Gold-Plated Jewellery: A Stylish and Affordable Alternative
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If you’ve been thinking of purchasing gold-plated jewellery, here's everything you need to know!
What is Gold-Plated Jewellery?
Gold-plated jewellery is made by coating a base metal with a thin layer of real gold. This technique, invented in 1805 by Italian chemist Luigi Brugnatelli, has become common in the jewellery world. It allows for various base metals, such as brass, copper, nickel, silver, stainless steel, tungsten, and titanium, to be covered in gold, silver, or rhodium.
The beauty of gold-plated jewellery lies in its ability to mimic the appearance of expensive pieces nearly perfectly, making the difference almost indistinguishable.
The thickness of the gold plating can range from 0.17 microns (electroplated or wash/flashed gold) to 2.5 microns, the highest available thickness. Thinner platings, used in pendants and earrings, wear off more quickly. Thicker platings (0.5 microns and above) are more durable, suitable for rings, bracelets, and other pieces exposed to rough wear.
Creating gold-plated jewellery involves a simple process:
Base Metal Selection: The jewellery piece is made using base metals like brass, copper, nickel, silver, stainless steel, tungsten, or titanium. B.FOUND uses premium quality stainless steel for its base metal.
Cleaning: The piece is thoroughly cleaned via steam, electro, or ultrasonic cleaning to remove dirt, dust, oil, and pollutants, ensuring a clean base for the gold layer to bond.
Nickel Buffer Layer: A thin layer of nickel is plated onto the base metal to prevent flaking, tarnishing, or fading of the gold layer, and to improve the bond between the base metal and the gold.
Gold Plating: The jewellery is dipped in a plating solution with a positive electrical charge, attracting gold ions to create a thin plating.
Rinsing and Drying: Once the desired thickness is achieved, the jewellery is rinsed with water and hung to dry.
Is Gold-Plated Jewellery Valuable?
Gold-plated jewellery contains only a small amount of gold, making it affordable. The gold layer's thickness and fineness (10K to 24K) can vary. While it is not a viable investment for financial security, gold-plated jewellery is an affordable way to acquire beautiful fashion pieces that enhance your style.
Does Gold-Plated Jewellery Tarnish or Fade?
Gold-plated jewellery can fade and tarnish, but not all pieces do. B.FOUND’s jewellery, with a stainless steel base, is designed to prevent fading or tarnishing. The base metal's quality is crucial; many available pieces are prone to deterioration despite the inert nature of gold.
Except for stainless steel, base metals prone to oxidizing and corroding can affect the gold layer over time. This can lead to significant changes in appearance, ranging from minor flaking to corrosion. The jewellery's durability depends on the gold plating's thickness—the thicker the plating, the less susceptible it is to damage.
Gold plating, while shiny and beautiful when new, can lose its charm when exposed to environmental elements. Here are some steps to maintain the shine and beauty of your gold-plated jewellery:
- Avoid rough exposure to prevent losing its luster and brightness.
- Follow specific care instructions to maintain its shine and longevity.
Gold-plated jewellery may not be a high-value investment, but it offers similar benefits to solid gold, making it an affordable and versatile alternative. With various styles and designs available, these pieces can complement any outfit, adding to their appeal. Remember, though, that gold-plated jewellery contains gold, even in small amounts, so proper care is essential to keep it shining for a long time.