The truth about plating
Honesty and transparency is the best policy. So if possible, I hope to share some knowledge that I hope will answer questions and stop misleading marketing. Plating is the cheapest way to have gold coloured jewelry without having to pay the hefty price of gold.
Plating does not last, sad, but true. Plating is a very thin layer of gold that can be added to base metals or precious metals like silver. Also, it can tarnish, which has an easy solution, use a polishing cloth. If it doesn’t tarnish, most likely it has another layer of protective plating. Now, theoretically there is nothing wrong with plating. It can completely transform how a piece looks and keep it affordable. The downside is that it will need to be re-plated in a matter of a year or so depending on the wear and tare. That being said, some pieces can last just fine, such as earrings for example compared to rings, since they shouldn’t get damaged. The upside is that pieces of jewelry can be re-plated again, and it is relatively affordable.
There are also different types of gold layers, which I will provide an illustration of.
Ultimately, solid pieces of precious metal are the best buy, if it can be afforded, it is worth it, but not everyone can. That is why I offer some pieces plated, however if requested solid gold can always be an option.
