Does Gold Electroplate Contain Gold?
Everybody loves gold. I mean, who wouldn’t? But can everybody afford the luxury of purchasing pure gold? No. An inexpensive alternative was invented, and now everyone can look good wearing gold or its alternative – gold plated jewelry.
Asides from affordability, some people can afford whatever cost or luxury gold throws at them, but the malleability of gold does not allow for it to be made into some object. For instance, 24k gold is almost impossible to make into pieces of jewelry because of its softness. It can easily change shape under pressure. Now imagine wanting to use 24k gold for your furniture or architecture. That wouldn’t end well, which again makes gold plating a better alternative.
But there have been contradictions and questions over the worth of gold-plated jewelry, and people frequently want to know if Heavy gold electroplate is worth anything because people have come to attach the terms inferiority counterfeit to the word “gold plated”. Gold plating is not fake and to explain:
The gold layer on the outside of the jewellery item is real gold. However, since the entire jewellery piece is composed of base metal or metal alloy that is not gold, gold plated jewellery is commonly referred to as fake gold. The gold on the surface is real gold of varying fineness (10K to 24K), but the item’s centre is not gold, and this doesn’t make electroplating fake. Is heavy gold electroplate worth anything?
Pros and Cons of Gold Plating
Everything has pros and cons, even the most beautiful things in the world. We will look at gold plating‘s pros and cons and determine if heavy gold electroplate is worth anything.
Pros
- Affordability:
Gold plated jewelry items are the most inexpensive when comparing them to gold-filled or solid gold jewelry items and because gold plated items are so affordable, more people have begun to buy and wear them.
- They are easier to make to fit into your design and are durable:
Working with pure gold to fit into your designs or architecture poses severe difficulties and it is by far more comfortable to have your objects gold plated instead. Gold plated items are stronger than solid gold items and will last longer. Gold is a very soft and malleable metal; the higher the karat, the softer and more malleable the item is. Thus, it is almost impossible to make an item entirely of 24K. Gold has to either be alloyed with other metals or plated over other base metals for the item to be strong enough to form and shape into jewelry. Thus, a gold-plated item, with a thin coating of gold on the outside, is a great way to have the appearance of gold, while having a strong and durable item of jewelry. Gold plated jewelry can handle the abuse of everyday usage more so than solid gold.
- You never have to worry about trends:
You have made a massive investment in gold, and suddenly, it goes out of trend. You will often have to restructure or reshape the current one, but with gold electroplate, you have nothing of such to worry about. Gold plated jewelry items are best for “in the moment” trends. By having a plated jewelry item of a particular style, you can be a part of the trend, without worrying that you’ve made a massive investment into something that will not last long.
Cons
- It will tarnish over time:
Gold plated items will tarnish over time, though solid gold items will not tarnish at all. Gold plated items have a base metal underneath the gold plate, like copper or silver, which makes the object stronger and less likely to bend, though the metals out of which the object are plated tarnish. In a gold-plated item, the metal beneath the gold plate will eventually come to the surface and become discolored, so it will need to be polished frequently to keep its shine. Gold plated items tarnish because the base metals’ molecules eventually transfer into the thin layer of gold, causing the gold layer to break down.
- It contains a minimal amount of gold:
The gold layer on gold plated items is the least amount of gold compared to gold-filled or solid gold items. Since the gold content is so low in gold plated items, the value is also low.
- Cannot be worn in water
You cannot wear gold plated items in water. Showering with gold plated jewelry or immersing the item underwater for long periods can cause the gold layer to wear off completely.
Is heavy gold electroplate worth anything?
If you’re looking to resell your gold plated jewellery item and want to know if it is worth anything, the truth is that gold plated jewellery items are not worth much. This is because the coating, or layer, of gold on the outside of the item is so thin that there are only a few microns of gold in the plating. Heavy gold electroplate may not be worth much, but it is your best bet to decorate or change the appearance of things generally. Do not get discouraged and just gold plate it.