Alright folks, buckle up because I actually went and tested this whole gold versus silver necklace thing myself. Everyone’s always arguing about which one lasts, but I figured heck, let’s just wear ‘em and see what happens.
Getting Started
First things first, I needed identical necklaces. Found a local jeweler who could make simple nameplate styles – one in solid 14k yellow gold and the other in sterling silver. Both had my name engraved, same font, same size, no fancy stuff. Cost a pretty penny, especially the gold, but gotta do it right. Picked ‘em up, took a bunch of close-up pictures right then – super shiny! This was back in January.
The Wear and Tear Plan
My plan was simple: wear one for two months straight, then switch. No babying them. Shower? Yep. Working in the garage? On it. Cooking, sweating, sleeping – the whole messy, everyday life thing. Kept notes in my phone every few weeks:
- Week 2: Silver one already looking duller than the gold. Not dirty, just… less bright.
- Month 1 (Silver): Okay, definite tarnish starting. Needs a polish for sure. Gold one? Still looks like the day I bought it, maybe a tiny bit less blindingly shiny.
- Month 3 (Switched to Gold): Polished the silver back up (used a basic cloth). Started wearing the gold daily. Wow, scratches! Seriously, noticed fine lines way easier on the gold nameplate than I ever saw on the silver. The silver seemed to get cloudy, the gold showed every little bump.
- Month 4 (Gold): More scratches. Like, catching the light constantly. Also felt a bit softer? Like I could dent it easier. Never dented the silver, though it did bend slightly once when I caught it on something.
- Month 6 (Both Out): Time for the big compare. Cleaned the gold with mild soap and a soft brush. Polished the silver again. Side by side photos.
The Ugly Truth
Here’s what stared back at me after six months:
- Silver: Had been polished twice. Lost its initial shine pretty fast. Had some light surface scratches but mostly just looked generally worn and “older.” The metal felt fine, no serious damage, no breaks. The bend straightened out easy.
- Gold: Wowza, the scratches! So many fine lines all over the surface, really noticeable. It felt softer, definitely thinner in spots where it got knocked. Still looked like gold, sure, but worn thin and kinda… delicate compared to its early days. No tarnish though!
So, Which Actually “Lasts Longer”?
Depends how you look at it, honestly!
- Looking brand new longest? Gold wins for not tarnishing. It kept its color way better.
- Taking physical punishment? Silver surprised me. Less visible scratching, didn’t seem to gouge as easy, bounced back from getting bent. Felt tougher day-to-day. Needed more cleaning love though.
The gold feels luxurious, but it scratches like crazy. The silver’s tougher but you gotta keep polishing it unless you like the antique look. The silver felt less precious in a way, but more durable under actual wear. Gold’s scratches just screamed “I’m delicate!”
Why I Bother Testing Stuff Like This
Simple. I used to work in this cheap costume jewelry place years back. Saw stuff break constantly, promises fail. Had this lady yelling at me once about some “gold-look” necklace turning her neck green after a week. Manager just blamed her. Always stuck with me. Felt like money down the drain for people.
So now? I test things. For myself, and to share. Don’t believe the hype, just wear it hard and see what happens. Sometimes the “precious” thing ain’t always the toughest.