Jewelry and products made from precious metals have always been an indicator of luxury. Since ancient times, they have been used to add exclusivity to a home and as gifts that show a level of respect and seriousness. Spoons for the birth of a child are in great demand, as a symbol of a happy, satisfying life; figurines covered with gold will always be the center of attention. The value of gifts has been preserved to the present day. But due to the high price, it is not always possible to buy gold products. That is why the technology of plating cheaper silver items with gold was developed. This is an excellent alternative to expensive precious metal, with no obvious differences in appearance, at a more convenient price.
What is golden silver. Why do you need gilding on silver: pros and cons
To create gold silver, two metals are used - 999, 750 or 585 gold, as well as 925 silver, which is the main material.
Gilded jewelry is created as follows: first, the product is made of lunar metal, then it is coated with the thinnest layer of gold. The thickness of this coating is from 1 to 15 microns. A silver stamp is applied to the jewelry, since this is the main metal.
The advantages of this material include the following characteristics:
Visually, the jewelry is no different from gold;
The golden coating does not wear off for a long time with proper care;
Gold-plated silver is much more affordable than products made from gold alloys;
Rarely causes allergic reactions;
The material is excellent for engraving;
Gold plating can be applied an unlimited number of times;
Products made from this material are relatively lightweight and comfortable to wear on an ongoing basis;
The disadvantages of gold-plated precious metal are:
The golden layer inevitably wears off over time;
Things need careful wear and regular care;
High risk of encountering a fake;
Gold-plated products have a pronounced gloss, which is not characteristic of pure precious metal;
Gold-plated silver cutlery
What do you need to know about foreign gilding?
Imported gold-plated products have slightly different markings. The most common sample designations are:
- KGP – gold plating from 12 to 24 carats.
- HGE is an electroplated finish measured in carats.
- Goldmult is a German coating that indicates not only the markings, but also the thickness of the gold layer.
This knowledge will help you decide on the choice of imported gold-plated silver.
Where can you buy gold silver
Products made from this material can be purchased on the “Ozone” and “Wildberry” Internet sites. The largest jewelry boutiques in Russia, such as Adamas, Altyn, Moscow Jewelry Factory, Sunlight, Sokolov, offer a huge selection of coated silver products.
You should definitely not buy gold-plated jewelry second-hand, as this is where you are most likely to encounter a fake.
Jewelry made of silver with gold plated
Before purchasing, you should carefully inspect the jewelry for the presence of a hallmark. Here, in addition to the three-digit hallmark number, there should be an imprint of a woman’s head in a kokoshnik - a sign of the Russian Assay Certificate. Information about the product should be inscribed inside a figure shaped like a barrel.
How to maintain color and shine?
Simple tips will help preserve the color and shine of jewelry; it is recommended to remove jewelry before:
- taking a bath or shower;
- sports training;
- cleaning, washing.
Jewelry should be protected from moisture, so remove it before going to the bathroom or shower. Soap solution can negatively affect the condition of the gilding and damage the coating.
Gold plating is susceptible to friction; over the years, the coating may become thinner, so you should not wear items made of gold-plated silver during active sports.
Aggressive reagents act on the coating, damaging it. As a result, dark spots appear on the jewelry, which will be difficult to get rid of.
Proper care will help preserve the color and shine of the product; for this you will need:
- Suede leather.
- Ethanol.
- Vinegar.
Suede is used to polish jewelry; this can be done immediately after cleaning or instead of it.
In any case, the silver layer cannot be damaged, but the gold plating may wear out when in contact with aggressive agents, so jewelry should not be immersed in solutions with soap, salt and soda.
Candy bowl made of silver with gilding of individual parts
You can wipe the product with alcohol, first apply it to a cotton pad or lint-free cloth.
Dip jewelry into a solution of vinegar and water for no more than 20 minutes if the contamination is severe. If routine cleaning is required, you can simply wipe the metal surface with a cloth soaked in a vinegar solution.
Alcohol adds shine, but the products can also be placed in beer, for which one glass of this drink is enough. Decorations are immersed in beer for 15–20 minutes, no more.
Table: cost of gilded silver jewelry
The table below shows average prices for the most popular jewelry. Their main alloy is always lunar metal 925 marking, and the sputtering sample may vary.
If there are inserts in the form of precious minerals, the cost increases significantly. The price is indicated in rubles.
| Gold plating sample | |||
| Product | 585 | 750 | 999 |
| Earrings | 1000-2000 | 1000-5000 | 2000-2500 |
| Ring | 700-2000 | 1000-2500 | 1500-3000 |
| Bracelet | 2000-5000 | 2000-5000 | 3000-11000 |
| Chain | 1500-5000 | 2000-7000 | 3000-15000 |
Buy gold-plated silver in the online store inexpensively. To find out the current cost of one gram of alloy in the most popular online jewelry stores, it is convenient to use the table:
Silver gilding methods
A decorative coating can be applied to the surface of a precious metal in various ways. Gilding methods were known in ancient times; sputtering was applied to church domes, dishes, and decorative items.
Ancient “fire gilding” was carried out using gold and mercury. This method was abandoned because the toxic fumes often led to the death of workers.
Now spraying must meet international standards in quality and color.
There are many methods of applying gold plating, for example, using a special paint, applying precious metal foil or spraying with metallization. Modern technologies are usually based on the principles of electroplating.
Mechanical gilding
This method is used in cases where the decorative function of the surface does not play a key role, since achieving a uniform surface layer is quite difficult.
- First, a special paste is made, which contains blood salt, crystalline sediment of wine, crushed chalk, and gold chloride.
- The surface of the product is thoroughly degreased, and the finished paste is applied in an even layer.
The resulting layer usually has a small thickness, so the coating will need to be renewed periodically.
Electrochemical gold plating
The electrochemical method has a number of advantages over other methods:
- Can be applied to products of any size;
- The coating will have a uniform structure;
- It is possible to control the layer thickness;
- The coating will have an additional wear resistance resource;
Gilding of silver products
This technology is a galvanic method of applying precious metal to the surface, which is carried out in three stages:
- The surface is thoroughly degreased, sanded with sandpaper or using a machine.
- The product is immersed inside a galvanic bath. Extreme temperatures and the required current density are maintained automatically.
- When the product is covered with a gold film, it is subjected to final processing.
During the process, cyanide electrolytes are used, which are extremely toxic.
It is possible to gild silver at home, but this will require rare reagents, special equipment, and protective clothing. It is worth considering that during work, harmful vapors will be released into the air, so all operations should be carried out with running ventilation or in the open air.
Service life of gilding
Practice shows that when wearing a product every day, the gold layer wears off by about 1-2 microns per year.
The service life of the entire layer will depend on its thickness and regular maintenance. Typically, gold-plated silver jewelry lasts from 3 to 10 years.
Which products hold gold plating longer?
Gold-plated earrings, pendants, and pendants will last longer because they do not come into contact with water, hygiene products, or are not subject to regular physical impact.
With constant use, the precious layer will most quickly begin to peel off on rings and dishes.
It is recommended to purchase jewelry that has less contact with the skin than others.
Care: how to extend the life of gilded silver
You can extend the service life and maintain the attractive shine of your jewelry by following simple rules:
- Products must be removed before visiting a bathhouse, sauna, or gym.
- Do not allow jewelry to come into contact with household chemicals. Cleaning should be done with rubber gloves.
- It is recommended to protect products from mechanical damage and avoid intense friction.
Unfavorable factors for gilding
The following factors can significantly shorten the life of the gold-plated surface:
Humidity
You should definitely not wash your hands while wearing gold-plated rings or store jewelry in places of high humidity. The spraying will begin to wear out many times faster if it comes into systematic contact with water.
To store items, it is recommended to purchase a box lined with soft fabric or jewelry bags. You can put chalk or silica gel fillers inside to absorb excess moisture.
Chemistry
Many cleaning and washing products, as well as cosmetics, contain aggressive reagents that will promote oxidation of the alloy.
Gold and silver are inert, but are not used in their pure form. The additives included in the alloy are oxidized by contact with chemistry, which can lead to the formation of plaque and a change in the tone of the entire product.
Sweat and friction
Changes in the human body, such as hormonal changes, illness, and medications, lead to toxic sweat secretions. Substances that sweat contains react with the precious metal, causing it to oxidize.
Abrasion of gold plating
Regular friction against the skin or a hard surface accelerates the abrasion of gilding.
Jewelry Sokolov - reviews
Olga
my order arrived in 10 days!! delivery was arbitrarily postponed from 7.01 without notification!! on 15.01 it was postponed again without my knowledge, although I called 3 times a day! I have never seen such a boorish attitude! You are the most irresponsible and unreliable company that does not cares about the consumer! you disgraced me and yourself!! I had nothing to give to the birthday boy, everyone relied on this order and I called 4 days in a row, but the operators only said that they knew nothing and could not do anything!! and DPD I was told that it was my own fault, I should have called and agreed with them somehow separately?? The order arrived only after the decision to cancel it. The products are in torn bags and a torn bag!! I’m attaching a photo! then look!! I will never cooperate and do not recommend it to anyone!!!
Basil
They don’t go to the meeting, they didn’t guess the right size, they don’t change. They don't answer the phone, whatsapp doesn't answer
Oksana
I bought a gold watch in Sokolov, but it doesn’t work, I returned it to the store, they wrote a complaint about how it will end, we don’t know, but my mood is spoiled and so is my desire to buy
Yana
Same problem, I bought a silver chain for my child, it didn’t just turn black, the color of the silver peeled off and turned copper.
Louise
I have a similar story. I bought a chain for my son's birthday. After wearing the chain for a month, it turned into something terrible... The chain turned black!!! It’s impossible to wear... I went to the store. They sent it for examination. The answer was not in my favor. They said that we swam in it.
Svetlana
Why do they send gifts? On the site they promise a gift at a price of 10,000 rubles, but the sellers push pendants for pennies and don’t want to talk, they come out with negativity. I really regretted going.
Regina
For my birthday, I ordered a silver chain with a diamond cut and a treatment that provides protection against blackening for a young man. After 2 weeks, the chain not only turned black, it looks like tattered cheap jewelry, it’s a shame to wear it! I wrote a request for a return, but judging by the reviews, I assume there is no need to expect a refund or replacement. Moreover, my review was not published on the official website because, as the customer service manager told me, “only justified reviews are published.” I must admit, I don’t understand what could be a greater justification than the attached photographs, but apparently for the SOKOLOV company they are justified = positive. Disgraceful. There is no place for such companies in the jewelry industry. I don't recommend it to anyone.
Julia
I bought a silver chain for a 5 year old child. Oh, if only I had read the reviews first... I would never have bought a product made of an unknown metal, which is unashamedly called 925 sterling silver, plated with rhodium. On the 2-3rd day of wear, the chain faded, and then completely became almost black. The store, naturally, refused to give a refund, although I have a receipt with a 6-month warranty on the product. They say that this is not a manufacturing defect, but exposure to chemicals. What chemicals? The child carried it for two weeks! I understand that silver tarnishes over time, but not two weeks before it becomes black (it is also rhodium-plated). Perhaps costume jewelry from the Sokolov company is nothing, but I don’t advise anyone to buy “gold” and “silver” from this company.
Lydia
Disgusting quality of silver, no, I bought the chain, the quality is rusting, the quality is crap, the iron is varnished. The Sokolov company is crap, I don’t advise anyone to buy everything is fake
Evgeniya
The store sends spam and refuses to remove the phone number from the mailing list! Sokolov.ru service is terrible!
Inna
I bought a chain, it wasn’t cheap, I came home, looked in more detail and was horrified by the quality of the product. The links are all different and are soldered over 1 cm so that they don’t bend. I looked at the price per gram and was stunned at 9,000 rubles per gram. And when I snatched up the chain, I accidentally left it in the bag with the chain. my pendant/suede bag/I called the hotline, explained the situation, they told me that there are a lot of people now, they don’t have time to look! And in the morning I was told that yesterday’s bags should be disposed of and we can’t help you with anything. I’m shocked, they sold a defective chain and also lost the coupon. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I CONTACTED THIS COMPANY, and I will never buy from them again and I WILL NOT ADVISE ANYTHING FROM THEM TO ANYONE THEN BUY
Nata
Low quality assortment! The quality is disgusting: we bought earrings, but had to return them the next day due to an unnoticed defect - the stone was crookedly fastened. Conclusion of the examination: the product has multiple scratches and has been used! Conclusion: the jewelry in the store was defective or used. By the way, the store refused to return the money!
Lyalka
Shopping center Gorod, Lefortovo district
