Gold Plated Jewelry: 5 Hidden Flaws You Need to Know

Shiny gold-plated jewelry always catches the eye, but is it really as perfect as it looks? From durability to health risks to environmental impact, traditional gold electroplating has its share of problems. Luckily, modern PVD coating offers a more durable and eco-friendly alternative. This article dives into the flaws of gold-plated jewelry, highlights the benefits of PVD, and shares practical tips for buying and maintaining it.

1. Poor Durability

Scratches & Peeling

Gold plated jewelry catches the eye with its shiny look, but the shine doesn’t last long. The usual gold electroplating process uses an electroplating machine to put a super thin gold coating on silver, copper coated, or cheap alloy bases. The film is only 0.5 to 2 microns thick, nowhere near as tough as 24 karat gold jewelry or gold vermeil meaning. When you wear gold plated rings or a gold plated chain every day, they rub against hard stuff like keys or tables. Scratches show up fast, and in bad cases, the coating peels off, showing the silver coating for jewelry or alloy underneath. That makes it look cheap real quick.

Weak Against Sweat & Moisture

Gold electroplated layers can’t handle water or sweat well. Showering, working out, or sweating in summer speeds up corrosion, dulling gold-plated pendants or earrings. If the base metal is low-quality alloy, it breaks down even faster, and the jewelry might lose its shine in 1-2 years, like outdated fast fashion. Buyers of gold-plated silver necklaces often overlook how fragile they are, thinking a low price means high style. But in real life, constant wear and fading disappoint.

2. High Health Risks

Allergy Concerns

The allergy risk with gold plated jewellery comes mostly from the base material. Many cheap gold plated necklaces, gold plated stud earrings, or gold plated bracelets use nickel or copper alloys as the underlying metal. The gold electroplated layer is super thin. When it wears off, nickel or copper touches the skin directly. Nickel is a big allergy trigger. Studies say about 10-15% of people are sensitive to nickel. Wearing these can cause redness, itching, or rashes, especially in hot summer months when sweat makes it worse.

Sensitive Skin Needs Caution

Chemical residues are a problem. The metal plating process can leave behind acidic solutions or cyanide. These can seep out with sweat and irritate the skin. Allergic reactions might not show up for months. This makes it hard for buyers to link the issue to their gold plated silver bangles.

People with sensitive skin need to be extra careful. The electroplating process isn’t like the PVD coating process, which happens in a clean vacuum technology setting. Plating can introduce irritating chemicals. When buying a gold plated mangalsutra or jhumka earrings, go for products labeled as hypoallergenic jewelry. Or make sure the base material is stainless steel gold jewelry or titanium to cut down on health risks.

3. Tough to Maintain

Gloss Fades Fast

Gold-plated jewelry drives people nuts because it fades fast. The gold coating doesn’t hold up well against sweat, cosmetics, or humid air. Stuff like perfume, soaps, or skincare products can speed up corrosion. A gold plated choker necklace or gold plated rings might look dull in just a few months, showing the silver or alloy underneath, which screams cheap. On the other hand, an 18k gold necklace or gold vermeil, with more gold content, fights corrosion way better.

Cleaning Struggle

1. Tedious Process: Gold electroplated jewelry picks up grease and dust easily. You gotta clean it regularly with mild jewelry cleaner and a soft cloth. This bumps up the maintenance cost, especially if you’re using a gold plating machine.
2. Risk of Damage: Soap water can leave residue behind. Acidic cleaners might wreck the coating. Rubbing too hard can even scratch your gold plated long necklace.

Gold plated hoop earrings or a kada worn often need cleaning more frequently, which takes time and effort. Over time, tiny scratches and oxidation pile up. The shine turns dull, and the jewelry can look blotchy. It’s tough to keep that original sparkle.

4. Poor Value

Zero Scrap Value

Gold plated jewelry looks like a budget-friendly deal, but its value for money is low. The gold plating has barely any gold content, making its recycling value pretty much zero. The base material is usually copper coated or cheap alloys, and once it wears out, you just toss it. On the other hand, 24 karat gold jewelry or gold vermeil holds value because of its higher gold content. Whether it’s a gold plated necklace set or earrings for women, once they’re worn out, recycling centers won’t even bother looking at them.

High Maintenance Costs

• Frequent Cleaning: A gold plated bracelet or silver chain might lose its shine in under a year. You’ll need special cleaning solutions and soft cloths, which adds up. People end up searching for a gold covering shop near me.
• Replating Costs: When the plating wears off, professional gold electroplating is needed. The gold plating price can sometimes be close to buying a new piece.

Gold plated silver pendants aren’t a long-term investment. After a year or two, they get splotchy and lose their appeal. By contrast, PVD coated jewelry lasts longer, making it cheaper overall.

5. Big Environmental Impact

Serious Pollution

The production of gold plated jewelry harms the environment a lot. The metal plating process uses toxic chemicals like cyanide and nickel. When making mens gold plated rings or a choker, if wastewater isn’t treated right, it can pollute rivers and soil. In 2019, an Asian plating factory got attention for dumping waste that caused heavy metal levels in nearby water to spike. Also, a gold electroplating machine uses tons of electricity, so the carbon footprint is a big deal.

Hard to Deal with After Disposal

1. Tough to Recycle: Gold plated stud earrings or a chain with pendant have a mixed structure. The gold covering jewellery layer is too thin to extract, and the base material doesn’t break down easily.
2. Pollution Risk: Low-quality plated products might have chemical leftovers that leak into soil and worsen pollution, which ties to the gold plated meaning.

A discarded gold plated pendant set can linger in landfills for centuries, becoming an environmental burden. Consumers often overlook the ecological cost when buying gold plated imitation jewellery, but these hidden impacts pose serious long-term harm to the environment and communities.

Better Alternative

Instead of picking gold-plated jewelry with all its issues, go for PVD coating on your jewelry. PVD uses magnetron sputtering, a high-precision coating tech, in a vacuum technology setup to deposit metal atoms. This creates a tougher coating than gold electroplated pieces. A gold PVD coating is three times harder than regular gold coating, resists scratches and corrosion better, and lasts 3-5 years. It’s perfect for PVD coated stainless steel jewelry you wear every day.

PVD coated jewelry looks way better too. Regular gold coating has a flat color and fades fast. PVD, with its sputter deposition, gives a bright, even gold shade that’s close to 24 karat gold ornaments. You can customize it for rose gold, white gold, or black gold vibes with PVD finishing. A gold plated long necklace or hoop earrings done with PVD keeps its shine longer and looks high-end, great for all sorts of occasions.

Four Key Benefits of PVD

• Durability: Resists wear and tear, great for daily use with PVD coated stainless steel.
• Low Allergenicity: Uses titanium nitride coating, gentle on skin for hypoallergenic jewelry.
• Eco-Friendliness: Vacuum-based PVD coating process cuts down on chemical pollution from PVD finishing process.
• Low Maintenance: Easy to clean, just wipe with a soft cloth for PVD coated jewelry.

PVD gold jewelry might cost more upfront, but its durability and low maintenance make it a better deal over time. A gold plated kada made with PVD coating process runs about 10-20% pricier than electroplated stuff, but it lasts years longer, saving you the hassle of constant replacements or cleaning. When shopping at a gold jewellery shop near me, ask about PVD gold jewelry options for a better experience.

Electroplating vs PVD Processes

The table below compares electroplated gold and PVD coated gold to help you choose fast:

Tips for Buying & Maintaining

To avoid issues with gold plated jewelry, keep these tips in mind when shopping:

• Go for PVD process: Check labels for terms like PVD coated or vacuum technology to ensure the piece is durable and safe.
• Check the base material: Pick items made of stainless steel or titanium, and steer clear of nickel alloys.
• Stick with trusted brands: Buy PVD coated jewelry made with well-known PVD equipment like Foxin. Look for certifications showing durability or low-allergy features.
• Choose based on occasion: For daily wear, go with PVD plated stainless steel pieces. For special events, consider gold vermeil or an 18k gold necklace.
• Care tips: Wipe PVD coated jewelry with a soft cloth. For gold plated pieces, use a mild cleaning solution and avoid acidic stuff. Store them in a sealed bag to keep them safe.