10 Tried & Tested Tarnish-Free Gold Jewelry Brands

Tarnish-free gold jewelry sounds too good to be true and often it is, unless you’re ready to really invest. With "waterproof," "sweat-proof," and "swim-proof" jewelry styles dominating social media, how do you actually avoid dreaded green-tinged fingers? Or be certain that that "gold" necklace won’t resemble a rusty spoon after a couple of swims in the sea? Forever skeptical of grand marketing claims, we set out to find out. 

Gearing up for a strenuous month of jewelry styling, we loaded our wrists, ears, and necks with a good helping of pretty gold pieces to see which ones still glistened after a few weeks of wear.

The general consensus among jewelry experts is that solid gold is the only way to guarantee your jewelry will remain tarnish-free. That said, many budget-friendly brands have put a new gold-plating technique into practice, and so far it’s seen impressive results. Known as ​​physical vapor deposition (PVD), this new technique is ten times thicker than regular gold plating, making pieces much less susceptible to corrosion, tarnishing, or fading. Comparing the real-deal investment pieces with these cost-friendly PVD picks, we've yet to notice a difference in the tarnish-free stakes following several showers, sea swims, and sweat sessions. 

Keep scrolling to read our reviews of tarnish-free jewelry brands to suit every budget, from standout styles you’ll want to save up for to payday pick-me-ups that seem to last just as long.