Gold plated jewellery allows you to enjoy the look and style of gold jewellery without the high price tag. Moreover, gold plating comes in different levels, once the base metal is plated, it almost gets impossible to tell whether it is real gold or gold plated jewellery.
What is gold plating?
Gold plating is quite popular in the world of jewellery. It is a process where a thin layer of gold is bonded onto any base metal. Additionally, gold plating is mostly used to mimic expensive jewellery items. When done properly, it can become impossible to differentiate expensive gold jewellery from inexpensive gold plated jewellery.
What’s the gold electroplating process?
Gold plating is an easy process but requires multiple steps. The first step is to clean all the jewellery pieces thoroughly and remove any pollutants. It is an extremely important step because if there is any dirt or oil present on the base metal, it will prevent the gold layer from bonding correctly. Some of the methods used to clean the base metal are steam cleaning, ultrasonic cleaning, and electro-cleaning.
The next step is plating a thin layer of high-quality nickel on the base metal. This helps in protecting the gold layer from being affected by the base metal. The final step is dipping the jewellery in the containers filled with gold and a positive electrical charge that helps infuse the gold onto the base metal.
What metals can be gold plated?
Gold plating can be done on a number of metals like nickel, brass, silver, stainless steel, and copper. Other than that, modern metals such as titanium and tungsten are also being used for gold plated jewellery. Among all of these metals, silver and copper are most commonly used.
Is gold plated real gold?
Yes, gold plating is real gold, but because such a small amount of gold is used, this is the reason gold plated jewellery doesn’t hold the value of gold.
Does gold plating fade and tarnish?
When not taken care of, gold plated jewellery can fade and tarnish over time hence losing the luster and brightness. This can happen regardless of the quality of the jewellery item. The problem is not with the gold plating, the main problem is with the base that corrodes and oxidizes. Over time, the molecules of the base metal move into the gold layer, therefore, impacting the overall appearance. However, if handled with care, gold plated jewellery can stay the same for years.
How to look after and restore gold plated jewellery?
By taking care of gold plated jewellery, you can extend its life and keep its beauty intact. Here’s what you can do to keep it bright and beautiful:
- Keep your gold-plated jewellery away from harsh chemicals, oils and makeup
- Keep your hands clean when handling gold plated jewellery
- Don’t expose gold plated jewellery to salty or chlorinated water
- Clean your gold-plated jewellery regularly in order to prolong its life
