Gold-filled jewelry is a wonderful alternative to solid gold. It's created by bonding a solid layer of gold to a base metal. With 100 times more gold than gold-plated items, it's of higher quality and more tarnish resistant, not to mention much more affordable than solid gold.
To maintain its luster, avoid wearing your gold-filled pieces daily in the ocean or pools, as salt water, chlorine, and harsh chemicals can cause fading. You can keep it on for showers, but keep it away from facial cleansers, shampoos and the like. For cleaning, gently wipe the piece with a soft cotton polishing cloth.