Types of plating
What is jewelry plating?
Plating is basically a cover applied on the surface of a metallic item. This Application of plating can respond to different kinds of purposes. It can be used to inhibit corrosion, increase solderability, improve wearability, reinforce paint adhesion, reduce frictions, improve conductivity or in our case, to decorate and embellish jewelry.
At ELF925 jewelry manufacturer, we produce all kinds of jewelry by ourselves in our factory, and we are also a jewelry plating company.
We will give you some additional knowledge about each type of jewelry plating in our factory.
What does Oxidized mean?
Oxidation is a chemical process that gives a "tarnished" or "discolored" effect. Oxidized jewelry is getting more popular along with other products having antique finishes or vintage effects. For esthetical matters and after manufacturing certain items, we oxidize the jewelry in order to blacken the hollow parts and the holes to give them an ancient optical aspect. For example, an item with a written engraving will have the engraved part blackened, making the words or letters contrast and readable. Oxidation is finishing, not plating.
What is Silver plating?
Silver Plating is an extra 100% Silver layer that we apply on top of the sterling silver to give it a long-term shininess and additional protection against scratches and daily usage.
This layer, unless stated otherwise, is 2 Micron thick, but in certain cases, we might apply a thicker layer that goes up to 3 Microns. We also apply a layer of E-coat on top of the silver plating, which protects the plated jewelry from tarnishing. You can identify this type of plating on the website as "Silver Plating + E-coat".
Please find below more information about E-coating.
What is E-coating?
E-coating, also known as electro-coating or electrodeposition, is a method that uses electrical current to coat a metal surface with an organic lacquer, covering every nook and cranny on the jewelry with an even and consistent protective coat. This coat protects the sterling silver used to create the jewelry and lets the natural beauty of the sterling silver come through without fear of damage. Basically, it is an ultra-fine transparent layer of plastic that protects the Silver, and its plating, therefore considerably increasing the lifetime and the shininess of your Jewelry.
What is Gold Plating?
Gold plating jewelry service is a method of depositing a thin layer of gold onto the surface of the silver base by chemical or electrochemical plating. As for gold plating jewelry, there are many different thicknesses available depending on the needs and the type of Jewelry. Rings, for example, are usually plated with at least 0.25 Microns or more as the item is exposed to many frictions and is hardwearing. For other items, they are gold flash plated.
What is Rose Gold Plating?
Rose gold plating, also referred to as Pink Gold, is a gold and copper alloy. A common alloy composition for rose gold is 75% gold and 25% copper, making up 18 karats of rose gold. There is no "pure" rose gold since it is an alloy of gold and copper. The more copper, the more intense and strong the "rose" color will be.
What is Black Ruthenium plating?
Ruthenium plating gives jewelry a "high-tech" jet-black or gun-metal grey look and can be plated onto a wide variety of metals. It is very hard and highly resistant to scratches. Black ruthenium-plated jewelry gives a much darker black aspect than rhodium-plated jewelry.
What is Rhodium Plating?
Rhodium is a silver-white hard metal often found in platinum ores. In its natural solid-state Rhodium is far too hard to be worked on, but it is used as an alloy in the smelting of platinum and palladium. Rhodium is a noble metal that imparts an extremely bright and hard-wearing finish when applied as plating and gives a durable finish of exceptional brightness. Rhodium finishes can greatly enhance the appearance and longevity of any metal to which they are applied. Rhodium gives silver jewelry a particular and deep grey color that enhances the bright colors of Crystals or Cubic Zirconia Stones set on the item.
What is Ion Plating?
Usually used on stainless steel jewelry. Its most new method of surface finishing processes. It produces a harder and more durable coating with a higher brightness than that produced through traditional plating methods. This type of coating is used to get the gold, black, rose gold, chocolate, or any other color onto the stainless steel. Ion-plated jewelry is proven to last longer than electroplated jewelry. The coating usually lasts for decades.
