Why Does Gold Jewellery Scratch?

One of the questions we regularly hear across our Gold Reserves shops in Swansea, Llanelli and Cardiff is, "Why has my gold jewellery scratched?"

The simple answer is that gold is naturally a soft precious metal. Although it's incredibly durable and can last for generations, it's not scratch-proof. In fact, small scratches are a normal part of wearing gold jewellery and simply show that it's being loved and worn.

Why Is Gold So Soft?

Pure gold, also known as 24ct gold, is very soft.

Because of this, it scratches and bends much more easily than lower carat gold.

This is why you rarely see engagement rings or stone-set jewellery made from 24ct gold. The metal is simply too soft to securely hold precious stones during everyday wear.

Instead, jewellers mix pure gold with other metals such as silver, copper and zinc to create stronger alloys.

These alloys produce different gold carats, including:

• 9ct Gold – 37.5% pure gold

• 14ct Gold – 58.5% pure gold

• 18ct Gold – 75% pure gold

• 22ct Gold – 91.6% pure gold

Generally speaking, the lower the gold content, the harder the alloy becomes. That's why 9ct gold is often more resistant to everyday scratches than 18ct gold.

What Causes Gold Jewellery to Scratch?

Even if you're careful, everyday life can leave small marks on gold jewellery.

Some of the most common causes include:

Everyday Contact

Simple things like touching door handles, keys, worktops, metal tools and even zips can leave fine scratches over time.

Daily Activities

Typing on a keyboard, cooking, cleaning, gardening, exercising and lifting shopping bags can all cause your jewellery to rub against hard surfaces.

Wearing Jewellery Together

Stacking rings or bracelets can look beautiful, but constant rubbing between pieces will gradually wear the surfaces.

Similarly, storing jewellery loose in a jewellery box can allow items to rub against each other, causing unnecessary scratches.

Can Scratches Be Removed?

In many cases, yes.

Light surface scratches can often be reduced or removed during professional polishing.

However, it's worth remembering that every time a piece of jewellery is polished, a tiny amount of metal is removed. For this reason, we don't recommend polishing jewellery too frequently unless it's genuinely needed.

Sometimes, a few small scratches are simply part of the character of a well-loved piece of jewellery.

How Can You Help Prevent Scratches?

While it's impossible to prevent every scratch, you can help keep your jewellery looking its best by:

• Removing rings before gardening, DIY or heavy lifting.

Seasonal conditions can also affect your jewellery. Read our guide on looking after gold jewellery during the summer months to learn how sunshine, sunscreen, swimming pools and the sea can all impact your gold jewellery.

• Taking jewellery off before cleaning or using abrasive materials.

• Storing each piece separately to prevent items rubbing together.

• Avoiding wearing stacked rings made from different gold carats, as the harder ring can wear against the softer one.

• Having your jewellery professionally cleaned and checked from time to time

Scratches Are a Normal Part of Wearing Gold

One of the most reassuring things we tell customers is that scratches are completely normal.

Whether your jewellery is 9ct, 14ct, 18ct or even 22ct gold, it's designed to be worn and enjoyed. Over time, small marks naturally become part of its story.

If you're ever concerned about scratches or would like advice on caring for your jewellery, our experienced team is always happy to help.

Visit Gold Reserves in Swansea, Llanelli or Cardiff, where we've been helping customers care for their jewellery for over 30 years.