7 Jewellery Myths: Debunked

Jewellery is a great way to elevate your outfit, regardless of the occasion. Whether you’re taking your outfit from day to night or simply want to stand out from the crowd, jewellery is a great way to add that little something extra to your overall look. But while most of us love to adorn jewellery, there are some myths that are floating around that might interfere with your jewellery buying journey. But don’t worry, because we’re on hand to debunk those myths for you. Here are seven jewellery myths that have been debunked:

1. All jewellery is waterproof

Our jewellery myths list starts with waterproof jewellery. Jewellery is never advertised as ‘waterproof’. In fact, it’s advised that you do what you can to make sure that your jewellery never comes in contact with water, such as taking it off when you go in the shower, when you do the washing up, when you go swimming and even when you go to the gym. This doesn’t mean, however, that your jewellery won’t tarnish over time (which is easily rectified), especially if you wear it every day, but it will help to keep your jewellery in top condition for as long as possible. 

2. Some metals won’t tarnish

While there are some metals that are more corrosion-resistant than others, like stainless steel or titanium, they’re not guaranteed to stay tarnish-free or rust-free for their entire lifetime. There are things that we do that impact how well, or not, it will wear. For example, if you’re wearing jewellery to the gym, in the shower, or to go swimming in, then you can almost expect that jewellery to begin to tarnish. 

There are some steps you can take to slow the process down, such as taking jewellery off for the aforementioned activities. But there will always be some care and maintenance that you need to perform to keep your jewellery in top condition, regardless of the metal it is made from. Often, a simple polish with a soft cloth can do the trick. If you’d like some more help with this, then make sure you contact a jeweller, like our team here at Little Star Jewellery. 

3. All jewellery is hypoallergenic

Unfortunately, not all jewellery is hypoallergenic. Only pure sterling silver is considered to be hypoallergenic, making it perfect for those with sensitive skin to wear. Even silver-plated jewellery isn’t hypoallergenic, because silver-plated jewellery is simply another metal, like nickel or copper, that has been covered with a very thin layer of silver. 

If you have sensitive skin, then you must do your research before buying jewellery to wear. While solid silver is considered to be the most hypoallergenic metal available, there’s still a chance that it could cause irritation, just so that you’re aware. Avoid yellow gold, rose gold and white gold if you have particularly sensitive skin. 

4. You don’t need to clean jewellery

Jewellery, especially when worn regularly, is always in close contact with your skin. If you’re wearing your jewellery items while gardening or going to the gym, then they’re exposed to sweat and dirt. Just like clothing items, our jewellery needs to be cleaned in order to keep it in good condition and to prevent it from tarnishing. You can do this by simply using a soft cloth to polish your jewellery. 

5. You shouldn’t mix metals when wearing jewellery

While this is down to personal preference, there are no rules for how you should be adorning your jewellery. However, there are some common misconceptions that you should wear the same or similar metals together, but this simply isn’t the case. Nothing is stopping you from wearing rose gold, silver and yellow gold together. But how? You can do this by layering bracelets or necklaces. You could also wear a rose gold necklace with a yellow gold bracelet, or vice versa. The world is your oyster when it comes to mixing jewellery metals together, the only limit is your imagination. 

6. Gold comes in different colours

It’s common to see gold advertised as white or rose, alongside the classic yellow. While the colour does change, with rose gold offering a soft and sophisticated style and white gold being a stunning alternative to silver, gold naturally occurs in just one colour – yellow. There is no such thing as natural rose gold or natural white gold. Rose gold and white gold are created by mixing other metals to give you different colours. 

For example, rose gold is created by combining copper and silver with conventional gold. Whereas white gold is created by combining palladium and silver with the classic yellow gold. White gold jewellery is then coated with rhodium in order to give it an attractive shine and to enhance durability. This is especially the case if the carat is higher, which brings us onto our next myth…

7. The higher the carat, the stronger the gold

The last of our jewellery myths is that the higher the carat, the stronger the gold. It’s common to assume this. But it’s simply not the case. In fact, it’s the other way around. The lower the carat, the stronger the gold will be. If you have 24ct gold jewellery, for instance, you’ll find that the metal is softer. This should dictate to you when you should wear it. 

For instance, you wouldn’t wear 24ct gold jewellery while doing the gardening or conducting home renovations. However, 9ct gold would be able to better withstand such activities, simply because the metal is more durable. If you’re looking for gold jewellery that can be worn every day, then 9ct gold would be recommended over higher carat gold. 

Little Star Jewellery is pleased to provide stunning jewellery pieces for men, women, children and babies for almost any occasion. From Christenings and birthdays to Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, we will have a beautiful jewellery item available that will perfectly mark the event and be treasured for a lifetime. If you would like further information about the jewellery we have on offer, get in touch with a member of our friendly, knowledgeable team today – we’re always happy to hear from you.