Let's be honest, we also did not know most of these terms when we started to play with the world of jewelry. Plating and plating, is there a difference? For us, not at first. However, nothing could be further from the truth, it was just the opposite.
Understand the difference between plating and bathing!
Because the truth is that the most incredible thing about the world of jewelry is nothing more than discovering all the incredible aspects it holds: stones, materials, ways of producing, plating, carats, settings. Thousands and thousands of concepts that we would love to explain! However, today we will only focus on the difference between gold plating and gold plated jewelry .
INDEX:
1. What is gold plating?1. What is gold plating?
Have you ever heard of gold plating microns? Well, this is the most normal thing in the world, so today we explain what gold plating is and why it is measured in microns.
Gold plating, as its name suggests, means nothing more than covering or decorating a surface with sheets of a metal. Therefore, what we mean when we talk about gold plating is the technique used to coat the surface of an object with a thin layer of gold.
This coating is applied using the electroplating technique which involves immersing the jewelry in a solution of gold salts and applying an electric current. During the process, the gold ions in the solution are deposited on the surface of the object creating a uniform and shiny layer.
And in all this, where do microns come in?
Well, each layer of gold is one micron. Therefore, when we say that our jewelry has a three-micron plating, it means that it has three layers of gold adhered to the base metal. This is what makes the jewelry remain much longer protected because its gold finish is much thicker than other finishes.
What is gold plating?
If before we talked about jewelry plating to decorate them and their microns, gold plating is not for less. When we talk about gold-plated jewelry we refer to the process by which an object is coated with a thin layer of gold (which we will also measure in microns, these being much smaller).
This process is achieved by applying a chemical solution containing gold and other metals. This layer can vary in thickness and quality, depending on the technique used and the type of object being plated. Thanks to this plating, appearances similar to solid gold are achieved at a much more economical price.
And, then, what do karats mean in all this? In this sense, when we talk about a jewel being 22k gold plated as is the case of those produced in our local workshops, we mean that, that gold itself of the thin layer with which the jewel has been covered, out of every 24 parts of the alloy, 22 are gold and the rest is composed of other metals. This is done so that a material such as gold, which in itself is soft, acquires all the necessary stability and hardness.
3. Main differences between gold-plating and gold-plating
If what you are looking for is to learn to differentiate them as an average consumer, we regret to tell you that it is not so easy to differentiate them at first glance, but you will have to resort to a specialist jeweler who will look for the indicator engraved on the jewel that shows the amount of gold.
However, here are some of the main differences:
The first is undoubtedly the thickness of the coating, the gold plating technique is characterized by a greater thickness of the surface layer (from 1 to 10 microns), while plating achieves much thinner coatings (between 0.1 and 0.3 microns).
With respect to its durability, gold plating has much greater durability and resistance than plating, allowing to obtain jewelry of much higher quality. It should be noted, however, that both types of plating wear over time due to contact with sweat, colognes or water, so both types of jewelry should be taken care of.
With regard to its reversibility, plating can be easily removed as long as the metal on which the coating has been applied is smooth and has no relief. The plating, on the other hand, is not so simple, since it would require scraping the metal to remove it.
As far as price is concerned, the secret lies mainly in the amount of gold used. Therefore, since the amount of gold used in plating is much greater, it seems understandable that the price will be higher.
4. Recommendations
First of all, when buying jewelry, one of our main recommendations is to ask the experts. When you go to buy something, make sure if you are looking at a gold plated or gold plated case so that you can buy with a conscience, paying what the jewel truly deserves.
Secondly, pay attention to the karat of the gold with which it is plated: the more karats, the more valuable and better quality the jewel will be!
Also, keep in mind some of the tips that we gave you in the post 8 tips to buy quality jewelry as you buy from local productions, in trusted places and always keep in mind that quality is paid.
Finally and more important than anything else, take good care of your jewelry! As we mentioned before, whether it is plated or plated, both wear out, that is why it is so important to take good care of the jewelry and try to keep it in the least possible contact with lotions, soaps, colognes or other products that can damage them more quickly.