Gilded silver has never lost its relevance. It is used by famous jewelry houses to create their collections, and it is also used for interior decorations. With proper care, the gold layer lasts a long time, without losing its shine and color.
What is gilded silver. Why gilding on silver: pros and cons
Two metals are used to create gold silver - gold 999, 750 or 585 pinkas well as silver 925 markingswhich is the basic material.
Gilded jewelry is created in the following way: first, the item is made of moon metal, then it is coated with the thinnest layer of gold. The thickness of this coating ranges from 1 to 15 microns. An imprint is made on the piece of jewelry. sterling silverbecause it is this metal that is the main one.
Physical properties of gilded silver
Jewelry made of gilded silver are characterized by resistance to corrosion, strength, durability.
The thicker the layer, the longer the service life of the coating. The thicker the layer, the longer the service life of the coating.
Gold-plated precious metal is inert and insoluble in acids and alkalis. However, low-grade gold, such as 585, has a lot of impurities in its composition, which reduces the anti-corrosive properties.
A variety of gilded products
The material is in high demand in the jewelry industry. It is used to make souvenirs - various statuettes, frames, key chains. Gold-plated precious metal is used to create kitchen utensils, phone cases and buttons.
On the shelves of jewelry boutiques you can see gold-plated earrings, rings, chains, bracelets, pendants, cufflinks.
Where you can buy gold silver
The largest jewelry boutiques in Russia, such as Adamas, Almas, Moscow Jewelry Factory, Sunlight, and Sokolov, offer a huge variety of products from this material. The largest jewelry boutiques in Russia, such as Adamas, Altyn, Moscow Jewelry Plant, Sunlight, Sokolov, offer a huge selection of silver plated products.
Definitely do not buy gold-plated jewelry from the hands, there is the greatest likelihood of encountering a fake.
Before buying, it is worth carefully inspecting the jewelry for the presence of a hallmark. Here, in addition to the three-digit number of the proof, there should be an imprint of the head of the woman in a kokoshnik, the sign of the assay certificate of the Russian Federation. Information about the piece should be inscribed inside a figure shaped like a barrel.
Table: The cost of gilded silver jewelry
The table below shows average prices for the most popular decorations. Their main alloy is always the lunar metal of the 925 marking, and the plating assay may vary.
In the presence of inserts in the form of precious minerals, the cost increases markedly. Price is specified in rubles.
| Gilding assay | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Gold-plated silver to buy in an inexpensive online store. To find out the current cost per gram of the alloy in the most popular online jewelry stores, it is convenient to use the table:
| Sunlight | Sokolov | Gold 585 |
|---|---|---|
| 440 rubles per gram | 430 rubles per gram | 480 rubles per gram |
| 925 proof | 925 proof | 925 proof |
Silver gilding methods
A decorative coating can be applied to the surface of a precious metal in various ways. The methods of gilding have been known since antiquity; they were applied to church domes, dishes, and decorative objects.
Antique "fire gilding" was carried out using gold and mercury. This method was abandoned because the poisonous fumes were often fatal to the workers.
Now the sputtering must comply in quality and color with international standards.
There are many methods of applying gilding, such as using a special paint, overlaying foil of gold leaf, or spraying with metallization. Modern techniques are usually based on the principles of electroplating.
Mechanical gilding
This method is resorted to in cases where the decorative function of the surface does not play a key role, as to achieve a uniform surface layer is quite difficult.
- First, a special paste is made, which includes blood salt, crystal wine sediment, ground chalk, and chlorine gold.
- The surface of the product is carefully degreased, ready paste is applied evenly.
The resulting layer is usually thin, so the coating will need to be renewed periodically.
Electrochemical gilding
The electrochemical method has a number of advantages over other techniques:
- Can be applied to products of all sizes;
- The coating will have a homogeneous structure;
- It is possible to control the thickness of the layer;
- The coating will have an additional resource of wear resistance;
This technology is a galvanic method of applying the precious metal to the surface, which is carried out in three stages:
- The surface is carefully degreased, sanded with sandpaper or with a machine.
- The product is immersed inside a galvanic bath. The extreme temperature and the desired current density are automatically maintained.
- When the product is covered with a gold film, it is subjected to final processing.
Cyanide electrolytes, which are extremely toxic, are used during the process.
Silver gilding is realistic to perform at home, but you will need rare reagents, special equipment, and protective clothing. It is worth bearing in mind that during work, harmful vapors will be released into the air, so all operations must be carried out with working ventilation or outdoors.
Thickness and gilding assay
Gilding on silver can be done in the following gold alloys: 585, 750, 958, 999.
The thickness depends on the purpose of the item, usually 2.5 to 20 microns. The thickness of jewelry is usually 5 microns.
Gilding life
Practice shows that the daily wear of the product gold layer rubs off about 1-2 microns per year.
The life of the entire layer will depend on its thickness and the presence of regular maintenance. Gold-plated silver jewelry usually lasts 3 to 10 years.
Which products keep their gold plating longer
Gold-plated earrings, pendants, pendants will last longer because they are not in contact with water, hygiene products, and are not subject to regular physical abuse.
With constant use, the precious layer will quickly begin to fray on the rings, dishes.
It is recommended to buy jewelry that is less likely to come into contact with the skin.
Care: How to prolong the life of gilded silver
It is possible to prolong the life and maintain the attractive shine of jewelry by following some simple rules:
- You should remove the products before going to the bath, sauna, gym.
- Do not allow jewelry to come into contact with household chemicals. Cleaning should be done with rubber gloves.
- It is recommended to protect the product from mechanical damage, avoid intensive friction.
Unfavorable factors for gilding
The following factors can significantly reduce the life of a gold-plated surface:
Humidity
You should definitely not wash your hands in gold-plated rings or store your jewelry in humid places. The plating will wear out many times faster if it comes into systematic contact with water.
For storage, we recommend purchasing a jewelry box upholstered inside with a soft cloth, or jewelry pouches. Inside, you can put chalk or silica gel fillers that absorb excess moisture.
Chemistry
Many cleaning, washing, and cosmetic products contain harsh chemicals that will oxidize the alloy.
Gold и silver are inert, but are not used in their pure form. The additives in the alloy oxidize from contact with chemistry, which can lead to the formation of plaque, changing the tone of the entire product.
Sweat and friction
Changes in the human body, such as hormonal changes, illness, taking medications, lead to the toxicity of sweat secretions. The substances that sweat contains react with precious metalcausing its oxidation.
Regular rubbing against the skin or hard surface accelerates gilding.
Lack of care for the product
Any piece of precious jewelry needs constant care. Lack of care can lead to loss of luster and discoloration.
Question and answer section
How can I tell the difference between gilding and gold?
If any doubts remain about the material, you can try to scratch the jewelry from the inconspicuous side. The other metal will show under the gilding, the gold will remain unchanged.
What is the hallmark of gilded silver?
All jewelry is subject to mandatory branding. If not stamped, it is probably a costume jewellery alloy coated with a thin layer of gold. The exceptions are jewelry from private workshops or imported from countries where branding is not compulsory.
Is it possible to gild a silver ring save and save?
The cost of such a service will be about 450 rubles, the price will depend on the total surface area, as well as the thickness of the spraying.
Is it possible to remove the gilding from silver for good?
What to do if the gilding has turned green?
The best solution is to call a professional for cleaning. It is possible that work will be needed to restore the coating.
Is gold-plated silver washable or not?
Can silver be coated with gold at home?
At the end of the work the decoration is left to dry, no additional processing.
How long does the gilding on a man's silver chain last?
It is recommended to remove the chain before going to bed, taking a bath, doing sports.
Can silver be plated with gold at the jeweler's?
Gold-plated silver earrings with diamonds how to clean?
For small dirt is suitable cleaning with beer. Earrings should be immersed in a vessel with the drink, leave for 15 minutes, then take out and rinse thoroughly.
The use of gilded silver
The areas of application of this metal are constantly expanding.
Silver with gilding is used to make jewelry workIn the manufacture of decorative household items, to create religious paraphernalia, tableware, in dentistry, mechanical engineering, printed products.
Products made of this material can be seen in museums dedicated to the ancient world. The gilded lunar metal was used to create masks, award medals, thrones, and household items.
Gentle cleaning methods
Traditional methods of cleaning gold are not applicable to plating. The use of soap, baking soda, and salt is definitely not recommended, as these substances help to erase the gold layer.
Suede polishing
Suede is ideal for polishing jewelry. The surface can be polished either after cleaning or instead of cleaning.
Polishing movements should be smooth, you should not press too hard on the surface.
The method is not suitable for a strong degree of contamination.
Soaking in a vinegar solution
First, dilute the vinegar with running water. The item to be cleaned is immersed in this solution for half an hour, then rinsed and wiped dry.
Vinegar can be used as a regular cleaning agent. It is enough to soak a cotton swab in it and rub it on your jewelry.
Alcohol cleaning
Alcohol is used for a quick routine cleaning. It is necessary to wet a cloth with alcohol and wipe the product completely with smooth movements.
Professional jeweler's service. Average cost
The jeweler will charge about 200 rubles for such work. Many shops provide a free cleaning when repairing jewelry.
Definitely worth turning to professionals if the product is inlaid with precious stones or has a complex shape.
Table: Gilding service in your city
Read the approximate rates for gilding services in cities and towns you can use the table below. Usually the minimum cost of the order is 1200 rubles. The procedure itself rarely lasts longer than an hour.
| Service | City of Millions | A small town |
|---|---|---|
| Removing the gilding | From 500 rubles | From 300 rubles |
| 585 gold plating | From 200 rubles | From 200 rubles |
| 999 proof gilding | From 220 rubles | From 200 rubles |
| Partial gilding | From 600 rubles | From 400 rubles |
Video: gilding used silver jewelry
Gold-plated silver: reviews whether it lasts long, the timing of abrasion
I bought a women's gold-plated chain. The "sunny" color has lasted more than a year! I try to take care of the coating so it doesn't darken. You could say I got gold for the price of silver, even though the chain was relatively cheap.
Wore a gold-plated ring for a couple of years. Recently I found silver stripes on it, apparently the top layer had worn off. Restore did not, handed the ring at a pawnshop. I plan to buy a similar piece of jewelry.
I wanted to buy a gold-plated men's chain as a gift. I was attracted by the relatively low price and the appearance of natural gold. I was dissuaded by acquaintances, saying that there was no point in such a gift, the owner would quickly erase the gold plating.
Jeweler's comment
Дурак наступает дважды. Так и я. Второй раз покупаю серебро с позолотой в сонлайт. В том году послужили полгода и истерлось. А в этом году цепочка с позолотой послужила всего 2,5 мес.. Дерьмо полнейшей.