Guides
Questions worth a straight answer
Everything here is written from what we actually know about the pieces we sell — plated alloy, and what that does and does not mean. Where the honest answer is inconvenient, it is still the answer we have given.
Does gold-plated jewellery tarnish?
Yes. Gold plating is a thin layer of gold over a base metal, and once it wears through, the metal underneath oxidises and the piece dulls or darkens. With occasional wear and sensible care, plating on fashion jewellery typically holds its look for one to two years. Moisture, perfume and friction wear it far faster than time alone does.
How do you clean and store artificial jewellery?
Wipe each piece with a dry, soft cloth after wearing it, and store it on its own in a pouch rather than loose in a box. Never use water, silver dip, toothpaste or an ultrasonic cleaner on plated or oxidised jewellery — all of them remove the finish along with the dirt. Storage matters more than cleaning does.
What is the difference between a jhumka, a chandbali and a bali?
A jhumka is a bell that hangs and swings. A chandbali is a wide crescent — the name comes from the moon — that spreads below the lobe. A bali is a hoop. A bali jhumka combines the two: a bell hung inside a hoop. Danglers are the general term for anything that drops, chain tassels included.
Should I buy oxidised or gold-plated jewellery?
Gold-plated suits silk, zari and formal occasion wear, where warm metal sits naturally against rich fabric. Oxidised — darkened metal with the recesses shadowed — suits cotton, khadi, handloom and black, which defeat bright gold. If you own one already, buy the other; they cover almost opposite halves of a wardrobe.
How do I choose earrings that are comfortable to wear all day?
Comfort depends on construction and where the mass sits, not on size. Hollow domes, strung beads and chain tassels keep weight close to the lobe and wear comfortably for hours. Solid cast metal and long rigid drops pull at the piercing regardless of how small they look. Check what the lower half is made of, not the dimensions.
What earrings are best for sensitive ears?
Most earring reactions are to nickel, which is common in base-metal alloys. The materials that reliably help are implant-grade titanium, niobium, surgical steel and solid gold above 14k. Plated fashion jewellery — including everything Kuzooo sells — is alloy underneath, so it cannot honestly be described as hypoallergenic.
What jewellery makes a good gift for Diwali, Karva Chauth or a wedding?
For Diwali and Karva Chauth, red or maroon reads as correct rather than merely pretty. For a wedding you are attending, avoid red — it belongs to the bride — and choose green, navy or an uncoloured gold. For a mehendi or haldi, pink and turquoise suit the daytime palette. When unsure of taste, buy uncoloured.
What earrings should I wear with a saree, a kurta or a lehenga?
A saree leaves the ears and neck clear, so it takes length — long jhumkas, chandbalis and danglers. A kurta needs something that will not catch on a dupatta, so studs and small hoops work best. A lehenga at a wedding needs scale, or the earring vanishes against heavy fabric.
How long do press-on nails last?
With adhesive tabs, expect one to three days and easy removal. With nail glue, expect one to two weeks but a harder removal. Fit matters more than either: a tip sized correctly to your nail bed stays on far longer than a close-enough one, whatever adhesive is underneath it.
How do I choose a jhumka that suits my face?
Long, narrow drops lengthen a round face; wide chandbalis add width to a long one; softly curved shapes ease a square jaw. In practice the neckline decides more than the face does — an open neckline takes a wide earring, a high or heavily worked one needs something narrow and close.