The Complete Jewellery Care Guide

What imitation jewellery actually is

Premium imitation jewellery - also called fashion or artificial jewellery - is built on a brass or alloy base that is then finished with a layer of real gold through electroplating. The thickness of that layer is what separates a piece that lasts years from one that fades in weeks.

At Saubhagya every piece uses micron gold plating, finished with kundan, polki, American Diamond or semi-precious stone work by hand. That's why a heritage temple necklace that would cost lakhs in solid gold sits comfortably in the ₹500-₹3,000 range - you are paying for craftsmanship and design, not bullion weight.

If you remember nothing else from this page, remember this sequence. It costs you a minute a day and is by far the highest-impact thing you can do.

How to clean each type safely

Plain gold-plated pieces

Dry microfibre cloth only, wiped gently in one direction. If there is visible grime, use a cloth barely dampened with plain water, then dry immediately and completely. Never soak.

Kundan and polki

These stones are set with natural lac (resin), which softens with heat and dissolves with solvents. Never use water, alcohol or ultrasonic cleaners - stones will loosen and fall out. Use a dry, soft makeup brush to lift dust from the settings.

Pearls and beads

Wipe with a slightly damp cloth and dry at once. Pearls are porous and absorb perfume and sweat - always wipe them after wearing, and never store them in an airtight plastic bag, which dries and cracks the nacre.

American Diamond (CZ)

The stones themselves are hardy, but the plating around them is not. A dry soft brush for the settings and a microfibre wipe for the metal is all that's needed to bring the sparkle back.

Storage - and surviving the Indian monsoon

Humidity is the quiet enemy. In coastal cities like Mumbai, monsoon humidity regularly crosses 80%, and moisture trapped against plated metal will tarnish the base from the edges in.

• One pouch per piece. Soft cloth or velvet, never sharing with another item.
• Airtight box with silica gel. Save the sachets that come with shoes and bags - drop two or three into your jewellery box and replace them every few months.
• Away from the bathroom. Steam from daily showers is enough to tarnish a plated set stored nearby.
• Anti-tarnish strips are worth the small cost for bridal sets you only wear occasionally.
• Lay necklaces flat. Hanging heavy pieces long-term stretches the chain and stresses the clasp.

By occasion

Wedding or reception (yours): a full bridal set - long haaram plus short necklace, statement jhumkas, maang tikka. Go bold; photographs flatten detail. Attending someone else's wedding: one hero piece only - either a statement necklace or statement earrings, never both. Festive and pooja: temple jewellery with Lakshmi motifs and antique gold finish, traditional and warm in photos. Office and daily: small studs, a thin chain, a delicate pendant. Gifting: a short necklace set or classic jhumkas - safe if you don't know their taste.

By face shape (earrings)

By neckline (necklaces)

• Ask about plating, not just "gold finish". A seller who can tell you the plating type and base metal is being specific; vague "gold look" wording tells you nothing.
• Look at the back of the piece. Quality manufacturers finish the reverse properly. Rough edges, visible glue or unfinished solder are the fastest tell.
• Check the clasp and hooks. These fail long before the design does. Screw-back and secure S-hooks outlast cheap spring rings.
• Weight tells a story. Substantial pieces indicate a solid base rather than thin hollow stamping.
• Buy from a manufacturer, not a reseller. When the seller makes the piece in-house, defects get repaired instead of argued about.

Every Saubhagya piece is manufactured in our own Mumbai workshop, individually inspected and sealed before dispatch, and any manufacturing defect is repaired or replaced free. More detail on Shipping & Returns, and common questions are answered on our FAQ page.