Related: Artificial Jewellery vs Imitation Jewellery — What's the Difference?
If you've ever bought a beautiful pair of earrings only to see them lose their shine a few months later, you're not alone. It happens to almost everyone at some point. Imitation jewellery today is genuinely well made — a lot of it can pass for the real thing at first glance — but because it's built from metal alloys, plating, and stones that are glued rather than set, it just needs a bit of extra care compared to gold or silver.
None of this is complicated, honestly. Most of it comes down to a few small habits you build into your routine, and once they're second nature, you barely think about it.
Keep it away from water
This is probably the single biggest reason plated jewellery loses its shine early. Water, especially with soap or chlorine mixed in, wears down the plating over time. So take your jewellery off before you shower, wash dishes, or jump in a pool. And if a piece does get wet by accident, don't just leave it to dry on its own — wipe it down with a soft cloth right away.
Perfume and hairspray should go on first
This one trips people up a lot. The chemicals in perfume, deodorant, and hairspray are surprisingly harsh on plated metal. The easiest fix? Get ready first, spray your perfume, do your hair, and put your jewellery on last, once everything else has settled. It sounds like a small thing, but it makes a real difference over time.
Don't just throw everything in one drawer
We've all done this at some point — tossed a handful of earrings and a couple of necklaces into one pouch and dealt with the tangled mess later. Besides the tangling, pieces can actually scratch each other if they're piled together. A jewellery box with separate little sections works best, but honestly, even keeping pieces in their original boxes or small ziplock bags does the job.
Sunlight and humidity aren't great either
Leaving jewellery out on a dresser near a window might look nice, but sunlight and humidity speed up tarnishing, particularly on gold-plated or oxidised pieces. A cool, dry drawer is a better home for anything you're not currently wearing.
Take it off before bed, workouts, or housework
Sweat and friction wear jewellery down faster than most people realise. It only takes a second to slip off your rings or bracelet before a workout or before you sleep, but it adds a lot of life to the piece.
Clean it gently — skip the harsh stuff
Resist the urge to scrub your jewellery clean or use strong cleaning solutions on it. That plating is thin, and aggressive cleaning strips it faster than normal wear ever would. A soft, dry cloth after you take a piece off is usually enough to keep it looking fresh. If you want a slightly deeper clean once in a while, a barely damp cloth followed immediately by a dry one works — just don't soak anything.
If you like layering, be a little mindful
Stacked bracelets and layered necklaces look great, and there's no reason to stop wearing them that way. Just know that pieces rubbing against each other all day can cause tiny scratches over time. Choosing pieces with smoother finishes helps, and a quick wipe-down at the end of the day doesn't hurt either.
A note on stone-studded pieces
If you own Kundan, Polki, or zirconia pieces, be a little careful with the stones themselves — they're usually held in place with adhesive, not prongs, so avoid pressing on them or bending the setting. When storing these, lay them flat instead of folding or crumpling them into a bag.
That's really it
There's no elaborate routine needed here. Keep your pieces dry, let your perfume settle before you put your jewellery on, give everything its own space in storage, and wipe things down every now and then. Small habits, but they genuinely stretch the life of a piece by months, sometimes years.
Looking for your next favourite piece? Browse Jwanas' collection of artificial jewellery, made to stay just as beautiful as the day you bought it.
