Gilded silver: reviews, principle of application, durability of gilding, care features, recommendations and reviews from jewelers

An excellent way to pamper yourself with jewelry with your favorite gold glitter at an affordable price is to purchase gold-plated silver. Reviews about such products are mostly positive. With proper care, such items last for quite a long time and do not lose their shine. Today we have learned very well how to use gold to decorate other metals. Therefore, it will not be superfluous to familiarize yourself with the features of gilding and its care. Also, for comparison, it is worth considering reviews of gilded silver “Sokolov”, “Sunlight”, “Krasnaya Presnya”.

What is gold plated silver?

Gilding is the application of a thin layer of 999-carat metal. The thickness of this coating is only 5-10 microns. Sometimes a layer is made between silver and gold, for example, from platinum.

A protective coating is applied over the gold, which makes the product more wear-resistant. 925 sterling silver is often used as the basis for jewelry. Reviews of gold-plated jewelry indicate that at first glance it really resembles gold. It's worth paying attention to because it's much cheaper.

Sometimes, to make gilded items more shiny, they are polished using a special agate stone. Not only jewelry, but also cutlery is made from gilded silver. Such table sets are much lighter than regular ones, so they are convenient to use. Gilded silver does not corrode.

Factors affecting the service life and quality of gold plating

For gilding in the CIS countries, they always use metal whose purity is higher than 750. More often they use 999. However, 14-karat gold or 585 carat gold can also be used for gilding. Abroad, 12, and sometimes 8-9, carat metal is often used to make gold-plated jewelry. This greatly affects the durability of the coating and its service life.

For reference! The metal sample determines the final color of the jewelry.

Jewelers believe that the main condition for the quality of a gold plating layer is the fineness of the metal (silver), which cannot be lower than 925. In this case, the applied gold layer should not be less than 42%. To prevent a situation where the gilding quickly wears off, the thickness of such a layer must be over 2.5 microns. Only with the specified parameters will the decoration retain its original shine and appearance for a long time.

Advantages of gilding and methods of applying it

Reviews of gilded silver prove that it retains its original appearance for a long time. International, European and Russian state standards have established 4N color for gold plating. It is worth listing the main advantages of gold plating:

1. Absolutely safe for health.
2. It has an attractive appearance, similar to gold.
3. It is little exposed to external aggressive influences: it does not oxidize, does not corrode.
4. It has a democratic value, much cheaper than gold.

Gilding has been practiced since ancient times. Back then, church domes, cutlery, jewelry and dishes were decorated with precious metal. It was at that time that hot and cold gilding was invented. The cold method involves stamping or gluing thin layers of gold leaf onto silver.

Hot gilding requires fire. Only such gilding turned out to be dangerous because mercury was used for it. Soon they abandoned it so as not to be poisoned by dangerous mercury vapors.

Silver color rhodium plating method

The galvanic method is used in the manufacture and restoration of exclusive jewelry; in some cases, rhodium plating with a thickness of 0.1-25 microns is applied to individual elements of earrings, bracelets and chains made of 925 .

Rhodium is a precious metal with properties similar to platinum; a layer several microns thick protects the silver alloy from external factors and mechanical damage. Rings, bracelets, and chains made of rhodium-plated precious metal are characterized by a bright steel luster.

Types of electroplated gold plating

Today, the main methods of gilding are gilding with sodium, ether solution, and contact with zinc. But the most effective is the galvanic method. It is most suitable for decorating jewelry. To apply gold particles to the surface of silver, it is dipped into an aqueous solution of salts and subjected to electric current. The product to be coated is the cathode, and the anode is gold particles.

If silver jewelry is subject to chemical changes (oxidized), then gold-plated products are protected from them. The gilding process is something like this:

1. Electrolyte is poured into small containers.
2. Gold is dissolved in it.
3. The jewelry is immersed in this solution and left for some time.
4. Oxides begin to settle in a thin layer on the products.
5. Take out the jewelry, wait for it to dry, polish it or cover it with a protective layer.

In industry, electroplating is used to produce a product with a layer of gold. The gold plating can be pink, imitating 585-carat metal. Such products are almost impossible to distinguish from gold ones. There is also a yellow galvanized coating. It contains not only gold, but also nickel. This yellow color resembles pure gold.

Why does the gold plating wear off?

The film that covers silver is thin, it can be damaged under unfavorable factors:

1. Contact with water.
2. Contact with aggressive substances.
3. Improper care of the product.
4. Friction on the surface of the human body.

Silver ring with gold plated

When worn every day, it is worth taking care of the jewelry so that it does not quickly lose its color and shine.

Excessive humidity promotes the oxidation of silver, since this metal is afraid of moisture. High-quality silver is inert, but the alloy is prepared not only from this component; copper and nickel are also used, which are used to dilute the silver. If the alloy contains too much copper or other metals, the jewelry will turn yellow, blacken and become coated.

Aggressive substances or reagents that accelerate the oxidation process are cleaning products, laundry products, and even some cosmetics. Therefore, before dressing for the evening, you should take off your jewelry and put it in a box.

The gilding layer can also wear off due to increased friction, so jewelry should be removed before playing sports.

How is gold plated silver used?

Gold plating is used not only in jewelry. Reviews of gold-plated silver confirm that it can be used in the following cases:

1. Making souvenirs: figurines, boxes, key rings, photo frames.
2. As cutlery: sets, spoons, forks.
3. For creating various silver accessories: cufflinks, buttons, brooches.
4. For the production of unusual, gold-plated equipment: iPhone or MP3 players.

Reviews of gold-plated silver prove that not only people with low earnings buy it. Even some millionaires do not refuse to purchase such items, because it is visually very difficult to distinguish them from gold ones.

Caring for gold-plated jewelry: storage rules

The surest way to protect jewelry from scratches and other defects is to provide them with proper storage conditions. Products that are gilded are especially vulnerable to mechanical, chemical and atmospheric influences, so when choosing a place to keep your jewelry, you should follow three simple rules:

1. The storage location must be absolutely dry. The preferred option would be special cases. Place chains and necklaces separately from each other, first stretching out the links - this will help avoid creases;
2. Under no circumstances should jewelry come into contact with each other, as this can lead to small scratches on their surface;
3. You should avoid exposing your jewelry to direct sunlight to protect the jewelry from fading.

Naturally, all jewelry should be stored in a place with moderate humidity, isolated from precipitation, chemicals, alkalis, etc. By ensuring proper storage conditions, you can protect your gold-plated jewelry from damage and simplify its further care as much as possible.

Choosing the right gold plated jewelry

So, what do you need to know about choosing gold plated products? The material that is sprayed is of primary importance in this matter. It is important that it is 925 silver. This fact speaks volumes about the value of the product. Sometimes spraying can be applied to aluminum, copper, and tin. Such works are valued even cheaper than silver ones.

How can you determine what kind of jewelry you have in front of you: made of gilded silver or another metal? First, examine the product from all sides, find the brand and markings. To do this, familiarize yourself with silver hallmarks and hallmark standards in advance. In the Russian Federation, the following standards are established for silver: 999, 960, 925, 875, 830, 800. Most often, 925 silver is used for gilding. Since Soviet times, a mark in the form of a barrel has been used on silver jewelry.

Removing gold plating

The easiest way to solve this problem is to take the product to a workshop. But you don’t always want to spend time on this, and then the question arises whether it can be done on your own. For this procedure, two methods can be used: mechanical and electrochemical. Before choosing the appropriate technology, familiarize yourself with all the pros and cons of this method.

Removing gold plating using a chemical method involves using aqua regia. The main objective of this method is to avoid damage to the base metal, that is, silver, while removing the top layer.

This is done as follows. First, all parts where silver is visible are coated with a protective coating. Next, the product is sent to a porcelain cup with aqua regia and heated. The gilding is slowly starting to come off. Once dark spots of silver chloride begin to appear, you need to remove the jewelry from the solution. Then you need to wash it with ammonia and remove the remaining gold plating with a brush.

Silver product before and after gilding

Removing gold plating using the electrochemical method involves using an electrolytic bath and a copper plate. The electrolyte, which in this case serves as the anode, is a 7% solution of potassium cyanide in distilled water. The copper plate is used as the cathode. After treatment, the product is removed from the bath and washed with a stream of water. Remains of gilding are also removed with a brush.

In both the first and second methods, not all of the coating is removed. Removing gold plating at home is completely possible if you purchase: a power supply with adjustable voltage and polarity, battery electrolyte, distilled water and thiourea. Prepare an electrolyte and a glass jar, where you place the anode with decoration and a steel cathode. Apply 3.5 volts to them. Do not open the can during the reaction as hydrogen sulfide will be released.

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.

Purchasing Tips

You can purchase high-quality gold-plated jewelry in jewelry stores, but you need to know some selection rules so as not to be mistaken in the value of the product.

Silver products must have a stamp confirming the hallmark . If it is not there, then it is not a precious metal, but a jewelry alloy coated with gold. Such products are often purchased because they are cheaper, but they quickly deform.

Different types of silver can be used to make jewelry, but experts recommend choosing 925 silver. Products made from it are of much higher quality, so they will last a long time. The percentage of gold plating should be more than 40%.

Cleaning and care rules

There is an established opinion that gilding is short-lived. But proper care and careful use will help you wear gold-plated silver for a long time.

Store gold-plated items in a box. Before water procedures, washing dishes, or playing sports, do not forget to take them off. To give these items a shine, wipe them with a piece of suede. You can clean the coating using a cotton pad soaked in alcohol. Gilding is not afraid of this at all.

A solution prepared from a few drops of ammonia, dishwashing detergent (1 tsp) and 1 liter of water will help improve the appearance of products. Soak the jewelry in this solution for half an hour, then rinse with water and wipe with a soft cloth.

Of course, the best way to clean gold-plated items is to have them professionally cleaned by a jewelry workshop. Don’t be too lazy to give your ring or earrings to an experienced craftsman once a year.

Method for cleaning gold plating

Before you begin cleaning gold-plated jewelry, you need to properly prepare it for the procedure. To do this, gilded objects are carefully wiped with a dry rag - wool, suede, or felt are suitable. To clean off fat deposits, you need to additionally use turpentine or an alcohol solution - a small amount of the chosen product is applied to a soft material or cotton pad and wiped over the jewelry. For final cleaning, alcohol will be enough, but you can use traditional methods:

1. To add shine and remove any plaque, it is recommended to immerse the jewelry in beer for 15-20 minutes and wipe dry. To clean a classic set with this method, 1 glass of drink will be enough.
2. If you rub the gold plating on your jewelry with egg white, the shine will return. To perform the manipulation, you need to separate the protein, moisten a rag or sponge and carefully rub the entire surface. The remains will cover the material with a protective film.
3. Beaten egg yolk with 1 tbsp. sorrel decoction will restore the shine of the jewel. After treating with this composition, you need to rinse the jewelry in water and rub it with a rag.
4. By using wine alcohol, darkened areas on the coating are eliminated and all types of contaminants are removed. To clean, soak a sponge or rag in the product and rub the surface.

Attention! You can use vinegar for items coated with a thin layer of gold, but complete immersion in a 9% solution is acceptable for up to 20 minutes for heavily soiled items. When the duration of the procedure is disrupted, the gilding may wear off. If you plan to do simple cleaning, you can simply wipe it with a sponge or rag.

Jewelry metals lose their shine and brightness of color over time, and the film of gold-plated products is no exception. In order for the coating to be removed from the product, it must be mechanically damaged. If the care meets the standard, then it is impossible to determine by its appearance that the item is classified as silver. When a noticeable stain appears on the jewelry after a short period of use - the gilding in this place has worn off, it is better to return it to the store or take it to a jeweler to check the alloy.

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Silver with gold plated “Sokolov”

The Sokolov jewelry brand offers a large selection of products. Reviews of this company's gilded silver are very good. Many people are pleased with the affordable prices of the products. Jewelry with various stones looks especially beautiful. Reviews of gilded silver “Sokolov” indicate that it shines very beautifully for a long period. The new products are not at all different from gold ones. Some consumers even buy gold-plated engagement rings from this company. The beautiful ring in the shape of a crown received the most positive reviews. Such models are very popular today.

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.

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:

Reviews of gold-plated 925 silver “Sunlight”

Recently, consumers are increasingly choosing silver. Therefore, reviews about gilded silver: whether this coating is erased or not is interesting to know for many.

An excellent company producing coated silver is Sunlight. Earrings are considered the most durable to wear. Many customers wear them without taking them off for several months. Then you just need to wipe them with alcohol and they will shine like new again.

Reviews of Sunlight gold-plated silver indicate that the company constantly holds various promotions with gifts and sends SMS messages to customers with offers. Everyone is pleased to receive a small bonus. Sometimes there are discounts on jewelry up to 50%. The company offers both the simplest models of gold-plated jewelry and more luxurious options.

What not to clean

Let me remind you that gold plating is a soft, delicate coating, so any abrasive products cannot be used. Do not use conventional jewelry or gold cleaning products on gold-plated silver.

They do not work if gold-plated silver items are dirty and can completely ruin them. Do not use sponges, hard brushes, or rough washcloths to clean gold-plated silver items.

Reviews of gilded silver “Krasnaya Presnya”

No matter how sad it may sound, sooner or later any product with gilding will lose its attractiveness. Under the influence of various factors, the gold layer is erased. But before this happens, you will be able to show off chic things that look like real gold for a long time.

Offers many gold-plated products. Often such jewelry is bought by girls who are going on a trip. The gilding from Krasnaya Presnya is of very high quality. These products with a golden coating will not cause any harm to the body; they will not cause your earlobes to swell. In general, we can conclude that gold-plated jewelry from Krasnaya Presnya looks very decent.

What should not be used for cleaning?

The use of any abrasives is strictly prohibited. Even the softest ingredients (toothpaste, chalk) can seriously damage earrings and rings. Gilding can be very thin, so such products erase it.

You should not wash your jewelry with ingredients such as:

1. Chalk (allowed to be used only in thoroughly crushed form).
2. Soda.
3. Powder.
4. Toothpaste.

Why methods for silver and gold are not suitable

Silver, gold and precious metal plating are materials with different properties. Even gold plating can behave differently than gold, which is due to the small thickness of the surface layer, a combination with Ag. When products designed for one type of metal are used for other purposes, they often damage the jewelry.

You should choose universal semi-professional products; the label should indicate that the product is suitable for cleaning gold and silver.