Gold plated and Gold filled - what's the difference? Every jewelry maker needs to know this!

Friends, since GoldField coated hardware has appeared in our store, it's time to tell you what it is and how this coating differs from the rest.

In the manufacture of jewelry and bijouterie, gold-plated fittings are often used. Such products, depending on the method of coating, are divided into two groups:
- gilded by electroplating ( gold plated )
- goldfield( gold filled )

These concepts apply not only to the coating of products with gold, but also with other precious metals, such as rhodium and silver (rhodium-plated fittings, silver-plated fittings)!

You can also find other designations for these types of coatings. These are all different names for the same process:

- gold plated (or gold electro plate, gold bonded, gold overlay, technibond, gold plate over sterling silver, goldmult)
- gold filled (or rolled gold, rolled gold plate, rolled gold filled).

Let's now dwell on each type of coverage in more detail.

Gold Plated - this means galvanic gold plating (deposition of gold on the surface of another metal using electrolysis). With this method of gilding, the gold layer can be only a few microns or even tenths of a micron - 0.5-8 microns (the thickness of a human hair). Such a coating is weakly attached to the base metal (most often it is brass or silver), fragile and short-lived. The minimum gold content for such coatings is not regulated by the standards. Electroplated fittings are designated by the English abbreviation GP (Gold plated) or GEP (Gold electroplated). Jewelry created using electroplated gold-plated fittings belongs to the category of costume jewelry, i.e. “costume” jewelry, which is recommended to be worn only on clothes, and not on the body, because the mixture of sweat and perfume destroys such a coating very quickly.

Among the fittings of this type , fittings made in South Korea and the so-called fittings Milano Luxproduced in China, Singapore, etc. have proven themselves very well. These factories / manufactories have worked out the process of creating such accessories well and thereby increased their service life compared to cheaper counterparts. With proper care and operation, the service life reaches 2-5 years

Gold Filled is a more expensive and high quality way of gold plating. This is a method that, in literal translation, sounds like “filled gold” (Gold Filled or GF ). This technology is also called cladding. It consists of several stages. First, gold is rolled into a thin layer. Then it, together with the base metal, is heated under high pressure. Adhesion between metals is carried out as a result of diffusion ( mutual penetration of molecules of one metal between molecules of another ) under the influence of joint deformation of a hot billet. The result is a gold coating 10 microns or more thick, forming a strong bond with the base metal.
Hardware Goldfield retains its appearance for decades.

See the difference between the processes in the figure.

So, the main differences between electroplated gold and goldfield:
1) the thickness of the gold layer. If for electroplating the gold layer is approximately 0.5-8 microns, then for goldfield it is 10 microns or more.
2) a very important difference between goldfield and gilding is the presence of an intermediate layer between gold and the base metal. This intermediate layer is actually an alloy of gold and base metal and plays a very important role in the durability of the coating.

Careful care of coated parts is key

How we take care of our metal plated jewelry will have the biggest impact on its lifespan! Remember that any regular contact with perfumes, creams, body lotions will shorten the life of your product. These products start an oxidation process that changes the color of the metal (it darkens) and reduces its layer. Gradually, the layer of precious coating becomes so thin that a layer of the base metal begins to be visible.

Also, the more your piece rubs against clothing or other jewelry, for example, the sooner the gold layer will thin out.

Sweat and sea water are two other great enemies of plating, whether gold or silver. It is advisable not to wet the products, if possible, do not swim in them and wear them on dry and clean skin. They will last longer and look beautiful longer.

I hope I have clarified the most important points about plating and this post will help you in choosing the fittings for your jewelry. I will continue to reveal interesting topics related to the creation of jewelry. If you are in love with jewelry and the process of creating it, just like me, then visit our online store and immerse yourself in the world of jewelry materials.

I will be glad to your comments, write what interests you. Maybe you know even more interesting information related to this topic - I will be glad if you share with the rest.

Anna and MAGNOLIA Bijou