Wearing 22k gold in the shower is not recommended. 22k gold consists of 22 out of 24 parts pure gold. The other 2 parts in the metal that are not gold are made up of silver, nickel, or copper – substances that will react to the chlorine and minerals in the water along with any soap residue. In time, you will find your 22k gold jewelry tarnished and discolored – damage that can’t be reversed.
24K Gold – 99.99% Pure
It’s important to understand that gold itself is a non-reactive metal, and won’t tarnish or rust when exposed to water. That’s why pure 24k gold (24/24 parts gold) is the only metal that you can get wet without worrying about damaging it. It also won’t react to the chlorine found in a swimming pool while 22k gold will.
However, it is recommended to remove all jewelry before showering or swimming because of physical impact. Both 24k and 22k gold are considered to be soft metals, with 24k being the softest because it is pure gold. The additional elements in 22k, 18k, and 14k gold alloys make these metals harder and more durable. In the shower, if you scrub yourself with a loofah you may scratch your high carat gold jewelry, or bang it against the tile resulting in nicks or dents.
Better Safe than Sorry
In sum, simply remove your 22k gold jewelry before showering or swimming to avoid damage. It’s extra valuable & beautiful, and therefore deserves extra care.
