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

Gold accessories are considered the most popular jewelry in recent times. But the cost of this precious metal is growing every year, and therefore not every person can afford to buy an expensive product. If jewelry is worn only on holidays, then there is no point in spending a lot of money on it. There is an alternative to expensive accessories that also look prestigious and stylish.

Gold-plated silver jewelry is a popular type of jewelry that costs much less than gold jewelry. But keep in mind that such jewelry is short-lived and wears out over time, so you won’t be able to wear it all the time. Many buyers are interested in the question: how long does the gilding effect on accessories last? In this article we will tell you how long gilding on silver lasts and how you can clean the product yourself.

Gold-plated elements are used on decorative items, furniture, works of art, building facades, and tableware. They are used to make paintings, art objects, and figurines. Spraying is also used for the manufacture of religious paraphernalia, tableware, mechanical engineering, and dentistry.

International standards for gilding silver set the shade 4N. Dinner sets look very harmonious and are suitable for any interior. The devices themselves are convenient and light, due to the fact that they are based on silver.

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

Which products hold gold plating longer?

Gold plating adheres best to jewelry with a thick layer of sputtering. Not only the durability of the accessory, but also its cost depends on this. The top layer of spraying ranges from 2 to 15 microns. But it is difficult to determine this parameter on the finished product; you need to study the product certificates before purchasing. Therefore, it is better to choose jewelry that will rarely come into contact with human skin - for example, earrings.

Gold plating wears off most quickly from rings, bracelets and chains, and lasts the longest on pendants, brooches and earrings. To preserve the gilding, the jewelry is coated with a protective layer and is wear-resistant.

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:

Rules for caring for gold-plated products

In order to avoid darkening or abrasion of the gold plating layer, you need to carefully care for costume jewelry and other items.

• Gold-plated jewelry should be removed before showering, starting household chores, and before applying cosmetics (creams, perfumes, scrubs).
• It is not recommended to take such products with you on vacation at sea. Salt water has a detrimental effect on gilding, and therefore, if parting with your favorite jewelry seems impossible, then it must be removed before bathing.
• Store gold-plated jewelry, spoons and other cutlery, best in a closed box or special box, as far as possible from sunlight and heating appliances. This will protect both the gilding itself and some types of precious stones from the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation and will help preserve their original appearance for as long as possible.

Products should be cleaned regularly, without waiting for darkening or plaque to form on the gold plating.

We recommend reading: How to clean gold items at home.

photo: depositphotos.com/photographee.eu

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.

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.

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.

What determines the quality and service life of gold coating?

In Russia, when covering silver with gold, a metal of high standard is used - at least 750. But most often this value reaches 999. There are also gold-plated products of 585 standard, equal to 14 carats, but they are extremely rare in jewelry workshops and stores. In foreign countries, metals with a value of 12 carats and below are plated for gilding.

In order for gilding to last as long as possible, the silver standard must be at least 925. The percentage of applied gold must be at least 42%, the fineness must be 99%, and the thickness of the metal must be more than 2.5 microns. If these rules are followed, the gold coating will last for several years. The thicker the coating layer, the longer the decoration does not lose its appearance.

The service life and how long jewelry is worn depends on the rules of use and storage of the jewelry. When purchased from a specialized jewelry store with the necessary quality certificates, the product will retain its presentable appearance for more than two years. The coating lasts the longest on pendants, earrings and products that are least subject to friction and contact with the skin.

It is not allowed to store accessories near heating devices or in places exposed to direct sunlight.

Customers often ask the question in stores: is gilded silver washable or not? The answer is yes. And even if proper care is taken, the coating will be erased after 2-3 years.

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.

Cleaning products

Before you clean gold-plated silver items, you need to choose the cleaning product itself. For such things, only soft, gold-plating compatible compounds are suitable, which will not damage or scratch the thin surface layer of gold. Therefore, we immediately remove any abrasive products away.

To clean gold-plated silver, you can use both professional cleaning products and time-tested folk recipes.

Toothpaste

It seems that toothpaste is used to clean everything, and gold-plated silver is no exception. To clean a small stain, lightly wet the item and apply toothpaste over the entire surface and wipe with a lint-free cloth. With this method, it is not recommended to use even a soft toothbrush, as it can leave micro-scratches on the gold plating. Suede or flannel fabric will be an excellent alternative to a brush.

Yolk

Chicken yolk will help restore your jewelry to its former shine and shine. To do this, beat the yolk thoroughly and start peeling. Use a soft sponge or lint-free cloth. And to enhance the effect, you can mix the yolk with javel water (a solution of hypochlorite and sodium chloride).

Egg white

Or you can use white instead of yolk. Beat the egg white and add ½ tbsp. spoons of whiteness, apply the product to a cotton pad or cloth and wipe your favorite rings and earrings. Rinse off any remaining protein and wipe dry. Done - your jewelry shines as it did on the first day of purchase.

Special means

But in addition to folk recipes, there are professional products that are created specifically for cleaning gold-plated silver. They can be bought at almost any jewelry store, although the cost can be quite high. The Aladdin solution for cleaning silver has proven itself well. In general, when choosing a product, carefully read the instructions; it should indicate whether it is suitable for gold-plated products, or consult a specialist.

Sugar

Well, let's get back to folk recipes. You won’t believe it, but with the help of sugar you can not only clean difficult stains from objects, but also restore shine. This is also one of the safest and most effective ways to clean gold-plated items.

• First, degrease the gold-plated item with alcohol.
• Then take 2 tablespoons of sugar and stir in a glass of warm water.
• Place the decoration there and leave for several hours (from 3 to 10).
• Afterwards, rinse with running water and dry with a paper towel.

Beer

It's better to take a good dark beer. Pour into a glass, place a gold-plated object there, and leave for 30-40 minutes. Remove, rinse and dry. Ready. But remember, beer can only correct shallow surface stains.

Baking soda

Baking soda is a universal cleaner. For gold-plated silver, it can also be useful if you follow our recommendations.

• Dilute the soda solution: 2 tbsp. l of soda per 1 l of hot water.
• Place the product in it and leave for 30 minutes (in difficult places you can use a soft cloth or cotton pad).
• Rinse with plain water and dry the jewelry.

And now what NOT to do:

• Rub gold-plated objects with dry soda.
• Clean jewelry with stones or ornate designs.

Dry soda can damage the coating or remain as a white coating in hard-to-reach areas of the product.

Ammonia

Ammonia is a good way to clean heavy stains and get rid of green deposits. To do this, apply a soap solution and add 7-10 drops of ammonia to it. Leave the gold-plated items in the resulting liquid for 1-2 hours.

If you want to speed up the process a little, then mix warm water and ammonia in a 1:1 ratio in a glass and leave the products for 15-20 minutes.

When cleaning with an ammonia solution, you need to strictly maintain the soaking time of the jewelry. If you wait too long, the gilding may come off.

Vinegar

Wine vinegar will help you get rid of blackness quickly and without damaging the gold surface. Simply soak a cotton pad or cloth in wine vinegar and wipe down your earrings or cutlery.

Table vinegar

You can also wipe jewelry with table vinegar, just like wine vinegar. Or you can soak them in it.

In the first case, add 2 tbsp. l vinegar (take 9% table vinegar) in a glass of warm water. Take a cotton pad or sponge, soak it in the resulting solution and begin cleaning.

In the second option, we also take 2 tbsp. l of acetic acid and add to 1 liter of water, mix and place in a container with the product, leave for 15 minutes. Afterwards, rinse well and dry. If you don’t wash the vinegar off the surface well, it will gradually begin to destroy the top layer of gold, so we wash it very well.

Soap solution

Ordinary water and soap can clean gilding from dust and old dirt and restore its shine. Add a teaspoon of liquid soap to warm water (hard soap can be grated and the resulting shavings mixed in water). Then simply soak the items in this water for 20-30 minutes. Then rinse under the tap and wipe dry.

Hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide effectively cleans both gold and silver, as well as gold-plated items. But not alone. For quick and high-quality results, add 1 tbsp to the soap solution. l ammonia and 2 tbsp hydrogen peroxide. Leave the gold-plated silver in this solution for 20-30 minutes. Next - everything is as always: rinse, wipe, polish.

Alcohol and turpentine

These two substances are used both for the preliminary cleaning of gold-plated silver and for the prevention and removal of light plaque and darkening. Simply soak a soft cloth in a solution of alcohol or turpentine and wipe (without pressure) the jewelry.

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.

Features when cleaning gold-plated silver

But you need to approach cleaning gold-plated silver wisely. Not all products are suitable, and some can damage thin gold plating.

Therefore, we immediately reject methods suitable for purifying silver or gold. And in order not to damage the gold plating, you need to prepare the product before cleaning.

• We take alcohol or turpentine and a soft cloth (you can use suede, wool or flannel. These materials carefully remove stains from the surface and add shine to things).
• We wet a cloth in the substance and carefully remove dirt and dust from the surface of the gold-plated silver.
• And only then can you proceed directly to cleaning the jewelry.

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

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.

Preparation and use of gold chloride

To gold-plate metal, a solution called gold chloride is often used. To prepare such a solution, gold is dissolved in “aqua regia,” which is a mixture of hydrochloric and nitric acids. Hydrochloric and nitric acids are taken in a ratio of 3: 1. Gold is placed in this composition, and then the liquid is evaporated. The procedure for evaporating liquid from such a solution should be carried out very carefully so as not to cause burns to the skin and respiratory tract. The dry substance remaining after evaporation is precisely gold chloride.

When evaporating, you need to separate the open fire from the container with the solution, for example, by making a layer of asbestos chips poured into a separate container

Before using gold chloride for gilding, it must be mixed with a solution of potassium cyanide and washed chalk, resulting in a paste-like mass. Using a brush, this paste is used to cover the product, after which it is left for some time, and then thoroughly washed and polished.

To gild steel, gold chloride is mixed with ether. The product coated with this composition is left for some time until the ether has completely evaporated, and then the treated surface is simply rubbed with a cloth to impart a golden shine.

Using gold chloride, previously mixed with ether, various inscriptions and patterns can be applied to a metal object. In order to carry out this procedure, a quill pen is dipped into the resulting solution and the required inscriptions and patterns are made, which, after evaporation of the ether and polishing, will sparkle with a golden sheen.

Large surfaces are covered with gold using a soft brush

As mentioned above, gold plating is often applied to silver, for which gold chloride can also be used. To perform chemical gilding of products made from this metal, it is necessary to prepare a mixture that includes the following components:

• gold chloride – 10 grams;
• potassium cyanide – 30 grams;
• table salt – 20 grams;
• soda – 20 grams;
• water – 1.5 l.

Chemical gilding, which must be applied to silver, can also be performed using a mixture of:

• gold chloride – 7 grams;
• potassium ferric sulfide – 30 grams;
• potassium carbonate – 30 grams;
• table salt – 30 grams;
• water – 1 l.

The procedure for sputtering a layer of gold onto a metal surface using chemical solutions is performed in the following sequence.

1. The product being processed is pre-calcined.
2. The surface of the object is etched first with a solution of sulfuric acid and then with nitric acid.
3. The pickled product is momentarily dipped into a mixture consisting of sulfuric, nitric and hydrochloric acids.
4. After treatment in a mixture of acids, the product is rinsed with water, then immersed in mercury and finally in water, where it is kept for 30 seconds.
5. After a container of water, the product is placed in a solution for gilding, kept for the required time, then washed with water and dried in sawdust.

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.

Sources

• https://zolotoe-runo-sl.ru/dragocennye-kamni/pozolota-na-serebre.html
• https://zhazhdazolota.ru/serebro/kak-pozolotit-serebro-v-domashnikh-usloviyakh
• https://FB.ru/article/408985/pozolochennoe-serebro-otzyivyi-printsip-naneseniya-stoykost-pozolotyi-osobennosti-uhoda-rekomendatsii-i-otzyivyi-yuvelirov
• https://met-all.org/obrabotka/prochie/zolochenie-domashnih-usloviyah-pozolota-galvanicheskoe.html
• https://vplate.ru/serebro/pozolochennoe/
• https://hozsekretiki.ru/garderob/aksessuary/pozolochennoe-serebro-stiraetsya-ili-net.html
• https://vplate.ru/serebro/zolochenie/
• https://DedPodaril.com/serebro/vidy/pozolochennoe-serebro-stiraetsya-ili-net.html
• https://HochuZoloto.com/prochee/skolko-derzhitsya-pozolota-na-serebre.html

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).

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 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.