For those on a budget, a gold-plated necklace is a viable alternative to purchasing gold jewelry. It has the same look and feel of gold without the hefty price tag, making it an excellent choice for jewelry that won’t be worn every day.
As with any metal finish, there are differing degrees of quality when it comes to gold plating, with factors including thickness, purity, metal composition, and craftsmanship all playing important roles. After the gold has been plated, it is nearly impossible to identify the difference between real gold and real gold-plated necklaces.
Gold plated necklaces have their drawbacks, just like any other choice. You’re likely to run into problems with fading, tarnishing, and replating.
Do Gold Plated Necklaces Tarnish?
Gold plated necklaces gradually fade and tarnish, resulting in the loss of their original shine and brightness. This is a regular occurrence and can occur regardless of the overall quality of the work. Many people, however, are perplexed as to why gold-plated necklaces tarnish. After all, isn’t gold a non-corroding, inert metal that doesn’t corrode or rust?
Most of the time, the problem is not with plating itself, but rather with the base metal, which is susceptible to corrosive and oxidizing conditions. After a period of time, molecules of base metal gradually migrate into a gold layer, changing the color and look of the layer. Even though the plating is only a thin layer, it will fade and begin to look tarnished very fast.
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As previously stated, this leeching can really be avoided if the necklace is first nickel-plated, which prevents the metals from detracting from the beauty of the gold-plated necklaces. If it is done during plating process, it is unlikely that the gold would tarnish or become brittle.
What is the lifespan of gold plating?
Gold plating is intended to really be permanent, but as with all kinds of plating, it doesn’t hold up well to prolonged exposure to the elements. After a period of time, gold plating begins to deteriorate and flake off, revealing the underlying metal beneath. With time, it too loses its shine and begins to fade. As a general rule, plating can endure for up to 2 years if it is maintained properly.
When dealing with tarnished pieces, the best course of action is to have the necklace replated as soon as possible. The frequency with which you must do this is determined by the thickness of the plating, the grade of the gold necklace, the hue of the base metal, and the amount of wear and tear that the piece has endured.
Are gold plated necklaces worth anything these days?
In addition since the plating on the majority of jewelry is so thin, recovering any gold necklace can be challenging. Many times, gold refineries find that trying to extract gold from the coated necklace is not worth the effort, and the profitability is extremely poor.
As previously stated, a gold-plated necklace has only a little amount of genuine gold in its composition. It is correct that the more the karatage of a necklace, the more genuine gold it contains. However, this still amounts to a negligible quantity of gold in total and does not significantly increase the worth of the piece. When it comes to resale value, gold plating is frequently worthless, and it is best not to think of it in terms of money. When it comes to actual gold content, gold-filled is a better choice than sterling silver.