Gold-plated silver - how long does it last, whether it is erased or not, reviews of 925 gold-plated silver, care and instructions for use

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 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

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.

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.

Minuses

• Constant control in the sock . Jewelry made of gilded silver must be protected from constant contact with the body and water. This means that you cannot wear them while sleeping, playing sports, going to the pool, swimming in the sea, or spending a long time in the sun. Sweat, salt and bleach act as reagents that destroy the applied layer. After the first contact with them, the thing will become unusable.
• Super shine . The high-grade gold used has a distinctive luster that cannot be found in real gold items. Because of this, it shows that the product is fake.
• Corrosion . The green or black marks that silver leaves on the body during oxidation are difficult to avoid, even if it is gold-plated. Unfortunately, this layer is too thin to avoid the problem, and the palm side of the fingers will start to show streaks after a few days of wear.
• Gilded utensils require constant labor-intensive care after each use. It cannot be washed in the dishwasher or used with chemicals or soaps. And each time prepare a special solution that needs to be used to treat objects.
• It's easy to buy a fake . It is easy for the average person to confuse high-grade gilding from low-grade gilding, which determines the price. That is why, after purchasing, before the first contact, you need to contact a jeweler who will clarify the quality of the product.

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:

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.

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.

1. First, a special paste is made, which contains blood salt, crystalline sediment of wine, crushed chalk, and gold chloride.
2. 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:

1. The surface is thoroughly degreased, sanded with sandpaper or using a machine.
2. The product is immersed inside a galvanic bath. Extreme temperatures and the required current density are maintained automatically.
3. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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:

1. Products must be removed before visiting a bathhouse, sauna, or gym.
2. Do not allow jewelry to come into contact with household chemicals. Cleaning should be done with rubber gloves.
3. 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.

How not to clean gold plate

To quickly and correctly clean a gold-plated silver item, you need to know which products are suitable for treatment and which are not. It is forbidden to use abrasive compounds for cleaning, because they can ruin the spraying. The use of the following means is also not permitted:

Gold jewelry can withstand such treatment normally, but gold-plated models are severely scratched or completely lose their plating.

If there are precious stones, cleaning should be carried out with extreme caution, avoiding methods that involve immersing objects in solutions. If you miss this moment, the fragile fastening or adhesive base holding the stone will be damaged.

Another requirement applies to products with fasteners. Cleaning should be as delicate as possible, because... fasteners are made of simple metals and are subject to rust.

If you do not have the skills to clean gold-plated silver, it is better to entrust the procedure to an experienced craftsman. Any careless actions can worsen the condition of the jewelry or completely erase the gilding.

Question-answer section

How to distinguish gilding from gold?

Expert opinion

Grishanov Mikhail Petrovich

Jeweler, director of the Grishanov and Co. workshop

First of all, it is worth examining the product labeling. If it is stamped 925 or 875, then you have silver. If the three-digit imprint is 375, 585, 750 or 958, then the jewelry is made of gold alloy. If you still have doubts about the material, you can try to scratch the jewelry from an inconspicuous side. Under the gilding, another metal will appear, but the gold will remain unchanged.

What is the standard of gilded silver?

Expert opinion

Pribrezhny Gennady Valentinovich

Jeweler 6th category

Typically such lunar metal is marked 925 or 875. All precious products are subject to mandatory branding. If there is no mark, then it is probably a jewelry alloy coated with a thin layer of gold. Exceptions are jewelry from private workshops or imported from countries where branding is not mandatory.

Is it possible to gild a silver ring to save and preserve?

Expert opinion

Grishanov Mikhail Petrovich

Jeweler, director of the Grishanov and Co. workshop

Yes, you can gild it, but you should take into account that the metal layer will be erased over a few years, since “Save and Preserve” rings are usually worn on an ongoing basis. The cost of such a service will be about 450 rubles, the price will depend on the total surface area, as well as on the thickness of the spraying.

Is it possible to remove gilding from silver permanently?

Expert opinion

Pribrezhny Gennady Valentinovich

Jeweler 6th category

Many jewelry workshops provide this service. If you can’t turn to professionals, you can try to remove the coating yourself using a chemical or electrochemical method. In the first case, the procedure will require “regia vodka”, in the second - an electrolyte and an energy source.

What to do if the gilding turns green?

Expert opinion

Andrey Seleznev

Chemist-technologist, Volgograd

A greenish tint will indicate that the copper contained in the gold alloy has oxidized. Most often, red gold turns green. The best solution would be to turn to professionals for cleaning. It is possible that work will be required to restore the coating.

Silver chain with gold plated

Is gold plated silver washable or not?

Expert opinion

Pribrezhny Gennady Valentinovich

Jeweler 6th category

The silver alloy does not wear off, but the gold plating applied to the surface of the lunar metal will inevitably become thinner from periodic wear. The erased layer can be restored; many jewelry workshops provide this service.

Is it possible to plate silver with gold at home?

Expert opinion

Andrey Seleznev

Chemist-technologist, Volgograd

For gilding at home, you will need to make an essence containing gold chloride, potassium cyanide, water, table salt, and tea soda. Briefly, the procedure can be described as follows: first, the product being processed is fired, then its surface is treated with sulfuric and nitric acid. Next, the jewelry needs to be immersed in mercury, and from there into water. Now it is placed inside the vessel with the prepared essence.

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.

Silver with gold plated: reviews how long does it last, erasing time

I purchased a women's gold plated chain. The “sunny” color has lasted for years! I try to take care of the coating so that it does not darken. We can say that I received gold at the price of silver, although the chain was relatively cheap.

Masha L., Kostroma

Vitaly N. g, Chelyabinsk

I wore a gold-plated ring for a couple of years. Recently I discovered silvery stripes on it, apparently the top layer had worn off. I didn’t restore it, I took the ring to a pawnshop. I plan to buy a similar decoration.

I wanted to buy a gold-plated men's chain as a gift. I was attracted by the relatively low cost and the appearance of natural gold. Friends dissuaded me, saying that there was no point in such a gift, the owner would quickly wipe off the coating.

Angela L. g, Moscow

Recoating

If you still decide not to part with your jewelry and leave it with gold plating, you can turn to specialists for help. Using a special device, a new coating is applied in a matter of minutes. How much does it cost to apply the coating? The cost of gilding is considerable; gilding one ring will cost about 350 rubles, and chains - from 2000 rubles. The price depends on the grade of gold used and the thickness of the applied coating.

As you can see, high quality gold-plated silver should cost significantly more. Re-gilding has other advantages. You can apply gold in a different shade, such as white, red or pink. When electroplated, the gold layer has high adhesion to the surface being treated. After repeated restoration, the product will look completely new.

To restore the coating, you need to choose only a professional master. The work must be done very efficiently, with knowledge of all the nuances and technological details.

Gilded silver looks beautiful and, when handled with care, pleases the eye for a long time. It is not intended for everyday wear, so if your favorite item no longer looks neat, it is better to remove or restore such coating.

Physical properties of gold-plated silver

Silver jewelry with gold plating is corrosion-resistant, durable, and abrasion-resistant.

The thicker the layer, the longer the length of the gold plating layer, the better the properties of the gold alloy. The thicker the layer, the longer the service life of the coating.

Gold-plated precious metal is inert and does not dissolve in acids and alkalis. However, low-grade gold, for example 585, contains many impurities, which reduces its anti-corrosion properties.

Pros of purchasing

• The main advantage of using gilding in jewelry is its accessibility . The price of such jewelry is much lower than pure gold. At the same time, it is almost impossible to find a visual difference, but they look much more attractive than ordinary silver.
• The opportunity to experiment with complex jewelry at an affordable price . You can order a unique item made of gilded silver, using complex designs or engravings, at an affordable price, without extra costs.
• When purchasing cutlery and crockery, preference should be given to silver. Due to its composition, it is much lighter than gold. The same goes for massive jewelry. Thus, a necklace set with large stones or earrings framed in gold cannot be worn for a long time due to the weight of the metal.
• Products can be easily re-coated . That is, if it was noticed that the gold-plated layer had holes, succumbed to corrosion, or began to look less neat than before, jewelers will be able to update it in a short period of time. Restoration is not cheap, but it will cost less than a new product.
• The color of the coating can be changed . For example, if the product originally had yellow gold plating, you can change it to white when updating. You can also compact it by applying a thicker layer of coating.
• With careful storage and exclusion of products from long-term contact with water and aggressive chemicals, they can last a long time , while maintaining their original appearance.
• Indispensable for watch mechanisms and large electronic equipment . By achieving an increase in the thermal conductivity and strength of the metal.

How to care?

We have already mentioned several times in the article that such products need to be properly cared for. This is a very important aspect of the product’s operation; it determines how long the decoration will retain its original appearance.

First of all, you need to determine the reasons that may contribute to the darkening or abrasion of the gold layer:

• the effect of aggressive substances - these can be hygiene products, cosmetics;
• improper care;
• constant friction against each other or any other surface;
• frequent contact with water.

Experts recommend that before taking water treatments or going to bed, be sure to remove your jewelry.

It is also advisable to store them in a separate special box to reduce the possibility of friction.

Proper care and wearing of gold-plated jewelry will preserve its color and shine. But if the decoration nevertheless darkens, and over time this cannot be avoided, do not despair. There are several effective methods that will help you clean items from blackness at home quickly and effectively.

Method No. 1

is required for cleaning . Even if it is not there, this is not a problem - you can buy it at any pharmacy. Ethyl alcohol is an excellent solvent that can cope with any type of dirt, dust, grease or stains. All you need to do is moisten a suede cloth with alcohol and wipe the product with it.

Method number 2

This method is even simpler, since it will require something that is available in any home - vinegar . First you need to prepare a solution: vinegar itself is a fairly concentrated product, and it must be diluted with water. For 1 liter of water you need to take approximately 30 ml of 9% vinegar. The gold-plated item should be placed in the prepared solution for 20–25 minutes. Afterwards, simply rinse well with water.

There are also several methods that will help restore the product to its former shine and beauty.

1. Make a solution containing egg yolk and jelly water. The latter can be prepared at home. To do this, according to the instructions, you need to dissolve the Javel Absolute tablets, which are sold at the pharmacy, in water. Add 1 yolk to 15 ml of jelly water. Everything mixes well. The resulting composition should be rubbed onto gilded silver.
2. Place the gold-plated item in a container of beer for 30 minutes. After the allotted time, wipe well with a soft cloth.

If the gold-plated silver has turned green, you can use a soap solution and ammonia for cleaning: for 1 liter of warm water you need to take 15 ml of detergent and 6 drops of alcohol. Immerse the product in the prepared solution for 30 minutes.

How to wear and store correctly

To ensure that your favorite gold-plated jewelry does not lose its original brightness and shine, treat it with care and store it properly.

• Remove rings when washing your hands and when applying cosmetics to your skin.
• Do not wear gold-plated items to fitness classes or in the shower or sauna.
• Wipe with a soft cloth after each wear.
• Store jewelry in a box, away from sunlight.
• Follow these simple rules and your jewelry will delight you for a long time.