupboard or the bathroom.

Open the box once every week or two in July and August and check for a damp smell or a white or green film. Wipe off early spots right away, because they are far easier to remove than old ones. On days when you expect rain or a long, sweaty commute, choose pieces you will not mind seeing wear faster.

What should I not do when cleaning imitation jewellery?

Do not use harsh chemicals, jewellery dips, bleach, acetone or strong detergents, and do not scrub plated pieces with toothpaste, baking soda, lemon or vinegar. These are abrasive or acidic and can strip plating faster than ordinary tarnish would. Do not soak pieces with stones or kundan work either, because water can get behind the stones and loosen the setting.

A soft dry cloth is the safest cleaner for plated pieces. If a piece is genuine sterling silver, a silver polishing cloth is fine, but keep it away from plated pieces, since it can rub the plating off.

Do some pieces tarnish and fade slower than others?

Yes. Thicker, better-applied plating usually lasts longer, and pieces that touch your skin less, such as earrings and tikkas, tend to hold their colour longer than anklets, bangles and chains that rub all day. Finish matters too: oxidised pieces are meant to look dark and antique, so darkening is less noticeable on them.

Our guide to gold plated vs rhodium vs oxidised silver compares the finishes, and how to check imitation jewellery quality lists what to look at before you buy.

When should I stop wearing a piece?

Stop wearing a piece when the plating has worn through to the base metal in patches, when it leaves green or dark marks on your skin, or when it causes itching, redness or a rash. Skin reacts differently from person to person, so if a reaction continues, speak to a doctor.

Also retire pieces with a cracked or loose stone, a weak clasp or a rough edge that catches your skin or clothes. A worn piece can sometimes be kept for occasional use under a dupatta, but wear it less often. A piece that arrives damaged or defective is a different matter: report it to us within 2 days of delivery.

Browse silver plated jewellery, antique gold jewellery, lightweight jewellery for daily wear or all our designs.