9 THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN BUYING A GOLD PLATED CHAIN
Gold plated chain jewelry comes in a multitude of quality levels, mainly determined by the concentration and pureness of said gold plated chain or jewelry. If you're considering buying gold plated chains, you need to continue reading this post to identify 9 factors that you must take into account. Doing so would help ensure you that you've bought authentic gold plated chains and not otherwise.
What Is Gold Plating?
It is a method of gluing a thin coating of gold upon a base material. In the jewelry industry, electroplating is commonly in use and favored. Rhodium and gold are the two most popular metals. An Italian scientist named Luigi Brugnatelli created electroplating in 1805 by encasing a light coating of silver or gold.
Plated gold jewelry is frequently used to try and emulate designer labels or perhaps more expensive items which are not commonly accessible. It is almost impossible to distinguish between the intricately prepared and treasured electroplated jewelry and the incredibly expensive gold plated chain jewelry.
Things That You Should Consider
1. How Close Is It To Solid Gold
One of the most important questions that need answering when purchasing a gold plated chain is whether this is solid gold or gold plated chain. With so many different terms for gold jewelry, it can be hard to determine exactly what you're looking to buy, how valuable your pieces are, and how to care for them.
The most costly other option is solid gold chains, and they're also the strongest and also most reliable. Hollow chains are far less costly, and they have a potential flaw: they are easily broken or dented, and if this occurs, they are costly to fix.
2. Will The Gold Plated Chain Damage?
Gold plated chains can fade and discolor over time, losing their luster and splendor. This is pretty standard, and it happens irrespective of component quality. Nevertheless, countless people are perplexed about why plated jewelry becomes black.
Gold, then again, is a non-corroding and non-rusting material. The typical issue is not really the protective layer itself but rather the base material, which is prone to wear and oxidative stress. The base metal molecules will move onto the thin layer of gold and alter its image over time. The color fades and appears to have rapidly darkened if the gold layer becomes too thin.
To protect the metals' base from distorting the image of the gold-plated chain, the jewelry must first be nickel-plated.
3. What Metals Can Have Gold Electroplated On Them?
It can be plated on various metals, including nickel, stainless steel, brass, copper, and silver. Gold is commonly plated on metallic materials used in advanced industrial settings, such as titanium and tungsten. Copper and silver are probably one of the most commonly used materials.
4. What Is The Thickness Of The Plating On The Gold Pated Chain?
Gold-plated chains or jewelry can have a thickness ranging from 17 to 2.5 microns. Gold electrolysis, also known as gold polishing, refers to a 17-layer coating. The protective film is very thin. To protect jewelry pieces, including such necklaces and jewelry, from excessive heavy wear, only 0.05 % gold is advised. The coating's layer wears out speedily. Between 0.5 and 1.0 microns is the optimum layer thickness. Heavy gold plated chain refers to a coating that is thicker than two microns.
5. How Often Will You Wear The Gold Plated Chain
If you want to wear a gold-plated chain regularly, you should look for a sturdier and more resilient option, and you must undoubtedly avoid hollow chain designs because they aren't as solid.
6. What Kind Of Clasp Does The Gold Plated Chain Have?
Lobster clasps are widely known because they are simple to withdraw, more reliable, and less commonly to snatch up on garments. Make absolutely sure the gold plated chain has a secure and difficult-to-break buckle.
7. Is The Plating Permanent?
It is expected to be permanent in during surface coating; even so, as with all coating types, wear and fading accumulate over time. If the layering process is finished correctly, it will last a lot longer. When dealing with besmirched parts, it is ideal to have them reprocessed regularly. The severity of this system is described by the film thickness, quality of the product, base material color, and how damaged and tattered the component is.
8. How Many Carats?
When selecting a karat for your gold plated chain, remember that if you plan on wearing your gold plated chain every day, avoid 22Kt and 20Kt pieces, which damage more seamlessly than 14Kt and 10Ky gold plated chains, which seem to be harder due to the increased percentage of non-gold alloys.
The much more popular method of gold is 14kt gold, composed of 14 components of gold and 10 sections of alloy.
The alloy is just what helps make the gold wearable daily. In fact, 10kt gold is much more sturdy.
9. What If A Pendant Comes With It?
To be comfortable wearing a pendant or medallion, you need a chain that can bear the load of the charm while not overpowering it.
It is an essential consideration because it can significantly influence the type of chain you wish to buy.
Key Takeaway!
After learning about all the factors to consider before buying a gold-plated chain, there's just one last thing to consider.
Is there a trade-in rule at the store? If so, you can always sell it and update it later. We just wish you get your money's worth.
So well, now you have the 9 most important considerations when purchasing a chain! The next dilemma is whether you should get a matching bracelet or not?!
If you're looking for contemporary designed jewelry options, browse through our extensive collection at Daddy's Chainz.
Meta Description: Looking to purchase a gold-plated chain for yourself? Well, here is an excellent guide to considering 9 factors when buying a gold-plated chain, including whether the necklace is solid gold, the karat, and the type of links used.