Gold plated jewellery

Gold plating is simply an anode-cathode reaction. Gold is so precious. Being an owner of a gold jewelry set seems like a more unbelievable moment. But for many reasons, we cannot afford to purchase them as gold jewelry is too expensive. Due to the high cost of Gold, many people buy Gold plated jewelry as it looks the same as Gold.

The process of making gold plated jewellery

To begin the process, we need to clean the piece that is needed to be Gold plated. It should be highly cleaned and polished. The plater cleans the base metal pieces in an acid or ultrasonic bath. The piece is then deep cleaned with steam or ultrasound before being polished with a rouge wheel at a high RPM.

After cleaning and polishing the jewelry‘s surface, the plater coats the metal with a thin layer of Nickel. This layer, also known as a “strike layer” or “flash layer,” avoids base metal contamination of the gold tanks. Preventing the underlying metal from leaking through the Gold layer also increases the piece’s lifespan.

It can now add a base layer o the process. The object is then lowered into a positively charged ionized gold solution. The positively charged gold particles are drawn to the negatively charged jewelry, coating it in a thin layer of Gold.

Explanation.

As mentioned earlier, Gold – Plating is a specific type of electroplating that uses electricity to lay a pretty thin layer of Gold on the surface of a metal. The best thing is this scenario makes you feel like you are wearing a Gold one, but it is less expensive. This is a considerable benefit in the costume industry.

The gold plating on jewelry with this finish is unquestionably regarded as real Gold. Jewelry is rarely “pure gold” because almost all gold jewelry is an alloy, a combination of Gold and another metal. However, gold-plated jewelry must be marked as “gold plated” either on the jewelry itself or on the packaging to indicate that it is not solid gold jewelry, as opposed to a piece made entirely of alloys.

In gold plating, almost evet metal can be used. But copper, silver, tungsten, Nickel, and stainless steel are commonly used metals.

As we all know these type of jewelry will tarnish and fade more quickly than those made entirely of gold alloy. Gold is a very soft metal that is easily damaged unless combined with metals more resistant to wear. The layer will eventually wear away, exposing the base metal underneath, which might tarnish. The Gold itself does not tarnish.

Do you know that there is a thickness for plating?

Yes, there is a specific thickness. Microns, or one-millionth of a meter, micro-inches, or one-millionth of an inch, are used to describe the thickness of gold plating

To be marketed as “gold-plated,” an item must have a gold layer that is at least 20 micro inches (0.50 microns) thick. The item can only be sold as “gold washed,” “gold flashed,” or “gold electroplate” if it is any thinner. A piece cannot be referred to as “gold” if the gold layer is less than seven micro inches (0.175 microns).

On the other hand, one can market a piece of jewelry as having a “heavy gold plate” or “heavy electroplate” if it has is at least 100 micro inches (2.5 microns) thick. These items may have a hallmark that says “HBP” or “HEP.” “Gold vermeil” is used when the base metal of such a piece is sterling silver.

How to know whether it is plated or not?

Typically, you don’t need specialized chemicals or testing tools to determine whether a piece is gold-plated, the piece will probably be less expensive than comparable solid gold pieces To start. Additionally, you might see a mark like “GP,” “HGP,” “GEP,” or “HGE.” The hallmark may also provide additional information about the gold layer, such as the type of Gold used (14k, 18k, etc.).

You must also visually inspect the jewelry because not all gold-plated jewelry needs to have a hallmark. A piece is usually gold-plated rather than solid Gold if it has uneven coloring, flaking metal, discoloration, or unusually bright yellow hues.

As mentioned early, we can use many base layers for gold plating. Also, White Gold can be plated similarly with Nickel and Rhodium. Therefore, the only jewelry that can be considered hypoallergenic is gold-plated jewelry that is made entirely of hypoallergenic alloys. If you are sensitive to metals, it is essential to take note of this.

Tips to use gold plated jewellery

A jeweler uses a blue cloth to hand-polish a gold ring
Wash your hand before using the plated jewelry as it may tarnish due to the oils in the skin.
It is good to avoid friction between these plated items as this may also cause tarnishing.
Keep the plated jewelry out of makeup and other perfumes.
Washing the jewelry using mild soap for a long-lasting look is good.
Avoid using abrasive or harsh cleaning agents, brushing or rubbing the jewelry, and using harsh chemicals.
Before swimming, remove your jewelry and store it safely to prevent exposure to chlorinated or salty water.