What is Gold Plated?
Gold Plated is a process that occurs when metals such as silver, brass, copper, steel are glued to the base metal with a thin layer of gold. It has been maintaining its place in the jewelry industry for many years. We see gold plating a lot in jewelry such as earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings, chains. Generally, jewelry is made of 8k, 14k, 18k, 22k and 24k karat gold plated. It is preferred a lot because it is more economical than gold. Jewelry prepared with great care and labor is both flashy like gold and difficult to distinguish.
What is the Gold Plated Process? How is it done?
Although the gold plating process is simple, it is a process that has many stages. In the meticulous process, it is necessary to clean the jewelry to be coated first with ultrasonic cleaning, steam cleaning and electro cleaning methods. Because it needs to be cleaned from dirt and oils that may form on it. The importance of this stage will allow the coating to be done in a better way. Then the top of the base metal is thinly coated with high-quality nickel. Nickel-plated jewelry will prevent gold liquids from contaminating the base metal at a later stage. Finally, the jewelry is immersed in containers filled with gold, and a positive electric charge is used to fuse the gold onto the base metal. After all the procedures, the process of hanging the jewelry in a place to dry is started.
Is the Gold Plated Made with Real Gold?
Gold plated also uses real gold, but when very little gold is used during plating, they do not carry the value of gold. There is a degree of purity in gold-plated jewelry, as well as under it. Generally, 8k, 14k, 18k, 22k and 24k purity grades are available. The higher its purity, the more its color resembles gold.
How to Understand Gold Plated?
Although it is difficult to distinguish at first glance, we can say that it is more affordable than gold. In addition, jewelers can also tell by dripping a few drops of nitrite acid on the jewelry and looking at whether there is a color change.
Does the Gold Plated Darken?
As with many other jewelry, there may be a decrease in the brightness of gold-plated products after a certain period of time. There are many reasons that cause this. Deformations can occur as a result of contact with perfumes, detergents, chlorine and other chemical substances. If gold-plated jewelry is stored in proper conditions, it will not tarnish for a long time.
Does Gold-Plated Silver Tarnish?
Stored in proper conditions, your silver jewelry retains its shine for a long time. In everyday life, chemical influences - perfumes,chlorine,detergents, etc.- there may be decreases in brightness when exposed. In addition, due to the sweat formed in the body, changes in the darkening time may occur depending on the person. However, these changes are deformations that occur on the surface of the silver and do not affect the silver itself.
How should Gold-Plated Silver Be Stored?
How to store silver jewelry is perhaps one of the most curious questions. When you are not using your silver jewelry, it should be stored in an airless and moisture-free box. Because silver jewelry left in damp and open air darkens due to sulfur, sulfuric and hydrogen in the air.
How to Polish Gold-Plated Silver Jewelry?
Cleaning your jewelry with substances such as toothpaste, baking soda can cause situations such as scratching your jewelry. The granular structure of the tooth paste and the dry application of carbonate to your silver jewelry can cause scratches. For this reason, the use of products produced in liquid, cream and spray forms produced for silver polishing purposes will be a healthier choice for your silver jewelry. In addition, silver polishing cloths will also help you polish your silver jewelry without the need for any other products.