Pros And Cons Of Gold Plated Jewelry (The Guide You Need!)
For ages, gold metal has been used as one of the safest investment tools among people. Besides, it is found to work well with all types of outfits. Be it a contemporary event or a traditional one, the availability of a wide range of gold jewelry pieces allows both men and women to look elegant. But, the only issue with gold is that it comes at a higher price. This is why not many people can choose to wear real gold. But there is a feasible option to overcome this issue – gold plated jewelry. This kind of jewelry mimic real gold but comes at a much lower price.
Many times people don’t understand the difference between gold plating vs solid gold. In this post, you will get to know what does gold plated mean and how you can differentiate between real gold and gold plating. Apart from this, if you have questions like does 18K gold plating tarnish, how to buy gold plated jewelry online, you will get the answers here in this post.
What does gold plated mean?
A piece of jewelry is said to be gold plated if additional metal, in this case liquid gold, is applied on top of the original metal. Gold-plated jewelry is far less expensive than jewelry made of actual gold because of the extremely thin coating of gold plating. The term "gold plated" is another moniker for the metal.
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What is difference between gold plated and gold filled?
The primary distinction between gold plated and gold filled jewelry is the thickness of the gold coating in gold filled jewelry, which makes it more durable.
You must understand the distinctions between solid gold, gold plated, and gold filled jewelry if you intend to purchase gold jewelry. Solid gold jewelry is constructed entirely of gold, as opposed to gold plated and gold filled jewelry, which have gold exterior layers.
Furthermore, gold plating is a straightforward process with only a few easy stages. The surface of the metal that will be plated, also known as the base metal, must first be carefully cleaned. The base metal's oil or dust will hinder the gold coating from effectively adhering with it. The base metal is then covered with a nickel coating by jewellers. As a result, the gold coating is more shielded from the base metal. The jewelry is then submerged in gold-filled vessels, and a positive electrical charge is used to fuse the gold layer to the metal. Jewelry is dried once the gold coating is sufficiently thick.
Pros of Gold Plated Jewelry
There are many benefits of using gold plated jewelry. Some of them are:
- Affordability
Since this kind of jewelry is made of alloy materials, it is much more affordable than solid gold jewelry. In fact, it tends to cost less than all other gold alternatives like brass, silver, etc.
- Durability
Gold is fairly soft when it isn't combined with other substances. Due of this, gold and alloy are combined to create gold jewelry. Gold jewelry is more prone to harm the less alloy it contains. Gold-plated jewelry is more resistant to harm than genuine gold since it is made of a base material that has been coated with gold.
- Easy Accessibility
In some places, it might be difficult to locate genuine gold jewelry. Although purchasing it online is a possibility, not everyone enjoys doing so. It is significantly simpler to find jewelry that is gold-plated. Additionally, it is available online, at supermarkets, department stores, apparel stores, and jewelry stores.
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Cons
Along with several benefits, there are several downsides associated with gold plated jewelry like:
- Less Value
Gold-plated jewelry is far less expensive than genuine gold jewelry, which is a major drawback. Gold-plated jewelry cannot be pawned, is difficult to sell for a comparable price, and does not increase in value along with the price of gold.
- Thin Coating
Jewelry that is gold plated often has a thin gold covering. It will gradually deteriorate, revealing the underlying substance. When this occurs, you'll need to either buy a new or pay for re-coating.
- Allergens
It's crucial to keep in mind that a lot of jewelry with a gold plating has a basis of copper or nickel. Both have been connected to skin irritability and are allergens. If you have ever had dermatitis, hives, or other similar symptoms, it would be better to stay away from gold-plated jewelry.
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