As long as Gold Filled pieces are well cared for, they can last a life time. Gold filled jewelry will tarnish if not cared for properly. Chemical sulfides, and heavy toxins in the air will tarnish it. Remember, its not solid gold. Ocean and swimming pools will tarnish your jewelry. Salt water and chlorine will cause damage. It won't tarnish right away, but continual exposure will cause damage. Humidity and heat cause tarnishing, as with Silver. So, after beach or swimming give your jewelry some TLC. Regular cleaning and wiping down your jewelry after wear can help keep your pieces shiny. Even gold plated jewelry can can last you up to five years with proper care. So, the claims that you can wear your gold filled jewelry 24/7, in pools, showers, ocean, etc, are not telling you the truth. We care about our customers and want their jewelry to last for many years. We use Connoisseurs Gold Jewelry Polishing cloth and Blitz Gem and Jewelry Cleaner. Both can be found on Amazon.