All about Gold Plating

We have lots of customers, especially the start-up designer enquiring about gold plating!
- How thick of plating should they go for?
- What's a micron and how expensive is gold plating?
- Will the gold plating wear off and how long does it last?
I'll be explaining all the main areas you need to know about plating to set you up in the right direction if you're considering to plate any of your designs and what my customers repeatedly ask us about gold plating their jewelry! :-)
What's the purpose of this channel? Please watch the Channel Introduction - • Video
Visit either our UK or USA website for more information about our jewellery manufacturing business:
www.thaidesignusa.com/
www.thaidesignuk.com/
#jewelrysupplier #jewelrymanufacturer #goldvermeil #platingthickness #goldplating #platingmicrons #jewelrydesign #jewellerymanufacturer #jewellerydesign #jewelleryproduction #jewelryproduction #jewelrydesigner #yellowgoldplating #rosegoldplating #micronthickness

[@remnantsrita18]

This was great I’m in the Caribbean looking at gold. So I got the 24k gold plated service on my silver bracelets. This helped me to understand thanks

[@ape.on.a.rock.6695]

Finally a useful video on gold plating! Appreciate it!

[@jewelrymanufacturingfordes3032]

Thank you!

[@ntsubeats]

You dropped some real gems

[@CelestialFireSun]

Thank you for info. I’m new to all of this and this very helpful to know.

[@Candipants1982]

That is very interesting to know about the different types of gold plating. Thanks!

[@jewelrymanufacturingfordes3032]

You're welcome :-)

[@missfabidia]

Thanks so much for sharing 😊

[@112233445566778899xx]

What an awesome overview. Thank you! Would love to just drop my work some hours to learn from you, going "straight trough the process". The day I achieve the first great results, I'll let you see some photos.

[@chyxz757]

Very informational!

[@AT-gu8by]

Very helpful.

[@AT-gu8by]

Thank you for your explanation.

[@jewelrymanufacturingfordes3032]

You're welcome. Ps I did a video on "What is the cost of creating your own jewellery collection?" last week and it should be uploaded on the channel in 3 weeks (I plan videos ahead of time lol)

[@AT-gu8by]

@@jewelrymanufacturingfordes3032 Oh thank you Kim, that’s great news, I am so looking forward to that one.

[@Alliebedford]

Love your clear and easy to understand videos, can you recommend a gold plating kit. Thx

[@jewelrymanufacturingfordes3032]

Thank you for your kind comments. I am sorry, we wouldn't be able to provide guidance on a plating kit as all our plating is done at specialty plating companies.

[@sherrykelaidis6135]

I learned a lot from you thank you

[@jewelrymanufacturingfordes3032]

Glad to hear it! :-)

[@engshafi780]

Thanks dear for information and i know more experience for plating

[@jewelrymanufacturingfordes3032]

You are welcome!

[@lal4754]

Waw it's very helpful for alienate the gold plating jewellery maintenance...

[@jewelrymanufacturingfordes3032]

Thank you 🙂

[@lal4754]

You welcome 🙂

[@mayamistry100]

Thank you for this. Very useful. I've come across some new dainty jewellery brands that advertise their jewellery to be waterproof. Is this something you do and recommend? And how is this different to what you have explained here?

[@jewelrymanufacturingfordes3032]

Hiya! There are some companies that do e-coating which is a semi-transparent mixture of enameling and plating. I haven't mentioned it because plating is different (a thin layer of new metal put on top of the jewelry). We can offer it but our customers don't ask - they prefer it gold plated but with a thick enough micron so that the gold colour can last longer, hence I stress about the gold vermiel (min of 2.5 microns) in the vid. Personanlly, I don't feel e-coating makes the peice look very natural - but that's just my own personal preference ;-) Hope that helps! Kim

[@schumannspecial]

Thank you ❤

[@andreeasanzianakrauss879]

Dear Kim, thank you so much for all the precious information you share here! So thankful that I have found your channel. Linked to this video: Is there any chance to have an at least around 5 years durability of gold plating even if you use it daily? Like showering with it and doing all this stuff? I read on so many homepages that their gold plated jewels are durable to daily routine like forever but cannot believe this. Would appreciate your professional opinion on this :) Thank you so much!

[@jewelrymanufacturingfordes3032]

Hi Andreea, thank you for question. My Team advises our customers to be careful when looking after Gold plated jewellery in order to maximise its durability. We definitely do not recommend Gold plated pieces to be in contact with water, moisturisers and creams, perfumes or any other kind of products that could damage the plating, as well as direct sunlight (if you are sunbathing, for example). It is quite difficult to advise on the durability of a Gold plated piece as this also depends on the microns (we recommend a minimum of 2.5, but some of our customers plate with 5 microns - especially on rings - to make the pieces last as long as possible). Some brands offer a lifetime re-plate service, where you can send the pieces back to them and they will re-plate them for free or for a fee. Hope this helps!

[@andreeasanzianakrauss879]

@@jewelrymanufacturingfordes3032 Thank you so much for your reply! :)

[@Tippy8888]

I was wondering the same thing!!?? I see a lot of advertising on social media saying you can workout, swim, and sweat in their jewelry, and you never have to take it off. I am going to start selling jewelry, so I was wondering what to say to customers about that???

[@Roro-bu8zk]

Thank you very much for the infos. Your videos are very helpful👌🏽. I just have one question... in 2:49 you said " or gold plating alone"?. What you mean,what is here the base metal? Thank you very much!

[@jewelrymanufacturingfordes3032]

Hi Sisi - so there I meant the majority of our customers would create or order their jewellery in both sterling silver (no plating) as well as sterling silver and gold plating (so their customers can choose to buy silver or gold plated colours) OR some customers would order in just gold plating on silver only, so they wouldn't order any in just sterling silver. Does that makes sense? Sorry - I remember in that video I was improvising and creating half the script on the spot ;-)

[@Roro-bu8zk]

@@jewelrymanufacturingfordes3032 Now i understand. Thank you! :)

[@darlingtonjonesimagery9247]

Good explanations here. As a customer, is there a way to test or find out what's being sold by jewelries? Or do I have to trust them?

[@jewelrymanufacturingfordes3032]

Hi there! You can test to see abou the plating by sending the peice(s) to an Assay Office. where they can test the thickness of the plating through the XRF machine. However, if the layer is too thin, they won’t be able to do it and can only advise once they receive the item. In terms of prices, at the Sheffield Assay Office in the Uk, price can vary from £35 - 75.00 per item. There is definitely a trust element so if you have concerns, ask the company where you bought the jewellery from! Hope that helps x

[@awilburn29]

Hi. I absolutely love the quality of your videos. Do you offer gold-filled as an option? I'm looking for .925 Sterling Silver, 14/20 Gold-Filled and 14k or 18K Solid Gold.

[@jewelrymanufacturingfordes3032]

Thank you for your kind words, we’re happy you enjoy the videos. We don’t offer Gold Filled I’m afraid, only gold plating in a variety of colours, karats and microns.

[@TNVR95]

Great video! I own an emerging jewelry brand and I’m keen to master the art of gold plating. Do you any have recommendations for companies or training institutes that offer comprehensive courses on this? I’d like to learn every aspect so I can handle the process myself. Thanks!

[@jewelrymanufacturingfordes3032]

Thank you for your kind comment! I am sorry, plating courses are not something we have needed to research before, so don’t have any recommendations for you. I hope that you find what you're looking for though.

[@nadahus7326]

Thank you for your explanation ، I am working on establishing a jewelry brand, how can the pieces be tested as being plated with 3 microns ؟

[@jewelrymanufacturingfordes3032]

Thanks for your quesion Nada! In the UK we can send the jewellery to one of the Assay Offices that have the capability of testing the micron thickness using the XRF machine

[@saraiakovakis9523]

I have an 18kt gold plated (over brass) necklace. How do I clean it? The manufacturer suggests with a dry cotton cloth, other sources say use warm water and mild dish soap in a bowl. My necklace feels sticky to me and a cotton cloth has had no effect. I’d be interested in your opinion. Thanks.

[@jewelrymanufacturingfordes3032]

Our suggestion would also be a dry cotton cloth, as anything else might damage the plating.

[@beatlessteve1010]

All other variables being the same ie ph of a persons perspiration, how often they wear it in what weather conditions etc. etc...wouldn't a thicker plating last longer?

[@sachinsonishreejijwellers4356]

Hi mam can you tell how can we make 10 percent gold plating chain or jwellery

[@mileswei2345]

How would you recommend replating a brass ring that no one seems to want to replate?

[@jewelrymanufacturingfordes3032]

It is quite tricky to advise on this without seeing the piece. Maybe seek feedback from the plating companies you have contacted as why they are not willing to plate it. Hope this helps!

[@sinnaj5456]

Hi kim, do you also have the possibility to just use solid gold for a collection?

[@jewelrymanufacturingfordes3032]

Hi Sharlin! Yes we manufacturer a lot in solid gold too.

[@kokosum9695]

Hello 😊 I wonder if you can re gold plate cariter bracelet to restore its shine and scratches?!

[@jewelrymanufacturingfordes3032]

Hi Koko! You should be able to re plate it with no issues. There are a few companies that specialise in this, depending on where you are based.

[@soulburst2107]

Can you tell me if it's possible to increase the thickness of a gold ring and fixing the small scratches through plating? Let's say we have a plain 14 K gold ring which has small scratches on it. Can we fix it by gold plating? On the other hand, I read that the thickness of gold plating is around 1-3 microns. So, if we do gold plating 10 times on a gold ring, would it be thicker by 10-30 microns? Thank you. 🙏

[@jewelrymanufacturingfordes3032]

We plate from 1-5 microns, and we have plated rings at 5 microns before (believe it or not!) Also, sometimes when there is a dent or scratch on the surface, at the factory we would fix it by lasering the area. However plating can be good if one wants to do a large surface area or a whole piece ring. I would recommend higher than 1 microns though if it has scratches, but even fine scratches may not be covered by it and it may be better to get the piece re-filed, polished and potentially plated - depending on the design and defect of course. Hope that helps.

[@ape.on.a.rock.6695]

I ve read something about some companies coating their jewelry to protect the plating. Could you tell us sth about that? Thanks alot :)

[@jewelrymanufacturingfordes3032]

Hello! Yes presumably they use an e-coating to protect the plating. I doubt it's Rhodium plating (which is used more on silver as opposed to yellow gold). Might be worth asking the company directly but that's my guess :-)

[@ape.on.a.rock.6695]

@@jewelrymanufacturingfordes3032 thanks alot :)

[@tommybyrne5745]

Hi thanks for this post , we’re considering god ber-may for rings , however concerned about the effects of hand sanatiser use now with pandemic , do you have any suggestions of how to talk to customers regarding this issue . Thanks

[@jewelrymanufacturingfordes3032]

Thanks for the question. Most of our customers would opt to plate a thicker micron for rings and we haven't been informed of any issues (due to the hand sanitising). If that is something you're concerned about I would suggest 3-5 microns for rings that are plated.

[@tommybyrne5745]

@@jewelrymanufacturingfordes3032 thanks for the reply ,can I have your email adress I would like to look into having some work done

[@jewelrymanufacturingfordes3032]

@@tommybyrne5745 happy to provide quotes. Please email my team directly at [e-mail]. Do look at our website too to get lots of information!

[@RICARDORR18]

Where i can know about more copper plating?

[@frankf2856]

I own a black stainless steel watch can i gold plate it or does it have to be silver stainless steel to apply the plating

[@jewelrymanufacturingfordes3032]

Hi Frank! It should be possible to plate Stainless Steel with gold 🙂

[@celinvadakkan9943]

Whether there is any education course for the this particular gold plating

[@jewelrymanufacturingfordes3032]

We are not aware of any at the moment, but you can check locally depending on where you are based 🙂

[@cjfam5440]

Could you please tell how to gold plate 24 kt gold jewelry

[@jewelrymanufacturingfordes3032]

Hi Cj! There are companies that specialise in plating, depending on where you are based.

[@samarosman3209]

Thank you so much for your valuable information please let me know how to contact you ❤

[@celiacannavino7975]

How can I get I touch with you if I want to get more information?

[@jewelrymanufacturingfordes3032]

Please view our wesbite with all the information required, as well as our direct email address: www.thaidesignuk.com [e-mail]

[@connielamacchia3942]

are gemstones removed with the vermeil process?

[@jewelrymanufacturingfordes3032]

Yes, when we plate , any stones are removed first and then set back in after the plating.

[@stebonblamcard1390]

How much would it be to have the frame of a desert eagle gold plated 1 micron

[@jewelrymanufacturingfordes3032]

We provide this service only in Thailand and for items that we have manufactured for our customers. I would therefore recommend checking with your local plating company. Good luck!

[@griptopia]

cars generally are not being gold plated, they are being wrapped with 3m gold chrome polymer - A few vehicles have been gold plated, however it's very very rare. The wrapping process is way cheaper and any gold cars anyone has seen lately are wrapped not plated.

[@jewelrymanufacturingfordes3032]

Interesting, thanks for that. My point is that the car has been covered in gold - and like jewellery, it’s popular! (though I think looks horrendous!)

[@griptopia]

@@jewelrymanufacturingfordes3032 I hear you , but even wrapping a car in gold... :( the whole point of gold is that it is rare, understated, used wisely. much like your lovely work xx :)

[@user-mf6ip5uf5l]

Hi - If a brand is selling 316L stainless steel 18k gold plated jewellery, what can I expect for the longevity of this piece?

[@jewelrymanufacturingfordes3032]

We do not work with stainless steel as we work with precious metals such as sterling silver, so would not be able to advise sorry. It also depends on how many microns the plating is, as the higher the microns the longer it will last.

[@angelmartins8126]

hi, thanks for sharing. contacted your London office but they came back that your factory could not produce our designs. do you have any email that we could communicate?

[@jewelrymanufacturingfordes3032]

Hi Angel. I'm not able to find your name on our email system to look at your designs, so perhaps you used a different name when you contacted us? Could you please email (to my attention) at: [e-mail] or [e-mail] with your design info and I'll be happy to reply. Thanks, Kim.

[@lisaferrell8934]

Can you gold plate over rhodium?

[@jewelrymanufacturingfordes3032]

You can. Some manufacturers gold plate over plated items which is usually to improve the surface finish of the metal as well as cover up any marks/scratches/discoloration. However, I always find it a little dodgy if a supplier does this consistenty as I'd be concerned about the quality in the casting/polishing in the first instance. If a finished peice of jewellery has little/no marks then there is no reason to have it rhodium plated before the gold plating... You would cut the cost of the RH and go straight to gold plating. Hope that helps. x

[@Lorenzo01x]

Do you think buying gold plated jewelry is good or ok for just normal wear?

[@jewelrymanufacturingfordes3032]

Hey Lorenzo. I would advise ensuring that the peice is at least plated 2.5 microns thick, minimum, especially if its a ring. Best, Kim

[@Lorenzo01x]

@@jewelrymanufacturingfordes3032 Thank you

[@peterknight1320]

can you gold plat true gold

[@jewelrymanufacturingfordes3032]

It is possible yes, however not sure what the purpose would be unless it were white gold and rhodium plated for durability.

[@SonLe-uz5kb]

Can you gold plate on gold?

[@jewelrymanufacturingfordes3032]

Yes, though personally we've never had a customer ask us to do so

[@SonLe-uz5kb]

@@jewelrymanufacturingfordes3032 oh I have a 9ct gold rosary bracelet but is a bit pale and would like it to be a bit more yellow like 18ct gold plating

[@SonLe-uz5kb]

Or is there a better way of making it more yellow

[@jewelrymanufacturingfordes3032]

@@SonLe-uz5kb ​ The plating is a good idea and 18k yellow gold would show a bit more yellow

[@trapstar1998]

@@jewelrymanufacturingfordes3032 should I get 2.5 microns?

[@ecarg0325]

is there gold plating that's not so yellow gold? more like a champagne gold?

[@jewelrymanufacturingfordes3032]

You can request this, however its not standard so could be harder to source.

[@olegpetelevitch4443]

I don't touch it Real deal only ! Save your $ get something worth buying !

[@jewelrymanufacturingfordes3032]

A lot of people can’t afford solid gold, so when it's done right, gold plating is a more affordable option.

[@6496chase]

Okay buy me a 10mm 22" long 14k Solid Gold Miami Cuban Chain!!! 👍

[@olegpetelevitch4443]

I'm a 3rd generation jeweler 54 ! Don't have to buy zip ! I make it 38yrs set ,engrave, polish Goldsmith ! As for buying you any thing GOOD LUCK ! Only real Gold And diamonds the rest is crap ! Or dress rubbish for the poor mans metal at top price by sharks !

[@6496chase]

@@olegpetelevitch4443 LOL 😆