What Physical Factors Affect Gold Plated Jewellery Quality
Capable suppliers need to juggle all of the above factors in order to deliver great quality gold plated jewelry, but there are problems that keep cropping up in the industry that prevent them from delivering excellent quality.
So what is happening in this industry? Are suppliers cheating buyers, or are they simply careless?
How To Make Gold Plated Jewelry Gold Again
To make your gold plated jewelry gold again, you can have the item re-plated. The process is simple and inexpensive! So, if you want to make your jewelry look like gold, but dont want to spend so much for a solid gold piece, you can take your jewelry item in to a jewelry shop and have them re-plate the item for you! You can also check out this step-by-step guide of how gold plating is done!
We hope that helped clarify whether gold plated jewelry is right for you! Feel free to comment your thoughts in the
Our Top Ten Favorite Gold Plated Jewelry!
Avoid Unnecessary Contact With Water
According to Fortune & Frame founder Gretel Going, not all gold-plated jewelry is created equal. There are a couple of approaches to plating, and the coating can range from the equivalent of a first coat of spray paint to extremely thick, and, therefore, less likely to tarnish or fade over time. The more microns of gold used, the better, as it’s less likely a piece of gold-plated jewelry will tarnish.
To keep your pieces from premature damage, be sure to take off gold-plated jewelry when showering or swimming. Chlorine, salt water, and fresh water can damage precious metals by dulling or eroding them, Hordern tells Byrdie. Soapy water when bathing and showering can also leave a thin film, which makes the metal seem dull. And because of the chemicals present in perfume, hairspray, makeup, deodorants, and other beauty products, Missoma’s golden rule is to make gold-plated jewelry the last thing you put on and the first thing you take off.
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Gold And Silver Plating Services
We replate just about anything that can be plated! Exceptions include items that are very large and items that are part nonmetal. For example, we can not plate a purse buckle if it can’t be removed from the purse. Fox Fine Jewelry will plate:
- Sterling silver jewelry
- Costume, vintage and antique jewelry
- Some watch bands and watches
- Items with gemstones
What Is The Ideal Thickness Of Coating
The standard thickness of the gold coating is between 0.17 and 2.5 microns or micrometers . This is the standard unit of length used for measuring the thickness of gold plating and other similar things with a microscopic length.
Gold plating thickness determines its durability. The more the microns, the better the chance for the gold plating to last with usage.
A 0.17 micron of coating contains only 0.05% of gold and such layers are extremely thin. Known as gold washing or flashing, this coating wears off fast and quite easily. because of minimal exposure to rubbing and rough wear, A 0.17-micron thick coating is ideal for earrings, lockets, and brooches.
The pieces that are likely to undergo heavy wear and tear like rings and bracelets should have gold plating thickness between 0.5 and 1.0 microns. These are still pencil-thin layers but not quite flimsy to get rubbed off easily.
If you want durable gold plating, choose a piece with 2.5 microns of thickness. This one lasts longer than other plating options.
However, a thin coating does not make gold plated jewelry trash. They have their own beauty and a specific price value. Real gold is used in making them but they are not as valuable as gold because of how little gold is used.
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How Can I Make It Last Long
If you know how to take care of the gold, you will have it serve you longer. Make it a routine to wipe the gold plated jewels every time you remove them. Be gentle when wiping since you dont want to peel out the gold coating.
Wear the jewel last after you have put on all the other cosmetics. This will mean that all the chemicals in your makeup and cosmetics are absorbed in the body first. Never spray the jewels over. Even when you need to spray your body, do it before you wear the jewel.
Cons Of Gold Plated Jewelry
#1 It will tarnish!
If youre wondering, does gold plated jewelry tarnish? the answer is yes, it does! Gold plated jewelry items will definitely tarnish over time, though solid gold items will not tarnish at all. Gold plated items have a base metal underneath the gold plate, like copper or silver, which makes the jewelry piece stronger and less likely to bend, though these jewelry metals tarnish. In a gold plated jewelry item, the metal beneath the gold plate will eventually come to the surface and become discolored, so it will need to be polished frequently to keep its shine. The reason that gold plated jewelry tarnishes is because the molecules of the base metals eventually transfer into the thin layer of gold, causing the gold layer to break down.
#2 The plating can be scratched or chipped.
After a few weeks of wearing your gold plated jewelry item, the gold plate is likely to start chipping, wearing, or flaking off. The reason for this is because the gold layer is so thin and not very durable itself. Gold is a very soft metal and can easily be scratched unless alloyed with other metals to make it stronger.
#3 The amount of gold is minimal and can lead to a lower value.
The layer of gold on gold plated items is the least amount of gold when compared to gold filled or solid gold items. Thus, the gold plate is very thin and susceptible to flaking off. Since the gold content is so low in gold plated items, the value is low.
#4 Cant wear gold plated items in water.
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Final Step Making Gold Plating Solution
In the final step, we need to make a strongly alkaline solution of gold chloride and potassium ferrocyanide.
Using this solution and electrical current, we can deposit gold over the surface of other metals.
This solution contains gold cyanide ions, which are extremly poisonous.
Under no circumstances, this solution can be mixed with acids, as it will release hydrogen cyanide gas.
Neither it can be disposed of down the drain.
For the details and demonstrations, please watch the video.
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Thank you for the attention.
Removing A Heavy Layer Of Gold
While it is possible to remove a thick layer of gold plating, it needs to be done by a professional. Professional jewelers and jewelry repair shops have access to the strong acids and procedures necessary to remove the gold without damaging the silver underneath. We recommend contacting your local jeweler to have the gold plating removed for you.
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S To Remove The Gold Plating:
How To Prevent Gold Plated Jewelry From Tarnishing
Many people opt for gold plated jewelry since gold jewelry is quite expensive to buy. Unfortunately, gold plated jewelry does not last long and requires special care and attention to maintain its lustrous appearance. So, how do you prevent gold plated jewelry from tarnishing?
Genuine gold jewelry is a high-quality commodity that is only available to a few people due to its high cost. Luckily, if you love the hue of gold, but your budget does not allow you to splurge on it, you can opt for gold plated jewelry. Gold plated jewelry is affordable and has the outward appearance of real gold jewelry as long as you care for it appropriately to ensure it maintains its luster and shine.
Whether it is a ring, bracelet, or necklace, gold plated jewelry is an excellent accessory option that will not break your bank. However, it is likely that it will not last forever. In many cases, your gold plated jewelry will start showing signs of wear and tear after a short time of constant use. Let us discuss some ways to extend their longevity for optimal use.
You will Learn in this Post
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Is Gold Plated Jewelry Fake
One of the most common questions when it comes to gold plated jewelry is: does gold plated mean fake? The answer to this question is dependent on your definition of fake.
To explain:
The gold layer on the outside of the jewelry item is real gold. However, since the entire piece of jewelry is composed of a base metal or metal alloy that is not gold, gold plated jewelry is commonly referred to as fake gold. The gold on the surface is real gold of varying fineness , but the center of the item is not gold.
Additional Steps To Plating Using Other Metals
Sometimes plating takes more than one plating immersion. Sometimes other metals are plated first to create a barrier between the original metal and the final metal to make a longer lasting bond.
Sometimes with costume jewelry the base metal would contaminate the tanks with the gold in them. So a different metal is plated prior to the gold plating.
There are little steps Ive left out because it is repetitive and this is not an instructional how-to as much as a this is basically what is done.
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Clean Your Jewels Thoroughly
The first thing you will need to do is make sure the jewel you want to plate is clean. You can use the electro cleaning method or steam cleaning for the cleaning process. This is also a good idea as you dont want to re-plate the jewel when it still has its oils. That might stop the plating process. Go on to thoroughly rinse your jewels in preparation for the plating.
Is Gold Plated Real Gold
Well, yes, because the jewelers use the real gold liquid to coat the jewels. Remember, we said you only use a thin layer of gold over the material.
Over 98% of the treasure is made using other metals that are not pure gold.
Since it has other underlying metals and the plating soon chips off, most people refer to the gold plated as fake gold. To some extent, they are right when you think of it. Notice that its not even classified as a gold jewel often its just gold plated jewelry.
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Identifying Gold Plated Pieces Requires Basic Technique
Anything that is gold-plated often gets a bad rap for not being the real deal. But, many gold electroplated items are of good quality and easy on the pocket.
That said, it helps to know what gold plated means to ensure that you are making the right decision and getting value for your money when shopping for jewelry.
We hope this guide helped to demystify some often confusing terms in the world of metallurgy and jewelry. Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
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Your Item Is Made From An Incompatible Material
If youre bringing in something thats not metal, such as resin, plastic, bone, or glass, most jewelers will not be able to plate the item. This is due to the fact that jewelers use electroplating for gold plating jewelry, a process which involves running electricity through a solution to fuse gold to the surface of a conductive metal. Non-conductive materials cannot be plated via this method, and only large manufacturers will have the ability and equipment needed to plate such unconventional materials.
This rose gold plated bangle was engraved, revealing a resin base below.
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Advantages Of Gold Plated Jewelry
- Gold-plated items have the appearance and appeal of gold. They are the perfect alternative to the more expensive pure gold or gold-filled jewelry
- Versatile: Gold-plated items lend themselves well to different designs and are quite fashionable while being inexpensive.
- Hardy: Gold-plated jewelry stands up well to abuse compared to pure gold, which is soft and whose shape is easily changed.
What Is Gold Plated
A gold-plated item is covered with a thin layer of gold. The item, for example, a necklace, is not made from gold but rather a different metal or a gold alloy and is then covered with traces of gold. The thin layer of gold gives the piece of jewelry a shiny, golden appearance.
During the gold plating process, an electric current is used to positively charge the plating solution and negatively charge the items base metal. The solutions positively charged ions are then attracted to the metals negative charge, which results in a thin layer of gold forming on the item.
The thickness of the layer of gold varies from one piece to another, depending on the manufacturer and brand. According to the US Federal Trade Commission, items with gold coatings at 0.5 microns are considered gold plated, while those at 2.5 microns are categorized as heavy gold plated.
Some items have very thin layers of gold at less than the standard 0.5 microns. Although some of these items are marketed as gold plated, the correct technical term is gold flashed or gold washed.
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What Is Gold Plated Jewelry
Gold plated jewelry is a lot cheaper than the pure gold jewelry. So if cash is an important consideration to you, it would be best to buy gold plated jewelry for an accessory. However, it is worth mentioning that there are also downsides of buying gold plated jewelry.
Since the gold has just been plated with a metal, it will wear away at some point. Daily use of your gold plated jewelry will obviously wear out.
But how fast will wear your gold plated jewelry out will depend on the number of reasons, including the metal your jewelry made of and the thickness of the plating.
If you are comfortable with the thought that gold plated jewelry will tarnish or fade away, then you can go ahead and buy one. Also, if you do not want to intend to wear the gold plated jewelry every day, then it is best to buy one for yourself.
For instance, you need a gold bracelet or bangle that you want to wear it only to match your dress in special occasion, then you should go ahead and buy gold plated bangles or bracelets.
However, there are a number of ways to avoid so that your gold plated jewelry will not tarnish or fade away easily. In the event that your gold plated jewelry fades away, you can have it re-plated.
The only issue with re-plating is that it costs you money and sometimes buying another gold plated jewelry is more practical that having faded jewelry re-plated.
Cleaning Your Gold Plated Jewelry
- Clean after Use
- Use a jewelry cloth to restore its shine
- Prepare a soap solution
Types Of Gold Jewelry
This is pure, 24-karat gold which is soft and can be easily scratched. As a result, most solid gold jewelry is mixed with other metals or alloys to make 18-karat, 14-karat, or 10-karat gold to increase its durability and hardness.
Gold Filled
These have a layer of gold that’s been pressure-bonded to another metal to make it stronger. Because of this, most pieces are durable enough to be worn every day for up to 30 years. However, the thickness of the layer is reflected in the selling price, so the thicker you want, the more you’ll need to pay.
This is the least expensive type of gold jewelry and is made with a thin layer of gold that’s adhered to a metal such as copper or silver through the use of chemicals or electricity. Gold plating is a popular choice for trendy jewelry items that aren’t intended to be worn for long periods. After some time, the thin layer of gold will get damaged or dissolve and rub off.
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