Core Material

• Sterling silver is relatively soft, malleable, and easily damaged-not suitable for jewelry. To prevent deformation or damage, silver is used in combination with other metals to make it more durable. 925  silver is the most common alloy mixture in jewelry. It must contain at least 92.5% pure silver, but the other 7.5% can be any metal.
• Usually, the alloy is copper. Experiments over the centuries have shown that copper is the best companion for silver without affecting its beautiful color. A small amount of copper added to the pound has little effect on the value of the metal. Instead, the price of sterling silver is subject to the labor of making the product, the skill of the craftsman, and the complexity of the design.
• Common uses of 925 silver in the necklace, because of its lightweight and durability, pure silver is one of the most popular alloys among artisans. Similarly, jewelry made of sterling silver is usually plated with rhodium or gold to give it a bright appearance and thus more scratch resistance.

Surface Plating

Gold plating is a process where a thin layer of gold is bonded onto a base metal. Plating is quite common in the jewelry world, with gold and rhodium being two popular types. This process was invented by an Italian chemist, Luigi Brugnatelli in 1805, the first person to plate a thin coat of gold onto silver. Gold plating is commonly used for costume/fashion jewelry or to mimic more expensive pieces.

•  What metals can be gold plated?
  Gold plating can be done on most metals, such as nickel, brass, stainless steel, silver, and copper. Modern industrial metals such as tungsten and titanium are also frequently gold plated. Of these, silver and copper are the most commonly used.
• Is gold plated real gold?
  Yes, gold plating is real gold but because of how little gold is used, such jewelry doesn’t hold the value of gold.
  The purity of the gold used in gold plating ranges just like solid gold. The lowest purity is usually 10K and the highest is 24K gold. When it comes to gold plating, the main difference in these types of gold is the color it produces rather than in the value. The higher the purity of the gold, the more gold-like the color is. However, the value doesn’t change much because of how little gold is used, regardless of the purity levels.
• How thick should gold plating be?
  Gold plating can range in thickness between .03 to 2.5 microns.
  The gold plating of value and the main benefit is that the plating lasts longer when it’s thicker.
• Does gold plating fade and tarnish?
  Gold plating can fade and tarnish over time, losing its initial luster and brightness. This is common and can happen regardless of the quality of the piece. However, many people wonder why gold-plated jewelry tarnishes. After all, isn’t gold an inert metal that doesn’t rust or corrode?
  The best way to deal with tarnished pieces is to have the piece replated when required. How often you need to do this depends on the thickness of the plating, the quality of the piece, the color of the base metal, and how much wear and tear the piece sustains.
• Is gold plate hypoallergenic?
  This depends on the thickness of the gold and whether the piece contains metals that cause allergies, like nickel, zinc and cobalt.
  In general, gold plating is not hypoallergenic and can cause skin reactions for people with metal allergies. This is because of the nickel content that is in the piece. When the gold layer wears down or flakes off, the nickel in the jewelry comes into contact with your skin, causing reactions.
  Electroplating is environmentally friendly and non-allergenic is one of our most important requirements for product quality. We can provide third-party test reports and internal laboratory test reports.

Care Tips

• Avoid rubbing the gold plating on your ring. For example, constantly washing your hands can wear it off quicker.
• Avoid exposing your jewelry to harsh chemicals. Always take off your jewelry when dealing with chemicals or wear rubber gloves to protect your rings.
• Take your jewelry off when swimming in heavily chlorinated pools as the chlorine can damage the plating. Perfumes and cosmetics can also affect gold plating. Avoid contact with these and wipe away any residue if it does come into contact.