How to Clean Gold Plated Jewellery & Care for Intentional Pieces
Updated: Sep 20
Key Takeaways:
Water & Product Protection: Put your jewelry on last and take it off first. Avoid wearing gold-plated pieces or gemstone malas while swimming, showering, exercising, or applying cosmetics.
Gentle Care Method: Clean using lukewarm water, mild soap, and a soft cloth—avoid harsh chemicals, abrasive brushes, or sharp objects.
Energetic Reset & Storage: Store separately in your New Moon Collective pouch away from humidity, and reset energy via moonlight, sacred smoke, or intentional breathwork.
How Should You Care for New Moon Collective Gemstone Jewellery?
New Moon Collective handcrafted jewellery and complete 108 malas are designed for everyday ritual wear, requiring mindful protection from moisture, excessive friction, and harsh chemicals to preserve their gold plating and natural stone finishes.
Your New Moon Collective piece is made to be lived with.
It is designed to accompany you through everyday life — to remind you of an intention, a quality you are embodying, or a new chapter you are stepping into.
And like anything meaningful, it benefits from a little care.
Wear it with intention
Your jewellery loves to be worn, but it doesn't love everything we do.
Can You Wear Your Gold-Plated Mala in the Shower or Water?
You should always remove your gold-plated jewellery and gemstone malas before showering, swimming in salt or chlorinated water, or exercising, as moisture and sweat gradually degrade metals and cord integrity.
To keep your piece beautiful for as long as possible, we recommend taking it off before:
Swimming in the sea or pool
Showering or bathing
Exercising or sleeping
Applying perfume, oils, creams or other beauty products
Household chores or activities where it may be exposed to chemicals or excessive friction
Water, sweat, salt, chlorine, perfumes and cosmetics can gradually affect gold plating, metals, stones and the finish of your piece.
A simple rule: put your jewellery on last and take it off first.
When you're not wearing it
Give your jewellery a beautiful place to rest. When you're not wearing your piece, keep it in the New Moon Collective pouch, away from direct sunlight, moisture and humidity. You can also give it a special place on your altar or another sacred space in your home.
Keeping each piece separately helps prevent scratching, tangling and unnecessary wear. Think of your jewellery as something you don't simply put away — but something you return to.
How Do You Safely Clean Gold-Plated Jewellery and Gemstones?
To clean gold-plated gemstone jewellery safely, gently wipe the piece with lukewarm water, a tiny drop of mild soap, and a soft dry cloth, making sure to avoid harsh scrubbing or chemical cleaners.
Your jewellery naturally collects traces of the life you've lived in it: skin oils, dust, sweat and the elements. Usually, a gentle wipe with a soft, dry or slightly damp cloth is all it needs.
For a deeper clean:
Use lukewarm water with a tiny amount of mild soap.
Gently clean the piece with your fingers or a very soft cloth.
Avoid harsh chemicals, abrasive cleaners and rough brushes.
Rinse gently and pat completely dry with a soft cloth.
Allow the piece to dry fully before returning it to its pouch.
Less is more. Especially with gold-plated pieces, frequent or vigorous cleaning can gradually wear down the gold layer. Never use sharp objects to clean between stones, beads or small details — they can scratch the surface or damage the finish.
How Do You Energetically Cleanse Your Gemstone Mala?
Energetic cleansing for gemstone malas involves resetting the stone's vibrational frequency by placing it in moonlight, passing it through sacred herb smoke, or holding the piece to set a fresh intention.
Your jewellery can also become part of your energetic practice. If a piece has been with you through an intense experience, a transition, or simply feels like it needs a reset, you may want to consciously cleanse and reconnect with it.
There are many ways to do this. You might place it on your altar, leave it in moonlight, pass it through the smoke of sacred herbs or simply hold it in your hands and set a new intention. Choose what feels right for you and for the particular stones and materials in your piece.
You don't need a complicated ritual. Sometimes, simply holding your jewellery, taking a breath and remembering why you chose it is enough.
Let it age with you
Gold-plated jewellery is made with a thin layer of gold over another metal. With time and regular wear, this layer will naturally become softer and may eventually show signs of wear.
This isn't necessarily something to prevent.
Your jewellery is allowed to show that it has been lived in.
It carries your days, your seasons, your transformations.
Care for it so that it can accompany you for a long time — but don't be afraid of the marks of a life well lived.
Wear your frequency.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jewellery & Mala Care
Q: How should I store my New Moon Collective jewellery when not wearing it?
A: Store each piece individually in your signature New Moon Collective pouch away from direct sunlight, humidity, and moisture to prevent tangling, surface scratching, and premature oxidation.
Q: Will gold-plated jewellery wear down over time?
A: Gold-plated jewellery features a gold layer over base metals that naturally softens and shows gentle signs of wear over time, reflecting its journey and daily use alongside you.
Q: Can I use sharp tools to clean between mala beads or small pendant details?
A: No. Never use sharp tools or stiff brushes on your complete malas or gold-plated pendants, as they can scratch the stone surface, damage protective finishes, or weaken the hand-knotted cord.
Shop all the Jewellery at newmoon-collective.com
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