How to clean gilding from darkening and restore shine

Cleaning Rules

A gold-plated item is different from silver or gold, so the methods used for them are absolutely not suitable.
Gold plating is very easy to ruin. The first stage of cleaning is the removal of surface dirt - dust, stains, grease. To do this, it is enough to treat the surface with alcohol or turpentine. Gold plating is soft, so it is not recommended to use strong mechanical impact, as there is a risk of damage to the surface. Suede fabric is excellent for care; it adds shine to products and removes stains. To clean a gold-plated watch, sometimes it is enough to treat it with suede. If you need to clean gold-plated silverware, remove any grease from it first.

Before processing, perform the following steps:

Take a clean, dry cloth and wipe the gold with it. Flannel, suede and wool are perfect for this.
Then remove surface dirt.

The gold plating wears off over time. Constant use leads to a gradual thinning of the spray layer. By following some recommendations you can extend the service life. Rules for caring for gold-plated products:

Regularly polish cutlery and decorations using a suede cloth.
Minimize contact with water, perfume and body creams.
Place each product separately, so that they do not touch each other. After each use of jewelry, put it back in place. Distribute each decoration into separate suede bags, and cutlery into special boxes.

Clean regularly, regardless of whether the product has lost its attractive appearance or not.

Jewelry is fashionable and prestigious

Gold plating can be applied to silver or to steel and brass. Gilding is used not only to satisfy aesthetic taste, but also for functionality. Gold is resistant to chemical compounds and corrosion, does not tarnish, and does not cause allergies. If gold plating is applied to base metals, then the jewelry acquires the status of jewelry.

The price of gold-plated products depends on the application method, thickness and purity of the gilding. Thanks to innovative technology (electroplating), gilding has acquired special strength and resistance to abrasion. To apply gilding, the hot rolling technique (gold filled) is used, when gold foil is applied, or tinning (gold soldered). Rolling gold foil is only suitable for flat products, and tinning in gold is not cheap.

Jewelry can have inserts made of precious and semi-precious stones, zirconium, crystal and enamel. Swarovski crystals are very popular. Austrian rhinestones are distinguished by their special shine and extraordinary purity. The play of light on them is simply mesmerizing and captivates the eye for a long time.

Buy a chic piece of jewelry and feel like a real queen - today any fashionista can afford it. The price of jewelry and gilded silver allows you to constantly change pendants and rings, matching them to certain clothes and according to the situation. Today, costume jewelry is especially popular. Not only women, but also the male half of the population wear it with pleasure.

A gilded spiral chain with an original pendant emphasizes the man’s individuality, and a ring with agate emphasizes his seriousness. Massive jewelry made of stainless steel with partial gilding looks very courageous. Even the well-known jewelry houses BULGARI and Cartier have launched a line for the production of luxury jewelry. Typically these are products with 24 carat gold plating and a thickness of 1 micron (µm). The price of such jewelry will be at least $100.

When you put on jewelry in the morning, you feel the magic of the ancient ritual and a surge of beneficial energy. Jewelry and costume jewelry help improve your mood and bring a festive atmosphere to life.

Today you can wear gold and silver at the same time - this is no longer considered bad manners - or combine incompatible things. For example, for an informal party you can wear several necklaces and a chain with a pendant.

We suggest you read: How to clean silver from dark deposits

Methods for removing stains from gold plated

To clean gold plating at home, you need to select the product carefully so as not to harm the capricious surface. If the dark spots are in a small area and are not very ingrained, then at home it is enough to polish with a cloth. If the item is heavily soiled or has been stored for a long time without care, an effective cleaning method will be required.

Wine spirit

Gold-plated items can be easily cleaned from tarnish and dirt at home using wine alcohol. Saturate a soft sponge with the product and treat the surface of the product. You can replace alcohol with wine vinegar, which can be found in the kitchen. At the final stage, treat the surface with suede to rub the surface to the desired shine.

Cleaning with beer

You can clean a gold-plated chain, earrings, ring and other items dusted with gold at home using beer. Oddly enough, the mild action of this alcoholic drink effectively copes with darkening of the coating and any dirt, eliminating damage to the material.

Pour beer into a glass, dip the gold-plated item into it and leave for 30 minutes, then rinse thoroughly and wipe dry.

Soap solution

Take any hard soap and grate it on a coarse grater. Take 1 tsp. shavings and dilute in 1 liter. warm water. For best results, use a couple of drops of ammonia added to soapy water. Immerse the gold in the container for 30 minutes, rinse with cool running water, and wipe dry with a clean cloth. The product effectively fights stains that have a green tint.

Alcohol and turpentine

The products help fight grease stains, darkening and dirt on the surface of gold-plated products. Ethyl, medical, denatured alcohol is suitable for cleaning. Take one of the products available in the house, saturate a soft sponge with it, treat the gilding, rinse off any remaining dirt and product under running water, and polish with a cloth.

Table vinegar

The diluted product is used to wipe or soak the product.

Stir 2 tbsp. acids in 1 tbsp. water, moisten the sponge and treat the surface with the composition.
Stir 2 tbsp. acids in 1 l. water and place the item in the composition for 15 minutes.

After all procedures, it is important to rinse the gold plating from any remaining product and dry it thoroughly. Acid residue can destroy the gold plating and permanently damage your favorite jewelry or cutlery.

Break the egg and separate the yolk from the white. In this recipe we need protein. Dip a cotton pad into the white and apply it to the gilding. Cleaning will restore the shine and brightness of the coating. The effectiveness of the product will be higher if you add a tablespoon of white to the protein. When working with chemicals, you will need to protect your hands with gloves.

Take the yolk and beat it well, add 1 tbsp. sorrel water. Soak a cotton pad in the solution and wipe the surface thoroughly. Rinse the product in running water, dry and polish.

Preparing a composition for gilding at home

You can prepare the solution for gilding yourself.

To do this, mix:

water (1500 ml);
gold chloride (10 g);
potassium cyanide (30 g);
salt (20 g);
soda (20 g).

To obtain a thinner layer of gold plating you will need:

water (2 l);
gold chloride (15 g);
yellow blood salt (65 g);
carbonic potassium salt (65 g);
table salt (65 g).

All components must be well dissolved, otherwise the gilding layer will be uneven, and even thorough polishing will not help. When the product is immersed in liquid, it is necessary to lower a zinc stick into the container (zinc contact method).

Silver jewelry with gilding is an integral part of a modern look.

Silver is another precious metal with amazing properties. Its beneficial effect on the body has been known since the times of the pharaohs. The cold radiance, characteristic only of silver, attracts with its mystical brilliance. Jewelry made from this noble metal is always in great demand.

The only drawback is its oxidation. Silver darkens when it comes into contact with an aggressive environment (sweat, perfume, medication). The only way out is rhodium or gold plating. When gilded, the jewelry is completely indistinguishable from its gold counterpart. Only by cutting or using special reagents can you determine what is hidden inside the ring or chain.

Silver chains coated with gold are the most popular jewelry. They are worn by adults and children, women and men, rich and poor. If you don’t know what to buy as a gift for a loved one, then opt for a silver chain with gold plating. An excellent combination of “price and quality” will delight both the giver and the recipient of the gift.

Silver jewelry can be partially gold plated. For example, only a convex design is highlighted in gold or the decoration is framed with a gold frame. The result is a spectacular tandem of silver and gold. Even today it is fashionable to combine multi-colored precious metals.

We suggest you read: How to clean silver from dark deposits

For example, a twisted spiral of 3 thin chains: silver, rhodium-plated and gold-plated. A pendant made of any precious metal, be it silver or gold, will suit such a chain. The versatility of multi-color jewelry allows you to add your favorite ring or bracelet to the set - everything will look harmonious without standing out from the overall ensemble.

And now - a few tips that will help you complement your bright image and amaze everyone around with your beauty.

As a rule, fashionistas choose gold-plated pendants most often. Try to wear an outfit with a “V” shaped neckline, then your pendant will look great. Especially if your decoration is not too large and massive.

Try to wear earrings and pendants from the same set. This will make you look more impressive. If you chose earrings that are too large, then you should not choose a large pendant or pendant - it’s not beautiful.

If you are right-handed, then be sure to wear the bracelet on your right hand. It will be much more impressive. Also, try not to match your bracelet and watch together.

Gold-plated jewelry looks impressive with outfits in black, dark blue and green. These colors in clothing help jewelry to fully reveal its beauty.

For information on how to properly clean gold and silver, see below.

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:

Electrolyte is poured into small containers.
Gold is dissolved in it.
The jewelry is immersed in this solution and left for some time.
Oxides begin to settle in a thin layer on the products.
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.

Jewelry and silver with gold plated

Gold-plated items require careful wearing. Perfumes, moisture, sea water and other chemicals destroy gold plating. If you follow a few simple rules for care and storage, the precious coating will delight you with its pristine beauty for a long time.

Buy jewelry only from reputable factories. The price of brands is higher, but the quality is guaranteed.
Store each decoration separately from each other. Brooches, earrings and rings, carelessly thrown into a box, quickly become scratched and lose their shine. For storage, it is advisable to buy a special chest with miniature drawers upholstered in soft fabric. If this is not found, then you can sew velvet bags for each product yourself.
Store the necklace straightened out in special velvet boxes. Usually, well-known manufacturers who value their reputation provide the buyer of jewelry with cases for storing them.
All jewelry - whether it be jewelry or pure gold - must be removed before a shower or household chores. After all, even a gold ring will be scratched and tarnished by household work and chemical reagents, and the precious coating, no matter how thick it may be, will be even more damaged.
Gentle cleaning of gilding does not tolerate abrasive agents. Chalk or tooth powder can damage the gold plating.
If necessary, gold-plated jewelry is wiped with dry suede. In case of serious contamination, you can use any alcohol. They remove dust and greasy stains well. After alcohol cleaning, the gold-plated items are thoroughly dried and rubbed with suede. Alcohol can be replaced with turpentine or table vinegar 8% (2 tbsp per 200 ml of water).
Green spots may appear on the gold plating. They are removed with a soap solution with ammonia: add a teaspoon of dishwashing detergent and 6 drops of ammonia to 1 liter of warm water. Soak the gold-plated item in the prepared solution for 30 minutes. After soaking for half an hour, rinse the jewelry with clean water, dry thoroughly and rub with a piece of suede.

What can't you do to clean gold plate?

Any products used should not contain abrasive particles. Even the smallest particles can severely damage the spray. For example, you should not clean gold plate with chalk, toothpaste, soda or powder.

Some products are coated with a very thin layer of coating; abrasives easily erase it. Do not use rough scourers or brushes, or aggressive acids for cleaning.

We invite you to read why the washing machine washes but does not spin

Cleaning jewelry at home is quite possible. The main thing is to know exactly how to do it correctly in order to restore its former shine and not spoil the product.

You can very easily clean tarnished gold plated items using baking soda, which is found in every home. To do this, you need to dissolve one or two teaspoons of soda in a glass of warm water, and then lower the product there. After half an hour, you can take out the jewelry. Rub it with a soft toothbrush and you will see the blackness and dullness go away. After this, you need to rinse it in running cold water and dry it. It is better to dry with a paper towel so as not to damage the gold plating.

By the way, since we are talking about a toothbrush, there is another effective method that helps get rid of stains and restore the shine of your jewelry. To do this, you will need not only a toothbrush, but also the toothpaste itself. Apply toothpaste to the surface of the product and carefully, with a very soft brush, rub all problem areas. High-quality gilding will not be damaged, and the product will once again shine with its magical shine.

If the gold plated item is a little tarnished and needs a little cleaning, just regular sugar will do the trick. Dissolve two tablespoons of sugar in a glass of warm water and place the decoration there. After three to four hours, take it out and rinse it in water. You will see: the product will become clean and shine as before.

Regular ammonia, which is in every home medicine cabinet, will help rid the jewelry of blackness and restore its shine. In a glass of water, preferably warm, dissolve one teaspoon of ammonia and add a couple of drops of detergent. This could be dishwashing liquid or just liquid soap. The product must be left in the liquid for at least one hour.

Sometimes gilded silver becomes covered with too dark and black spots, which seem impossible to remove. But, if you buy wine alcohol, you can easily clean the blackness from the product. Wet a soft sponge or cotton pad with this alcohol and wipe the product. No more stains!

General information about the method of applying gold plating to a watch case

Gilding a watch can be done using one of several methods. All of them are characterized by their own characteristics.

Applications of gold chloride

This is a mixture that is prepared by dissolving gold in aqua regia - a combination of nitric (1 part) and hydrochloric (3 parts) acids. A piece of gold is placed in aqua regia, the vessel is slightly shaken, and then evaporation begins. The container with the vessel should not be placed on an open fire - it is advisable to make a layer of asbestos chips, which must be poured into another container.

The procedure must be carried out very carefully, since the fumes are very aggressive and can burn delicate mucous membranes and even the skin. Therefore, it is necessary to wear a protective suit while working. After evaporation, a dry substance remains at the bottom of the container - this is gold chloride. It must be combined with potassium cyanide and exhausted chalk to obtain a slurry. The resulting product should be applied to the entire surface of the product with a thin brush. Then leave it for a while, and then polish it thoroughly.

Chemical gilding

This method is usually used for gilding silver items. Combine 10 g of gold chloride, 30 g of potassium cyanide, 20 g of table salt, 20 g of baking soda and 1.5 liters of water. The procedure is performed in several stages.

First, the product is calcined, then pickled alternately, first in sulfuric acid, and then in nitric acid. Then they are sent to a mixture of sulfuric, nitric and hydrochloric acid. After this, the product is rinsed with water, immersed in mercury for a few seconds, and then in water. Only after all these manipulations are carried out is it sent into the solution for gilding.

Using zinc contact

This method allows you to obtain a thicker layer of gold plating. It is necessary to prepare a mixture consisting of 15 g of gold chloride, 65 g of table salt, carbonic potassium and yellow blood salts, 2 liters of water. Before gilding, the product must be carefully prepared. To do this, it is treated with a degreaser to remove any contaminants. The solution for gilding is heated, after which the product is lowered into it. It is connected to a zinc stick for contact.

Galvanic method

This is the most common technique for performing gilding. With its help you can get a high-quality and durable coating. Depending on the solution used for galvanization, the coating may turn out to be red or light yellow.

In the first case, electrolytes for galvanization are prepared as follows:

60 g of sodium phosphate is dissolved in 0.7 l of water;
2.5 g of gold chloride is dissolved in 150 liters of water;
combine 1 g of potassium cyanide, 10 g of sodium disulfide and add 150 ml of water, stirring thoroughly;
mix the first 2 solutions, then add the third;
the mixture is heated to 50-62 degrees, after which a platinum anode is placed in it and the product is introduced.

To obtain a light yellow coating, 1 g of sodium carbonate and potassium ferrous sulfide in the form of crystals are placed in a porcelain container, 30 ml of water is poured in. Add gold fulminate precipitated by ammonia. Boil for 10-12 minutes, after which the resulting liquid is filtered. The product for gilding is introduced into it. Leave for 15-16 hours, use the Daniel element and weak currents. After this procedure, a matte gold plating of bright yellow color is formed on the surface of the material.

Re-gilding, or new life for old jewelry

Gilding inevitably wears off over time. How long you wear your jewelry depends on the quality of the precious coating, proper wearing and storage. If you buy a ring in a specialized store with a certificate of conformity, the product will delight you with the shine of gold for up to 2 years or more.

The distressed jewelry is infused with 24 karat 999 pure gold. To achieve the desired shade, cobalt, nickel or copper can be added to gold. When electroplated, the gold layer has high adhesion (adhesion) to the substrate and is resistant to abrasion. After such a restoration, the old jewelry will sparkle in a new way.

Don't settle for cheap services. Consider carefully whether you need to reconstruct the old decoration or whether it is better to buy a new one. A rare piece of unique design worthy of restoration. You can safely retire an ordinary ring and buy a brand new fashionable ring.

Features of gold-plated watch products

Typically, the classical gilding method is used to cover watches. During the procedure, a thick layer of gold is applied. Gold-plated watches are characterized by the following features:

The thicker the layer of gold plating, the better the quality of the product. For gilding, high-grade gold is used - either 750 or 999.
A product plated with gold increases corrosion resistance, wear resistance, and strength. A natural shine appears, thereby improving the appearance.
Markings are usually not placed on a gold-plated product. Or a mark of the base metal or metal alloy may be used.

Gold-plated cases and bracelets of USSR watches
Any material – copper, steel, nickel, silver – can be coated with gold. In this case, one of the following types of coating can be used:

Standard. Gold of at least 385 standard is used. A layer up to 2.5 microns thick is applied to the product.
Highest quality. Gold of at least 585 standard is used, the coating layer is more than 2.5 microns.
White gold plated. Typically this option is used for processing silver. The layer thickness can be different - from 2.5 to 5 microns.
Rose gold plated. For gold to have a reddish tint, it must contain copper impurities.

Typically a 5 micron thick layer is used to coat a watch. The color of the gilding depends on what material the product is made of.