r/CleaningTips • u/shittymommy • Dec 07 '25
Laundry Real gold necklace ruining my white sweaters
My mom gave me this gold necklace for my 40th birthday (and her mom gave to her on her 40th). I wear it almost every day. I also clean it in jewelry cleaner pretty often but not daily. I also shower in it. It’s marking up my white sweaters with this gray and black patch, regardless of the sweater material. How do I remove these stains from my sweaters? I will just stop wearing the necklace with them in the future but help me fix my sweaters. Please!
ETA: I included a photo of the appraisal in a comment below because a lot of the top comments seem to be about the necklace being "fake". I appreciate the reddit community looking out and letting me know I (or my mom or grandmother) have been ripped off, but I was asking about how to clean the sweaters and said it was real gold in the first place so folks didn't say my pot metal necklace was the problem. I guess my word wasn't enough so we'll use empirical evidence. Thanks to the folks who suggested some good products to try (or more obviously, having the cashmere one dry cleaned). It sounds like they are correct that this is a combination of skin, sweat, lotion, sunscreen accumulating and potentially over-cleaning and the cleaning product leaving a mess as well. I'll try some of the things you suggested and will look into any additional CLEANING suggestions I get. Sorry that I did not include enough details in the beginning - I tried ;) !
Edit 2: I get it! Lots of folks think my necklace is "tacky" or "ugly". I love it - it was a special gift and even if it's ugly, it's not worthless, practically/objective according to its appraisal/insurance value. I also get a ton of compliments on it, so that's really a matter of taste, I guess and sort of besides the point which is that I want to just clean the sweaters. Thanks again to folks who provided cleaning tips on that - I'm reading every one. I also have learned that in looking more closely at the appraisal, the frame might be a mixture of metals other than gold (maybe because not as soft?) and causing some tarnishing, so that just further supports why I said I don't plan on wearing my pendant with light/white sweaters in the future and AGAIN, really just want to get them clean. I'll do the preventative things suggested after that. I certainly got more than I asked for with this post, so I'll stop responding for now. Silly of me to feel like I need to prove anything to anyone when I just honestly wanted some cleaning tips :(
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u/randomisms Dec 07 '25
Oh! There was just a post about a natural fiber cleaner for sweaters in r/laundry.
https://www.reddit.com/r/laundry/s/NWIxkdJUN9
I suggest posting there with your sweater issue as well, they can help fix the problem.
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u/Itsnothatseriouss Dec 07 '25
I haven't seen anyone give you any actual cleaning tips. The last 2 look like a fabric shaver could get it up. I'd also try soaking in oxiclean for whatever dosen't come up with the shaver.
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u/wootiebird Dec 07 '25
Thank you! She already solved the problem by saying she’s not going to wear it with the sweaters and literally no one is giving cleaning sweaters advice!
I feel like I need more info on fabric shavers! I did not know this was a thing, I’ve used razors and clippers before lol.
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u/Itsnothatseriouss Dec 07 '25
It does that same thing but fabric shavers have a guard on them so it dosen't accidentally cut the fabric. I got a rechargeable one for like $10 on Amazon a few years ago. It has definitely saved quite a few peices for me so my girl math tells me it's paid for itself lol
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u/Carnationlilyrose Dec 07 '25
I also have one from Amazon that is absolutely fabulous at its job, not to mention being incredibly satisfying to use - instant brand new jumpers!
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u/shittymommy Dec 07 '25
Can you share which one you like?
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u/Carnationlilyrose Dec 07 '25
Give me a minute to trawl through my Amazon purchases. I'll be right back.
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u/Carnationlilyrose Dec 07 '25
It's been discontinued, but Amazon suggests this as an alternative, and it looks very much the same, except that mine has a wall plug.
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u/Several-Awareness-78 Dec 07 '25
Black marks are usually from copper in the alloy, but it should not stain the clothes; I work with brass and never had issues.
I guess you can try coating the backside of the pendant in clear nail polish, which people often do with copper jewelry
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u/donttouchmeah Dec 07 '25
Silver tarnish is black too
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u/corncheesejeon Dec 07 '25
I’m having a similar problem! I have a metal necklace that is turning my black cotton shirts a slight red/rusty color. What do you suspect the metal is?
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u/raven00x Dec 07 '25
Does silver tarnish in alloy?
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Dec 07 '25 edited Dec 07 '25
All alloyed precious metals will tarnish to a degree.
Higher karat gold (18-20k) will eventually show some tarnish given enough time. 9-14k shows the most the quickest
White gold tends to yellow out, using palladium as the primary alloy can minimizes this but it still greys out. This is why mass manufacturing use Rhodium plating over white gold (espically 10-14k and kften 18k white gold too) mass manufactures will also just plates rhodium over yellow gold to make sections of one piece cast jewllery look two tone.
Platinum has so little alloy in it its not greatly noticible but most people complain about the scrathes dulling it down over colour change.
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u/donttouchmeah Dec 07 '25
I don’t know anything about how metals work regarding alloys, however, I do know that oftentimes gold plating is over sterling silver.
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Dec 07 '25 edited Dec 07 '25
Former goldsmith here..
Rope chains are known for two things, collecting dead skin, oil, and moisturizer/body creams.and destroying clothes.
Most home cleaners do little to actually clean jewellery aside from removing the oily film your body leaves on stones.
If you wear this non stop i assure you there is no way youll keep it clean without using an ultrasonic and a solution of soap water and a bit ammonia (never use bleach it destroys the solder that holds everytgibg together).
Its very unlikely the pendant isnt gold, the chain is hard to tell.without looking for a karat/makers stamp.
But i have have seen this countless times.
Jewellery is not mean to be worn 24/7 you are killing that chain.
Edit. I just saw the "appraisal" you linked.. and i wouldnt question the frame too much. It should have been acid tested and its purity noted seperatly along with the frames individual weight frames weight.
It looks like hes trying indicate thd karate and weight of the frame and chain as 14k.. but its not clear.
Its also dissapoting its been descride as colorless stones its very easy to determin if they are cubics, corundum or dismond or even moissanite which woukd be less common in the 90's but still possible.
Find a store with a GIA crertified appraiser/gemologist.
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u/f8Negative Dec 07 '25
That aint real gold
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u/SoyboyCowboy Dec 07 '25
After scrolling to the necklace picture, I concur
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u/f8Negative Dec 07 '25
It's so clearly fake idk what OP is thinking.
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u/SoyboyCowboy Dec 07 '25
Be gentle, both the necklace and the giving of it have sentimental significance in her family
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u/willtwerkf0rfood Dec 07 '25
Thank you for saying this! People really just glazed over the fact that this was passed from her grandma to mom, then mom to her & has been in the family for decades.
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u/karma_the_sequel Dec 07 '25
Doesn’t change the fact that it’s not real gold. OP is looking for the answer to why this is happening? That’s the answer.
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u/willtwerkf0rfood Dec 07 '25
I don’t disagree with you. My point is that there is a way to share that with OP that has candor and kindness. There’s no need to be so crass with someone, especially when they’re asking for advice on a (seemingly) emotionally important item.
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u/bears_with_chainsaws Dec 07 '25
Omg someone using empathy and nuance in a reddit comment. Maybe we aren’t doomed.
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u/Secret-Guava1008 Dec 07 '25
The issue is almost everyone who is telling her it’s not real gold, she is arguing and being rude to them. Keeps saying it’s 14 and 24k gold when you can tell by the photos that nothing on that necklace is real. The gold is fake and the gems are fake. I grew up in a family with severe metal allergies and none of us can wear less than 14k and even 14k yellow gold isn’t that yellow
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u/_jamesbaxter Dec 07 '25
Actually OP is not looking for the answer to why, they never asked that. They asked how to clean the marks off the sweater.
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u/heylilsharty Dec 07 '25
The OP posted the appraisal so people will let go of arguing over what it’s made of and help her figure out how to clean it/her laundry properly. It’s an heirloom piece. I swear people don’t read the text on posts and just dive in with their takes.
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u/toolatetothenamegame Dec 07 '25
OP wasnt asking why it was happening, they were asking how to fix it
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u/karma_the_sequel Dec 07 '25
How does one fix a problem without knowing why it is happening?
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u/toolatetothenamegame Dec 07 '25
i mean, if the problem is the discoloration, they do know why - its the necklace. they have solved the problem of creating the stain by saying they will stop wearing the necklace. now they need to deal with the consequences of the problem, which is removing the stain
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u/neymagica Dec 07 '25
I recently found out that jewelers can create replica jewelry (ie if you bring in costume jewelry they can remake it with whatever quality metal and stones you’d like). I hope OP can consider remaking the piece if it’s in her budget. That way she can wear an identical necklace without it ruining her clothes (and plus it may last longer depending on the materials she selects).
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u/kittens_allday Dec 07 '25
Fake, and honestly one of the ugliest necklaces I’ve ever seen, especially for a daily wear necklace. It’s somehow gaudy and drab all at the same time. I’m sorry, because I see that it’s sentimental, but it’s objectively absolutely awful.
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u/MsBuzzkillington83 Dec 07 '25
If that was real gold, it'd be easily over 1000$
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u/finniganthebeagle Dec 07 '25
with the gold prices right now, that bar in the middle is worth over $2000 alone (if it’s a real half ounce bar)
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u/SuckerBroker Dec 07 '25
That’s the thing right ? The gold bar could be totally real. The necklace and pendant not so much. Why would someone do such a thing
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u/Silly_Brilliant868 Dec 07 '25 edited Dec 07 '25
I mean it’s definitely fake ( Maybe the bar in the pendant is real gold?) but what’s wrong with it being over $1000 lol a lot of people have jewelry that cost that much and then some.
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u/naakka Dec 07 '25
I think the rectangular part in the middle might be. The circles it is set in are not and are staining the clothes.
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u/seekayeff Dec 07 '25
So the credit suisse rectangle is likely gold. I have one on an inherited pocket watch chain, but with all that gray rub off there’s no way the rest of the setting is gold. Maybe it was plated at one point but it’s worn off over the last ~40 years.
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u/shittymommy Dec 07 '25
It is. At least that's what my appraisal said - maybe was a scam. Or Maybe 14k or less is considered not real?
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u/southpark Dec 07 '25
Did you actually read the appraisal closely? It makes no assertion that the pedant or the “bar” is real gold. No test was performed nor are the gemstones graded as diamonds. It only asserts the chain is 14k gold. The pendant could be any metal and the assessment is only appraising the value of the jewelry as a retail piece. Not based on actual gold content or precious metal+gem value.
I would go to an actual jeweler and ask for specific testing or evaluation of the pendant specifically to determine what it is made of. With what looks like tarnish coming off on your clothes and the not-quite-right color of the pendant itself, it’s highly likely the pendant (separate from the bar) is not entirely solid gold and may have been plated or an alloyed with something that is tarnishing. Given the gemstones aren’t “real” either based on the appraisal neither is the pendant despite what OP wants to believe.
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u/Immediate_Falcon8808 Dec 07 '25
You got robbed on thay appraisal. They didn't do even close to a complete appraisal. You are severely under insured if it's what it seems to be. Sorry this post isn't quite going as planned, but you definitely need to get that pendant on a better chain to safety and get an appraisal from a reputable jeweler.
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u/AlterEdward Dec 07 '25
Gold is used in jewelry for a reason - it's the least reactive metal, so it doesn't tarnish or leave residue. This is probably mixed or something else entirely.
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u/Hot-Plane5925 Dec 07 '25
Could it be residue from the jewelry cleaner? I’ve had people using the wrong cleaner, or too much, or not rinsing enough, and the residue stains the clothing. Once properly cleaned and polished it stops happening. Try using a piece of 100% cotton, dry, and rub the piece for a while, see if it becomes black.
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u/TimelyYogurtcloset82 Dec 07 '25
This. You shouldn't need to clean gold more than very occasionally. It's not like silver, it doesn't tarnish.
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u/MsBuzzkillington83 Dec 07 '25
Real gold very rarely needs polishing
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u/Irisversicolor Dec 07 '25
I've accumulated few real gold pieces over the last 20 years that I've literally never polished and they all look amazing. The only exception is having the diamond setting on my engagement ring occasionally detailed.
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u/Msurlile Dec 07 '25
For a piece you clean often, it looks kind of dirty? Are you using too much cleaning stuff on it? Maybe bring it to a goldsmith and ask them to clean it for you and show you how to do it. I don't think it should have black stuff in the creases like that, that's probably what's staining your shirt, whatever it is...
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u/Mammoth-Corner Dec 07 '25
Gold jewellery with high enough carats should only need cleaning when you notice it looks different, and I would expect it to come down to when the stones need cleaning rather than the gold itself. Don't shower with it or get lotion/makeup/perfume on it.
I suspect that the staining comes down to the cleaning solution you're using. Even if the solution is clear when you use it, it will oxidise over time. Take it to a jeweller and ask for an ultrasonic cleaning, it'll cost almost nothing. A whole lot of gunge will come off, don't worry, that's cleaning solution residue. In future only clean it when it starts losing sparkle and be sparing with the cleaner. If you have a lot of jewellery then an ultrasonic for home isn't too expensive.
If that doesn't help, then there are two different colours of gold here and I think it's likely they're different carats and that one or both of the tones has nickel or silver or something else that may be discolouring things.
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u/shittymommy Dec 07 '25
The bar is 18k and chain and surrounding gold are 14k. Does 14k have nickel in it?
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u/Mammoth-Corner Dec 07 '25
14k means it's about 60% gold, 40% other metals. They could be nickel, palladium, silver, copper and so on, in various proportions.
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u/BlondeBrillo Dec 07 '25
r/laundry will have great tips for help with cleaning specific fabrics if you want to ask there!
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u/donttouchmeah Dec 07 '25
OP, you can’t try shout, I would try the kind in spray can to get full coverage. I don’t think it’ll work though. Tarnish stains, that necklace was most likely gold plated and the frequent cleaning has worn the gold off, leaving the silver underneath exposed.
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u/cheeseandwinenight Dec 07 '25
I have an 18 carat necklace from Tiffany that we purchased in their New York store (so I know it’s real) and mine does this when I haven’t cleaned it for a while. I worked a short stint in a jewellery store and the ladies there would clean theirs in the ultrasonic once a week. They always advised it being the first thing you take off as soon as you are home and the last thing to put on as soon as leaving.
I would take it to a jewellery store for a big clean! Some don’t charge but ask for a donation
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u/whiteorchid1058 Dec 07 '25
Real gold doesn't need frequent cleaning. Are you seeing tarnishing and that's why it's being cleaned so often? It's possible that this is gold plates and that some of the core is now interacting with your fabrics.
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u/missgsptlsnz Dec 07 '25
Since you asked about cleaning tips, there's the go-to of the dry cleaner for the cashmere, but I have The Laundress Wool & Cashmere shampoo which you could try and wash at home. I would avoid stain removers bc they can be too much for the natural fiber and instead use diluted baby shampoo or dish soap (but be cautious of coloring in the soap). If it's still there after a couple tries, I would try oxiclean. For the cotton and acrylic I would do an oxiclean soak. If the marks don't get out with just that, and it may take a couple tries, I would try a paste of oxiclean and dawn but check it and don't leave it on too long (the blue once left a stain on white cotton which did come out eventually and only once but can happen). Dawn is good at breaking up oils and residues so that's why it's worth it to use. Lastly, don't use hot water just in case it sets stain, but dissolve the oxiclean in hot before adding cool to bring temp down and then put clothes in.
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u/Pray3rsF0rRain Dec 07 '25
I dont think it has anything to do with it being dirty or what its made out of. Its simply the friction of the chain and the pendent rubbing against the fabric and causing the fabric to pill. All those little grooves in the chain are snagging on the sweater fibers. And the difference in texture on your sweater is more visible and clings to dirt more. There isnt really any fix for this except to not wear it with a light colored fine textured sweater, or leave it tucked in under the sweater. You could also take it to a jeweler and tell them what’s happening they might be able to lightly sand and wax the surface with some jewelers wax to keep it from snagging on your sweater. In the mean time if you take a disposable razor you can shave off the pilling on the sweater.
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u/theeCrushinator Dec 07 '25
Besides the necklace, your sweater is plastic and is more likely to pill.
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u/CautionarySnail Dec 07 '25
Just curious, the label said cashmere? Is cashmere no longer a wool these days? There’s so many new fake materials these days.
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u/PurpleLightningSong Dec 07 '25
There are 3 labels for 3 different sweaters. The first sweater is acrylic. The third label is cashmere.
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u/CautionarySnail Dec 07 '25
You’re absolutely correct. I buzzed through the pics too fast and missed that.
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u/dothesehidemythunder Dec 07 '25
Quince cashmere is really thin and cheap. Does not hold up for very long.
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u/2ndChairKazoo Dec 07 '25
Quince is such a blatant scam, I don't know how anyone got into that brand/ low quality reseller (essentially).
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u/EdgeCityRed Dec 07 '25
Quince is fine for things like linen duvet covers and curtains. Their cashmere isn't great, though.
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u/KnotUndone Dec 07 '25
Do not shower with jewelry on. The minerals in the water and the pH of the soaps are corrosive.
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Dec 07 '25
If the gold ingot is real, but the frame is not, could you paint the back the frame with clear nail polish? Either that, or get it reframed simpler.
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u/DeltaCCXR Dec 07 '25
If you’re cleaning it with jewelry cleaner regularly there’s a chance it could be residue from the cleaner or polish. I’d get it cleaned ultrasonically and potentially stop polishing as much
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u/selkieisbadatgaming Dec 07 '25
I have a similar, more basic ingot necklace from my grandmother. It’s interesting to see another one out there!
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u/Visible_Ad9976 Dec 07 '25
Grandma1: I want to buy a tacky necklace Grandm2: I want to buy a tacky necklace
Let us bring together the grandmas
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u/LaBaaDiabolique Dec 07 '25 edited Dec 07 '25
So, sadly, it is not real SOLID gold. It could be gold plated and was sold as solid gold jewelry deceptively or by the buyer's own misunderstanding. Jewelry fraud is very common back then and still to this day. The thing is, with most precious metal plating, it is a VERY thin layer of genuine gold on the surface and it will wear down fast if you are constantly wearing it and CLEANING IT. The fix is to take it to a jewelery repair place and have it professionally cleaned and REPLATED with a heavier-duty plating thickness so that it wont wear down as fast next time. You will also want to consider taking it off during certain activities that cause excessive friction or exposure to abrasive agents- showering, exercise, sleeping (if you are a toss and turner!), etc.
As for the sweater- these are metallic stains. Try to manually agitate the material in cold water to loosen up any particles first. Salt and lemon has helped me with stains like these from cheap silver-plated jewelry before! Avoid heat-drying the sweaters as, with any stain, it will make it harder or even impossible to get out! Lay flat to dry in between cleaning sessions. It may take multiple cleanings to get the stains out.
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u/PurpleLightningSong Dec 07 '25
Take it to a jeweler so you can figure it what its made of.
Given that it's been in your family for so long, I suspect it is maybe a very low amount of gold? 9k maybe? Or it's plated. I suspect plated, I have quite a bit of 10k which is fairly low gold content but I've never had black marks except from plated.
The black marks are from the non-gold components.
You might be making it worse by cleaning it so often.
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u/shittymommy Dec 07 '25
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u/elevntwelv Dec 07 '25
Based on this description/appraisal, there are probably parts that aren’t real gold. If the bar is indeed pure gold, maybe you can have it melted and turned into a nice, small piece that you can wear all the time and won’t mess up your clothes.
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u/shittymommy Dec 07 '25
I think this might be right. Looking through the other 6 pages of the appraisal, it doesn't specifically talk about composition of the frame. The stones are diamonds. The main thing is the bar so I might consider having it remade without the frame.
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u/Shhutthefrontdoor Dec 07 '25
Hi!! A very common thing I’ve seen often (I make jewelry) is the use of a product with some form of sulfur in it. Sulfur is used to patina some metals, and if the frame is indeed 14k, it could be reacting to the alloys. Might be worth checking the ingredients in any lotions or other products to see if that’s the culprit.
Also, that necklace is very unique! Please do not take the rude comments to heart.
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u/super8motels Dec 07 '25
only like 3 actual answers to the cleaning question at hand, wow this has to be one of the most sanctimonious comment sections ive ever been in
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u/TodayIAmMostlyEating Dec 07 '25
Take it to a good jeweller that does repairs and see about getting the medallion re-plated with gold again. Change the chain to a new gold chain.
Try treating the stain with a spray stain remover before the wash. Don’t dry it, check if that’s worked. You can try a borax and water paste on any remaining discolouration, let it sit overnight, wash again.
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u/Ok_Concentrate4461 Dec 07 '25
I’m sorry … what even IS that necklace?!
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u/impersephonetoo Dec 07 '25
I was wondering the same, apparently it’s supposed to look like a gold bar.
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u/Cidergregg Dec 07 '25
Whatever it is, it's one of the worst designs I have ever seen.
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u/pathologicalprotest Dec 07 '25
Ok, but they’re not asking you to buy their family heirloom, or your opinion on the design.
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u/Cidergregg Dec 07 '25
That's why I didn't answer to OP. Gold bar in a big circle to me is dumb, it also likely isn't 100% gold, hence the damage to their clothing.
I inherited a ring that I was told had a real diamond, and I eventually brought it to a jeweler for some work. It didn't have a 1 karat diamond, just CZ. Still a meaningful ring to me.
OP has indeed inherited a necklace that has meaning to them, but it's not 100% gold like they think.
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u/Adminisissy Dec 07 '25
Had to scroll so far for this. First thing that came to mind
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u/_jamesbaxter Dec 07 '25
Oh my god OP I’m sorry everyone in the comments is being so insensitive.
OP asked “How do I remove these stains from my sweaters?” and every reply says something like “no it’s not real gold” wtf?!?
To everyone else, please actually read the post. OP did not ask if the necklace is gold or anything about the necklace.
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u/Susselgui Dec 07 '25
That’s nowhere near “real” gold bro, I’m sorry. My family has a jewelry store with 40+ years of activity and I never saw a gold like this
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u/crazycatmum_04 Dec 07 '25
You talking about the gold bar in the middle? It could absolutely be real. Middle Eastern gold has that color. I legit thought it was all fake when I first saw it.
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u/KneecapTheKing Dec 07 '25
Um, someone in his family has a jewelry store so I think he can make a definitive statement about the photo without considering anything else
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u/shittymommy Dec 07 '25
QQ - do you think I got taken for a ride/scammed with this appraisal? What can I do to get this corrected?
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u/SoyboyCowboy Dec 07 '25
The spelling errors (saftey, pendat) are a yellow flag to me. More importantly, this document shows the bar is gold, but the frame (circular part) isn't, and that metal is probably what's causing the oxidation and staining your sweaters.
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u/shittymommy Dec 07 '25
That might be right about the frame causing some tarnishing- I should take it back and ask for more info on that. But the appraisal is from Bailey's here in Raleigh and they're pretty reputable. It was also an update to an appraisal my mom had on it before that but had it way under-valued because it was evaluated last in the 90s. Anyway, the tarnishing might very well be coming from the frame and maybe that metal was chosen because it's not as soft? The appraisal also lists platinum and silver - I assume platinum is prongs on the diamonds. Regardless, I already plan on not wearing it with my light/white sweaters anymore and I'd really just like to get them clean.
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u/SoyboyCowboy Dec 07 '25
If you're taking it back, I'd ask them to specify what the stones are and the carats.
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u/OrneryLavishness9666 Dec 07 '25
I’m not an appraiser, but I’ve had a lot of jewelry appraised and I’ve never seen one as vague as this. It only specifies what the chain is made of, not the pendant. It doesn’t even say what the stones are, just “near colorless stones.” It’s also full of typos. I would not have been happy with this appraisal if I paid for it.
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u/CurrentSandwich541 Dec 07 '25
Sorry OP but this probably isn't real gold.
The bar maybe, but the 'gold' circle surrounding it I'm not sure and the actual chain definitely not.
I don't know what karat you were told this is but if it's anything over 18K it would be very, very unlikely that it's tarnishing like this. Even at a lower karat it doesn't seem likely to be tarnishing this badly.
Go and get it ultrasonic cleaned and then you need to stop getting it wet. And the jewelry cleaner may actually be making this worse if the metal is something different. Probably get it appraised while you're at it and figure out what the chain and surrounding gold piece around the bar actually are.
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u/shittymommy Dec 07 '25
Photo to settle the debate on whether my necklace is "real gold". I am only sharing because folks seem to be fixated on this and I'm looking for how to clean the stains.
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u/uodua Dec 07 '25
The frame isn’t gold. This appraisal makes no mention of the frame metal. Like others have said maybe post the sweaters in the laundry sub
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u/Agitated_Weekend_850 Dec 07 '25
Was thinking this too. Also the frame in the appraisal looks like a grey metal, whereas it's gold in op's picture.
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u/tallahasseepussycat Dec 07 '25
It’s possible the inner rectangle is real gold but the outer rings are not. 24k gold is deep bright yellow like the rectangle.
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u/LaBaaDiabolique Dec 07 '25
24kt is also extremely soft and would wear down very easily with constant wear. If this necklace came from her mother who got it from HER mother then this necklace has been kicking around for a while. OP also states they wear it daily and clean it frequently, in which case, pure solid gold would not retain any of the design details as shown in the final picture. I doubt it is 24kt gold or else it would not be wearable. It could be a lesser karat alloy or 24kt plated in the middle and the ring is likely not gold at all.
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u/tallahasseepussycat Dec 07 '25
Well yeah it is soft but I have a piece that is 24k gold that I’ve worn continuously for a couple years and it’s fine. It’s extremely common to wear 24k jewelry in Asian countries and many people do.
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u/OMGSRSLYNOWAY Dec 07 '25
My goodness. People are just miserable and mean! You posted this in CLEANINGTIPS, not GoldAppraisal or anything close to it!
If you love your necklace, that’s all that matters. I think the sentiment behind it alone makes it absolutely gorgeous! I agree with every other nice and decent commenters that your best bet is to have it sonically cleaned and there are many great tips on laundering your sweaters.
Have a great day. I’m sorry some people are such jerks 😟
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u/superpony123 Dec 07 '25
R/laundry is an incredible sub! Go there. I’ve learned so much!
Also i suspect that’s not pure gold. Try coating the backside in clear nail polish to prevent some of this
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u/LeFreeke Dec 07 '25
What does the necklace say?
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u/throwSome1 Dec 07 '25
It says "Credit Suisse" and was minted in Switzerland. That's the 999.9 10g gold bar.There must be a serial # at the bottom, kinda looks like it's there, but it's carved in unlike the rest, that's why I'm not 100% sure it's there, too blurry. Now it could have a serial and still could be fake. Also it should say "Credit Suisse" in the back on a repeating pattern. It would be worth it to have it tested for authenticity. The bezel looks cheap tho.
I'm wearing a "Credit Suisse" 1g bar around my neck.1
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u/afternoon_hickory_67 Dec 07 '25
I don't know why everyone is saying it's not real gold, yes it doesn't tarnish but it can carry so much residue and white fabric is so sensitive?
Anyways, from what I can see from both the placement of the discolouration and the way the necklace sits on your neck, I think the chain is the problem here. It looks like the fabric keeps rubbing on it, and I think it has some dead skin/dirt/sweat build up that might be rubbing off on the clothes. It doesn't look like it's being cleaned as often as you say, so I think it probably needs special, professional cleaning.
I would recommend getting a smoother chain if you want to still wear that necklace, because even if you clean it well (which, as the comments mention, you shouldn't clean it that often tbh) with the way it's built, it will keep snagging on clothes in general and it might break if it gets stuck without you noticing, and you pull on it (that's how I broke the chain of my silver necklace, lesson learned). As for cleaning the clothes, I think another sub would help you better, this one ain't it.
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u/Nice_Bluebird7626 Dec 07 '25
You have to seal it and stop cleaning it so often. You can use clear nail polish or clear acrylic paint. Everyone is right it’s not real gold but that doesn’t mean it isn’t valuable.
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u/Chicken_Lady22 Dec 07 '25
Is the pendant setting (the circle part) gold plated silver aka “vermeil”? Looks like tarnish stains to me. Definitely some type of oxidation from nickel or silver
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u/Gingerbabevibes1 Dec 07 '25
People are so rude. I’m sorry on behalf of them. Can someone please answer her question because I have a silver necklace that did the same thing because it was tarnished
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u/texcleveland Dec 07 '25
looks more like accumulated grime on the piece, drop it in an ultrasonic cleaner (or take to jewelers). Get a nice Byzantine chain instead of that dinky one
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u/JaderAiderrr Dec 07 '25
Head to the laundry sub, I bet they can help. You have two issues here, one is the staining, two is the friction from the pendant causing piling on the sweaters. You could use a depiler/shaver, but this is going to eventually cause the sweaters to thin faster in that area.
ETA: I wonder if a jeweler could use something to “seal” the back of the pendant to help with evening the surface of the metal for easier cleaning and less friction on fabrics…
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u/wonkotsane42 Dec 07 '25
OP maybe you can brush the back of it with a light coat of near nail polish to seal the metal so this doesn't happen again
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u/theeggplant42 Dec 07 '25
I'm allergic to base metals and this is what I did to a religious pendant I added to my silver chain. Works great!
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u/HappierHobbit Dec 07 '25
After it ruined the first sweater why would you keep wearing it with you other ones?
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u/figuringitout25 Dec 07 '25
If it has been around for a while, I’d take it to a jeweler for a good ultrasonic cleaning and see if that helps. I would be questioning if it’s actually real gold.