Gold plated jewelry is the most popular choice of jewelry in today's world. One of the main reasons to buy gold-plated jewelry is they are affordable and available in versatile designs. But Is it worth buying gold-plated jewelry?
Many of you have this doubt. This article will help you know their worth and in addition to that, you can learn more about gold-plated jewelry and maintenance.
Gold plated jewelry
First of all, let me tell you what is gold plated jewelry.
It is a coating base metal with a thin layer of gold which resembles a replica of gold jewelry. The base metal can be silver, copper, brass, nickel, stainless steel. Among these metals, copper and silver is the most popular one. Apart from thes they use tungsten and titanium for gold plating.
Thickness
Many of you can think that gold-plated jewelry is fake gold. But that is not the case. The gold used for plating is the real one. But the value of gold-plated jewelry is based on the thickness used for making jewelry.
As per Federal Trade Commission, Jewelry is graded under 0.5 microns is lightly plated and jewelry graded under 2.5 microns is heavy gold plated.
If you find any gold-plated jewelry less than 0.175 microns, then it is gold washed or gold flashed. So, generally, the thickness of gold plating is about 1.7 to 2.5 microns.
The worth of your gold-plated jewelry is based on the amount of gold used for gold plating. It is cheaper than gold-filled jewelry. Generally, 18K and 24K gold are used for this process.
As you know, 24K is the purest one. It is very soft and hard for making jewelry. So if you even use 24K gold for plating, then it is hard to last longer. On the one hand, If you buy 18K gold plated jewelry, It lasts longer and has about 2.5 microns of gold. But it's not worth much like gold jewelry. Also, we can't say gold plated jewelry is fake as it has some gold.
Hallmark
Like gold jewelry, gold plated jewelry is hypoallergenic based on the thickness of gold and base metal. If the base metal is nickel, then there's a risk of allergies when you wear it. If you are allergic to nickel, then avoid buying gold plated jewelry which are metal allergens.
It is based on your usage. If you handle them carefully, then it lasts a year or sometimes even more. Always keep your gold-plated jewelry away from oils, makeup products, and chemicals. Chlorinated and salt water can make it worse, so avoid wearing this when you are swimming or using this water.
Sometimes, sweat can cause damage, so clean it frequently using mild liquid soap. Never use harsh chemicals to clean. If you think you need some help, just contact professionals. They will clean your gold-plated jewelry without any damage.
Pros of buying gold plated jewelry
It is affordable and many designs can match every outfits. Based on the plating, it can go for $5 or more.
Cons
It tarnishes easily and needs careful maintenance.
As gold-plated jewelry is available for low prices, you can buy them. Hope this article helps you. Thanks for reading.
Company: McGee Company Jewelry
Location: Charlotte, NC
Phone Number: +18666243326