Since pure gold is 24 karats (24K), having 14K means having more than 50% gold, which counts for something, right? But does that mean that 14K gold cannot rust or discolor like pure gold? Can you shower with 14K gold?
You can shower with 14K gold once in a while, especially if it’s rhodium-coated, but it’s generally not recommendable. If you do it repetitively, the gold jewelry may tarnish or, worse, rust, and you don’t want that.
Overall, rhodium coating protects 14k gold from the wetness conditions of the showering environment. Over time, rhodium tarnishes, which tarnishes the gold jewelry.
But overall, nothing brings balance between pure gold and alloy material like 14K gold, which makes it the safest form of gold you can shower with.
But before we can go far, let me explain what 14K gold means.
What Do We Mean by 14K Gold?
Pure gold is expressed in karats (K), where 24K signifies 99.9-100% gold and 0.1-0.0% alloy material. So, 14K means 14 parts of pure gold and 10 parts of alloy material. 14K gold means at least 58.3% pure gold in simple math.
But since the difference between pure gold and alloy material is small, 14K gold brings the best properties of both worlds. It enjoys the hardness of alloy material and the wetness-resistance of pure gold.
That, however, doesn’t make it as rust-resistant or fade-resistant as pure gold.
So, Can You Shower with 14k Gold?
The simple answer is Yes. Yes, you can bathe with 14K gold. However, it’s not advisable to do it regularly as the alloy part of the gold can still rust due to contact with water.
Likewise, they can tarnish because of contact with soap and heat (in case of a hot shower).
So, avoid going with the shower with 14K gold unless it comes with a rhodium coating.
Rhodium generally protects your 14K gold from water damage and fading. But sadly, it fades over time, which means 14K gold is likely to tarnish over time.
That again proves that you shouldn’t shower with 14k gold regularly. You can only do it periodically. And even so, you should dry your 14k gold immediately with a soft cloth to avoid wetness.
Remember, the reason you are using a soft cloth is to avoid scratching gold as it’s extra soft.
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14k White Gold Vs. 14k Yellow Gold – The Differences
As far as the karat number is concerned, 14K white gold and 14k yellow gold are the same. The difference is the alloys added onto pure gold to make the two.
It’s worth noting that pure or natural gold is very soft, thus not malleable. For that reason, jewelry manufacturers add alloys like copper, zinc, nickel, and palladium to pure gold to harden it and make it pliable.
If the percentage of zinc and nickel is more than that of other alloys, we call it white gold. But if there is more copper than any other alloy material, we refer to it as yellow gold.
Appearance-wise, yellow gold has a more natural yellow color than pure gold. White gold, in contrast, assumes the color of rhodium (which is silver whitish). Rhodium is usually used to coat white gold, offering moisture resistance.
Note that even though 14k white gold and 14k yellow gold have the same purity for having 14 karats, white gold is more stable under non-standard conditions like those of the shower. That’s owing to the rhodium layer, thus slightly more water-resistant than yellow gold.
14k yellow gold is only stable under standard/normal conditions, but the shower conditions don’t count. However, the advantage of 14K yellow gold over 14k white gold is that the former is safe on hypersensitive skin, warmer, and more elegant.
Can You Wear 14k Yellow Gold in The Shower?
Though 14k yellow gold contains 14 parts of pure gold and 10 parts of alloy metals, it’s not resistant to wetness. If exposed to humid conditions like those of the shower, the alloy elements can react with moisture and discolor or even rust.
So, no, you shouldn’t wear 14K yellow gold in the shower. Therefore, the conditions only promote rusting and discoloration, which may not happen overnight but are likely to occur in the long run.
Is 14k White Gold Waterproof?
14k white gold is stable under non-standard conditions like the shower’s. That’s undeniable, and it’s due to the rhodium coating. That, however, doesn’t make it waterproof.
If it comes into contact with wetness repetitively, 14k white gold can rust. The other risk is discoloration. Though rhodium protects it against fading, the coating itself tarnishes over time, and once it does, your gold jewelry will tarnish too.
14k Plated Gold Vs. 14k Gold Vermeil – The Differences
From a purity standing, both 14k plated gold and 14k gold vermeil have the same gold purity level (14 Karats). So, what’s the difference?
Well, 14k plated gold means the gold contains a thin layer of 14k gold, about 0.5 microns, above a cheap alloy like zinc or copper.
14k gold vermeil also means that a 14k gold layer is on another material. However, we are not talking about just any material but silver.
So, 14k gold vermeil is more valuable than 14k plated gold. Even better, the 14k gold layer on 14k gold vermeil is thicker (2.5 microns).
That means 14k gold vermeil has more value than 14k plated gold.
Can You Shower with 14k Gold Vermeil?
Since 14k gold vermeil contains a thick (2.5 microns) layer of 14K gold, the coating doesn’t fade quickly following contact with water, soap, and other conditions in the shower. S, you can shower with 14k gold vermeil.
It, however, doesn’t mean that 14k gold vermeil is rust-proof or fade-resistant. The coating may peel off in the long run, exposing the underlying silver layer.
Can You Shower with 14k Gold Plated Jewelry?
14k plated gold may look like real gold, but the gold is only on the surface. Underneath is a cheap metal which you’ll never wish to expose.
Unlike gold vermeil, the 14k gold layer on plated gold is thin, which means it’s likely to get wet faster and peel off.
For that reason, it’s not advisable to bathe with 14k gold plated. If you do, there is a higher chance of the gold tarnishing and the underlying alloy rusting.
What Purity Level Is Better for Showering with?
Generally, only 24 karat gold (pure gold) resists discoloration and rusting. Unfortunately, its softness means it can scratch. So, you cannot use strong soap, scrubber, and hot water, which means it’s not best for showering.
As for 22 karats and 18 karats, they contain alloy materials that harden them. But since the alloy percentage is small, the gold jewelry feels softer, thus susceptible to scratching. So, again, those two are not suitable for showering.
And when you go down the purity level and settle for 9K or 10k, the extra alloy percentage means the gold can fade and rust.
So, you only have 14K, which might not be rust-resistant but is the better choice for showering. Considering that it contains a good percentage of gold and alloy, 14K Gold brings the right balance to withstand the unsettling shower conditions.
Note, however, that the better choice between yellow and white 14k gold is the latter, as it comes with a protective rhodium coating. Rhodium offers protection against rusting and fading.
It, however, fades itself in the long run, tarnishing the jewelry. So, even if 14k white gold has the better purity level for showering, you shouldn’t shower with the jewelry regularly.
People Also Ask
1. Can You Wear 14k Gold in The Shower?
Though you can wear 14k gold in the shower, it’s not advisable to do so as the gold can discolor or rust over time. If that happens, the precious jewelry will lose its shine and value.
2. Is It Bad to Shower with 14k Gold?
Two risks come from regularly showering with 14k gold. One, the gold may tarnish over time, and two, the jewelry may rust following the contact of its alloy material with moisture.
Overall, these risks are because 14K gold is not pure gold. It contains 10 parts of alloy, which is prone to rust.
3. Does 14k Gold Tarnish in The Shower?
Though it may not happen right away, 14k gold tarnishes over time if you always shower with it. That’s because 14k gold is not pure gold.
Only pure gold doesn’t tarnish or rust. And for that reason, you shouldn’t shower with 14k gold.
4. Can You Wear Gold in The Shower?
While you can wear any gold in the shower once in a while, only pure gold resists discoloration and rusting. Unfortunately, pure gold (normally 24k) is too soft and thus likely to scratch from contact with harsh elements like scrubbers, soap, and hot water.
So, you shouldn’t wear it in the shower frequently, which applies to other gold forms.
5. Can You Shower with 14k Gold Chain?
You can wear a 14k Gold chain in the shower if it’s treated with a protective coating, normally rhodium. If it’s not, then the chances of its alloy components tarnishing or rusting are very much higher.
Overall, you shouldn’t frequently shower with a 14k Gold chain as it’s not rust-resistant or fade-resistant. Eventually, the jewelry will give in to rust or discoloration.
6. Can You Shower with 14k Gold Earrings?
Most gold earrings are treated with a waterproof coating that allows you to use the jewelry in the shower, including 14k Gold. That, however, doesn’t mean that you should always shower with 14k gold earrings.
After all, the gold has 10 parts of alloy material that can rust or react with heat or water and discolor. So, only shower with 14k gold seldom, but avoid it if you can.
Can You Shower with 14k Gold? Closing Thoughts:
Generally, nothing stops you from wearing 14k gold when showering, as it’s the safest form of gold to do so. However, that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t fade or rust, as only pure gold can resist fading and rusting.
For that reason, you should only wear 14K gold while showering seldom and when you do, ensure you wipe it dry with a soft dry cloth to avoid wetness and rusting.
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