Does 18K Gold Change Colour? Tarnish, Skin Marks and White Gold
Gold care
Solid 18K gold does not rust, and it does not turn green or black the way plated or low-karat jewellery can. It is 75% gold, and pure gold does not tarnish. The other 25% (silver, copper or white metals) can make the surface look a little duller over time, and white gold can look slightly yellow when its rhodium plating wears thin. All of these are surface changes: cleaning, a professional polish or replating brings the colour back.
Shop the Joy Diamond Necklace18K gold · Free delivery in the UAE · Help on WhatsApp
By Lana Al Kamal
Founder and jewellery designer, GIA-trained, Dubai · Updated 12 November 2026
As featured in
Harper's Bazaar ArabiaEmirates WomanGrazia ArabiaJdeed MagazineKey takeaways
- Solid 18K gold does not rust or turn green, but it can lose some shine over time.
- White gold can look slightly yellow when its rhodium plating wears; a jeweller can replate it.
- A black or green mark on skin usually comes from rubbed-off metal, makeup or a plated piece, not from good 18K gold.
What you may notice, and what to do
| What you see | Usual cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow or rose gold looks dull | A film of skin oil, soap, cream or perfume | Warm water, a drop of mild soap, a soft brush, then dry |
| White gold looks slightly yellow | Rhodium plating has worn thin | Ask a jeweller to replate it |
| Rose gold looks a little deeper | The copper in the alloy ages slowly | Nothing; many people like it. A polish brightens it |
| Fine scratches | Everyday contact with hard surfaces | A professional polish |
| Black mark on skin | Tiny metal particles rubbed off by makeup powders or sweat | Clean the piece and the skin; keep makeup away from it |
| Green mark on skin, or a brassy colour showing through | Usually a plated or low-karat piece with copper or base metal | Not typical of solid 18K; check what the piece is made of |
Pieces in this guide
Joy Diamond NecklaceAED 4,650Shop now
Arabic Name Necklace★★★★★ 5.0 (1 review)From AED 4,250Shop now
Love NecklaceAED 3,800Shop now
Why 18K gold keeps its colour better than lower karats
The more pure gold a piece contains, the less there is of the metals that react with air and skin. 18K is 75% gold; 14K is about 58% and 9K about 38%, so lower karats are more likely to darken. Higher karats such as 21K react even less, but they are softer: our comparison of 18K and 21K gold explains the trade-off.
White gold and rhodium
White gold is gold mixed with white metals. On its own it has a soft greyish or pale yellow tint, so most white gold is plated with rhodium, a bright white metal, to give the icy finish people expect. Rhodium is hard, but it wears where the piece rubs most. Rings wear fastest; a necklace pendant wears much more slowly. When the warmer colour starts to show, a jeweller can clean the piece and apply a new layer. This is normal maintenance, not a defect. If you are still choosing a colour, see our guide to yellow, white and rose gold.
What to buyJoy Diamond Necklace, AED 4,650Black or green marks on skin
A dark line on the neck or finger is usually not the gold "coming off". Makeup and sunscreen often contain hard mineral powders that rub tiny particles off the metal, and those particles look black on skin. Sweat in hot weather can do the same. Clean the piece, clean the skin and put makeup on before jewellery. A green mark usually points to copper reacting with sweat, which is common with gold-plated or low-karat pieces and rare with solid 18K gold. Our guide to real gold and gold-plated name necklaces explains how to tell them apart.
Keeping the colour
Most dulling comes from what touches the gold, so the habits in our guide to wearing a gold necklace every day (perfume last on, jewellery off for the pool) are what keep it bright. For cleaning at home and storage, see our jewellery care guide. The Lana Al Kamal Arabic Name Necklace is solid 18K gold in yellow, white or rose, from AED 4,250 (November 2026).
Frequently asked questions
Does 18K gold tarnish?
Not in the way silver does. Pure gold does not tarnish; the 25% of other metals in 18K can make the surface look slightly duller over time, which cleaning or polishing fixes.
Why is my white gold turning yellow?
Most white gold is plated with rhodium for a bright white colour. As the plating wears, the natural warmer tint of the white gold shows. A jeweller can replate it.
Does 18K gold turn your skin green?
Rarely. Green marks usually come from copper in plated or low-karat jewellery reacting with sweat. Solid 18K gold is 75% gold, so it is much less likely to do this.
Why does gold leave a black mark on my skin?
Usually because makeup, sunscreen or sweat rubs tiny particles off the metal. Clean the piece and the skin, and put makeup on before your jewellery.
Does rose gold change colour over time?
It can deepen slightly as the copper in the alloy ages. It does not wear off, and a professional polish brightens it.
Not sure which one?
Send the studio a photo or a question on WhatsApp and we will help you choose.
WhatsApp the studioKeep reading
Yellow, White or Rose Gold: How to ChooseReal 18K Gold vs Gold-Plated Name Necklace: How to TellCan You Shower With 18K Gold? Wearing a Gold Necklace Every Day
About Lana Al Kamal
Lana Al Kamal is an architect and jewellery designer who founded her Dubai-based fine jewellery brand in 2018. She studied at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and is a member of the Dubai Chamber jewellery designers group. Every piece is made in 18K gold.
