Resistant, rustproof and brilliant, gold is the star material par excellence. Its pure, top-soft version needs to be combined with other metals to make it stronger. In this sense, the carat is used to estimate the hardness of a piece of gold jewelry. Of course, gold is an expensive material, which is why new and old gold-plated jewelry is becoming increasingly popular. Lesbijouxchics.fr explains the difference between gold and gold plating.
About gold plating
Gold plating is a reproduction of real gold allowing the creation of jewelry at lower cost. In fact, it contains less precious metal than solid gold. The plating process involves applying a thin layer of gold to a piece of jewelry made from a base metal. It should be stressed, however, that a gold-coated metal is not necessarily gold-plated.
Visit gold-plated jewelry such as gold-plated rings or the gold-plated bracelets offered in our boutique are first and foremost designed in a base material, which is generally brass (an alloy of zinc and copper). Brass is highly prized in the jewelry industry for its strength, malleability and natural gold-like color. What's more, brass stands up well to the plating process. What's more gold-plated water-resistant !
It is thus covered with a gold layer at least 3 microns thick (one micron equals one thousandth of a millimeter). Sometimes the gold used to coat brass is mixed with other materials to create different-colored plating.
Read more : Does gold plating blacken?
Gold and gold-plated: the differences
To check the difference between gold and gold-plated jewelry, one of the first points to consider is the punch. On gold jewelry, the hallmark is either a symbol indicating the number of carats, or a number. On a gold-plated ring, for example, the hallmark is square and generally includes the manufacturer's initials and a number indicating the carats of the gold used.
Hardness is also an essential point of difference. A solid gold ring is often softer than a gold-plated woman's ring. As a result, the latter will always appear heavier and harder. Depending on the alloy used to create the 18-, 14- or 9-carat gold, a piece of gold jewelry may be more or less rigid than a piece of jewelry made from another alloy.
It's also worth noting that gold-plated jewelry can lose its lustre over time. This is because the layer of gold applied is very thin and can quickly wear away if not properly cared for. Gold, on the other hand, is a long-lasting precious metal that retains its lustre when properly stored and cared for.
Now you know the difference between gold and gold-plated! While the former is the original metal with impeccable quality, the gold-plated jewelry we offer is more affordable in terms of price.
Read more: What is the value of gold plating?
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