Does 14k Gold Tarnish? Why?

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Yes, 14k gold tarnishes, but to a lesser extent than than lower-karat gold or gold-plated jewelry with sterling silver base.

14k gold tarnishes because it’s an alloy of pure yellow gold and a combination of other metals like copper, silver and zinc. These other metals in the 14k gold alloy react with air, moisture, and certain chemicals, leading to surface discoloration.

Table of Contents

Does 14k Gold Filled Tarnish?

Yes, 14k gold-filled jewelry tarnishes, but to a lesser extent than gold-plated jewelry. The thick layer of gold used in 14k gold-filled jewelry gives a level of protection that much thinner gold plating lacks.

Note: roughly 5% of a 14k gold-filled jewelry item’s weight is the 14k gold bonded onto a base metal core.

14k gold filled jewelry doesn't tarnish — 14k gold filled jewelry doesn’t tarnish

Does 14k Gold Plated Jewelry Tarnish?

Yes, 14k gold plated jewelry tarnishes. 14k gold plating in gold-plated jewelry is very thin and the base metal beneath is susceptible to tarnishing almost as if the gold plate isn’t there. Gold plating also easily wears off leaving the base metal expose to elements that make it tarnish rapidly.

14k gold plated jewelry is vulnerable to tarnishing because gold plating flakes off easily. Source

Does 14k Gold Vermeil Tarnish?

Yes, 14k gold vermeil tarnishes. It tarnishes slowly when the 14k gold protective layer is undamaged and firmly covering the sterling silver base.

And it tarnishes rapidly when the gold layer is chipped at places exposing the sterling silver to the environment.

Overall, 14k gold vermeil changes color and fades significantly slower that gold-plated jewelry. It’s because the layer of gold in gold vermeil is at least 2.5 microns (often more), roughly 5x the thickness of gold layer in gold-plated jewelry (0.5 microns).

Tarnished 14k gold vermeil example- source

Does 14k Gold Over Brass Tarnish?

Yes, 14k gold over brass tarnishes. The tarnishing effect is specially rapid and visible when the thin gold plate is damaged and brass is exposed to atmospheric gases that tarnish it in some time.

Brass is made of copper and zinc in varying proportions (nearly always more copper than zinc) and both copper and zinc are susceptible to tarnishing, even when covered and protected by a 14k yellow gold plate.

Does 14k Gold Tarnish When Exposed to Water?

Yes, 14k gold tarnishes when exposed to water. Water don’t affect pure gold within the 14k gold alloy.

Instead, water affects other metals in the alloy, especially copper, silver and zinc. Saltwater and chlorinated water are especially damaging to these metals and they multiply be several fold water’s tarnishing abilities.

Water can be used to test whether gold is real or fake (gold float test). But I only recommend testing gold with water wen you have suspected higher karat gold.

14k gold has too much non-gold content for this test to be conclusive.

Does 14k Gold Tarnish When Exposed to Fire?

Yes, 14k gold tarnishes when exposed to fire. Heat and strong flames don’t affect pure gold within the 14k gold alloy.

Instead, fire affects other metals in the alloy, especially copper. Fire affects copper by changing its microstructure (making it more brittle) and oxidation level (making it more tarnished).

Furthermore, intense heat melts copper (at temperatures 1084 °C (1983 °F)).

Does 14k Gold Tarnish When Exposed to Bleach?

Yes, 14k gold tarnishes when exposed to bleach. Pure gold within the 14k gold alloy is resistant to tarnishing, but other metals like copper and sterling silver aren’t. For example, bleach tarnishes sterling silver easily.

Bleach contains harsh chemicals, including chlorine, which react with the non-gold metals in the 14k gold alloy and cause the metals to corrode, leading to tarnishing (discoloration) and weakening of the jewelry.

Does 14k Gold Tarnish When Exposed to Chlorine?

Yes, 14k gold tarnishes when exposed to chlorine. Chlorine doesn’t affect pure gold within the 14k gold alloy, but it affect other metals within the alloy.

Chlorine is dangerous to 14k gold both alone or as part of some other substance ,for example bleach.

Does 14k Gold Tarnish When Exposed to Baking Soda?

No, 14k gold doesn’t tarnish when exposed to baking soda.

Baking soda is a mild alkaline substance that has a relatively low abrasiveness compared to other, harsher substances.

Baking soda doesn’t affect pure gold within the 14k gold alloy and even the other metals within the alloy (copper, silver, nickel, zinc) are generally stable and unreactive to baking soda.

You can even use baking soda to remove tarnish from your gold items. It’s easy to do but you should be fast and gentle when cleaning gold items with it.

Especially be careful when cleaning thinly plated gold items as baking soda will often eat right through them.

Does 14k Gold Tarnish When Exposed to Toothpaste?

Yes, 14k gold tarnish when exposed to toothpaste. Yellow gold within the 14k gold alloy is unaffected by toothpaste and chemicals in it, but other metals within the alloy are susceptible to these.

For example, toothpaste contains abrasive particles (like silica) designed to remove plaque from teeth. Silica helps clean your teeth, bit it’s too harsh for softer gold alloys and metals like silver in gold-plated silver jewelry.

Does 14k Gold Tarnish When Exposed to Nitric Acid?

Yes, 14k gold tarnishes when exposed to nitric acid. Pure gold doesn’t tarnish when exposed to nitric acid, but other metals in the 14k gold alloy do.

Especially vulnerable are copper and silver that not only tarnish, but actually dissolve when exposed to nitric acid and for a sufficient amount of time.

Does 14k Gold Tarnish When Exposed to Vinegar?

Yes, 14k gold tarnishes when exposed to vinegar. Vinegar is acidic and metals other than gold in the 14k gold alloy react to acids and cause discoloration and fading of the 14k gold jewelry item’s surface.

Does 14k Gold Tarnish When Exposed to Lemon Juice?

Yes, 14k gold tarnishes when exposed to lemon juice.

Lemon juice is acidic and metals other than gold in the 14k gold alloy react to acids and cause fading and discoloration of the jewelry item.

Does 14k Gold Tarnish When Exposed to Hydrogen Peroxide?

Yes, 14k gold tarnishes when exposed to hydrogen peroxide. Pure gold is immune to hydrogen peroxide, but most other metals from the 14k gold alloy aren’t.

For example, copper is commonly alloyed with yellow gold to make 14k gold. And copper is easily tarnished and even corroded by hydrogen peroxide.

Hydrogen peroxide is also strong enough to damage and strip away gold-plated jewelry and make it tarnish rapidly. 14k jewelry with imbedded gemstones isn’t safe neither.

Note: be careful if you’re trying to use hydrogen peroxide to clean your white gold jewelry.

On Reddit someone’s complaining that hydrogen peroxide caused their white gold jewelry to tarnish rapidly. White gold with rhodium coating is resistant to tarnishing. But, white gold without the protective rhodium plating and with high silver content will tarnish when exposed to hydrogen peroxide.

Hydrogen peroxide tarnishes white gold- source

Does 14k Gold Tarnish When Exposed to Makeup?

Yes, 14k gold tarnishes when exposed to makeup.

However it’s not the pure gold that tarnishes, but the other metals in the 14k gold alloy. Copper, silver, or zinc mixed with gold in a 14k gold alloy react with chemicals in cosmetics and cause a dull or darkened appearance.

Note: ingredients like chlorine (found in some deodorants), acids (like AHAs and salicylic acid in skincare), and other chemicals in cosmetics cause corrosion and tarnishing of the alloy metals in your 14k gold jewelry.

Does 14k Gold Tarnish When Exposed to Alcohol?

Yes, 14k gold tarnishes when exposed to alcohol. Alcohol doesn’t dull and tarnish pure gold, but the metals alloyed with pure gold are susceptible to tarnishing. Copper and silver are especially susceptible to alcohol’s tarnishing effect.

Isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) can be used to clean gold jewelry, including removing tarnish.

With rubbing alcohol you can remove dirt, grime, and oils that make your gold appear dull and lifeless. However, don’t forget to thoroughly dry your jewelry after cleaning to prevent further tarnishing.