The jewelry industry is thriving, prices are rising, and jewelry is getting increasingly out of reach. There is, however, a 19th-century approach that is saving the gold-loving globe. This process is known as gold plating. What is gold plated? Items that are gold plated – also known as electroplated – have a layer of gold on the surface over another type of metal underneath. Items are gold-plated on occasion to deceive customers or cash-for-gold operators. However, plating is usually done to improve the aesthetic or wearability of a piece of jewelry.
The process of gold plating takes time. Developers may add polish or features that were not requested in the case of gold plating, to provide value and impress the client. Instead of forging solid gold using heat to produce gold jewelry, gold-plated pieces pass through a different process. Electroplating is the main process that creates gold-plated pieces.
How does electroplating work?
The simple approach to apply a tiny layer of gold to the base metal is through electroplating. This technique necessitates the use of electricity, gold content derived from solid gold through chemical reactions, or refined gold alloys. The steps are as follows:
1. Clean the surface:
To remove impurities, thoroughly wash the metal components to which you wish to apply a thin layer of gold. This procedure is required to comply with gold vermeil rules. To remove any contaminants, utilize steam cleaning or electro cleaning before applying a thin layer of gold.
2. Plate using Nickel:
Adding nickel layers on the gold plating pieces protects the jewelry from contaminations.
3. Electroplate using a real gold solution:
It is the final step, and it is simple to do. The cleaned and nickel-plated jewel is then submerged in a gold solution. This method uses electricity to generate negative and positive charges that attract gold particles, resulting in a thin gold layer that adheres to the base metal. To get the appropriate gold vermeil, electroplating is done multiple times. The gold-plated items are then hung to dry.
Does gold-plated jewelry use real gold?
The sole difference between genuine gold-plated jewelry and gold alloy jewelry is the color option. When working with gold alloys, always be sure to check the purity level.
According to gold.org, the purity of solid gold is measured in carats. The organization states that 24 carats equal pure solid gold with no imperfections. So, while putting up a gold plating unit, make sure it’s pure.
How long does gold plating on jewelry last?
Although gold plating is designed to last a lifetime, many underlying causes shorten the life of gold coatings on jewelry. After some time, the gold on plated objects wears away due to friction between the skin and the plated pieces. In addition, the shine of this jewelry loses faster the longer you wear it. It may take two or more years, but the appeal will eventually fade away.
It is less expensive to replate gold-plated jewelry than to purchase real gold jewelry. If you wish to replace any of your jewelry, you should only enlist the help of professionals. Do not do it on your own because you may end up with unfavorable results.
How do you maintain gold-plated jewelry?
· Wear gold-plated jewelry last after putting on makeup.
· Use clean hands each time you are handling gold jewelry.
· Do not use chlorinated water each time you are cleaning solid gold pieces. Chlorinated and salty water tarnishes the shiny luster on gold-filled jewelry.
· Keep your jewelry away from rough surfaces where friction is inevitable. Whether you are wearing solid gold pieces or any other type of jewelry, avoid rubbing them with other surfaces.
