If you've ever taken off a ring or necklace to find a greenish tint left behind, you're not alone — and it's not a hygiene issue. Here's what's actually happening, and how to avoid it.
The real cause
Most affordable jewelry uses a base metal (often brass or a copper alloy) underneath the plating. That base metal reacts with the natural acids and oils in your skin, creating oxidation — which shows up as that green or black tint. It happens more in humid weather, after applying lotion or perfume, or with prolonged water contact.
How to avoid it
- Look for non-tarnish plating specifically — not just "gold-plated," but plating that's been sealed to resist the reaction. Our Non-Tarnish Everyday Gold collection is made exactly for this.
- Keep jewelry dry — take rings and necklaces off before showering, swimming, or applying lotion and perfume.
- Store pieces properly — a sealed bag or box slows down oxidation from air exposure between wears.
The good news: this is almost always fixable with the right plating, not an expensive upgrade to "real" gold. Shop our non-tarnish pieces and keep the shine without the green.