There are different types of plating that can be applied to silver jewelry. In most cases, the plating is done to give the jewelry better protection against scratches, to give it a different look/color, or to protect it from tarnishing. ![]() Gold Layer - a fine sheet of gold is placed on top of the item, cut into shape and then soldered in place. The item is then polished smooth. Gold layer is more substantial than plating. Gold Plating - a fine layer of gold which has been electroplated onto the item. This layer can be quite fine or quite deep ![]() Rhodium finish -a fine layer of rhodium is electroplated onto the item. Rhodium is very bright and shiny like highly polished silver. Rhodium belongs to the Platinum group of metals. All of them present outstanding chemical inertness (will not react or change easily) thus, rhodium will not tarnish whereas silver will. They are very expensive, so only a very thin plate is applied to reduce the amount of metal in the jewel. If not subject to excessive friction and wear, they will retain their look indefinitely. Rhodium is the rarest and most expensive of all metals used in jewelry. ![]() Palladium/Ruthenium finish - a layer of palladium or ruthenium is laid onto the item to form a pattern. Ruthenium plating on sterling silver jewelry gives a dark grey black finishing that answers the call for a different color. In addition, ruthenium can effectively prevent scratches and abrasion on the surface, making sterling silver jewelry more durable. With ruthenium plating, surface oxidation and discoloring can be avoided to a large extent. Cleaning your jewelry - It is very important to clean these types of finishes carefully - vigorous rubbing with a silver cloth will eventually wear the silver/gold/rhodium/palladium or ruthenium away.
For plated items with a textured finish, clean using either a silver dip type product and wash thoroughly. Dry using a soft towel and leave it to dry in a warm atmosphere.
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What does 925 Sterling Silver mean?
We hear the term “sterling silver” almost every day, it is also stamped on your silver jewelry, yet many shoppers do not understand what it really means. Sterling silver is 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% of other materials, mainly copper. The 92.5% is why jewelry is stamped with the numbers 925. Why Mix Copper with Pure Silver? Even though your silver jewelry is not pure silver, it is done so for two good reasons. Silver tends to oxidize (tarnish) quickly - The 7.5% copper used to make sterling silver slows down the tarnishing process. Also, pure silver is a very soft metal and it can break easily. Adding copper ensures that your silver jewelry will last a lot longer. ![]() The answer is Lapis Lazuli. Lapis lazuli is a deep blue semi-precious stone that has been prized since antiquity for its intense color. At the end of the Middle Ages, lapis lazuli began to be exported to Europe, where it was ground into powder and made into ultramarine, the finest and most expensive of all medium blue pigments. It was used by the most important artists of the Renaissance and Baroque, including Masaccio, Perugino, and Sandro Botticelli (picture included) and was often reserved for the clothing of the central figure of the painting, especially the Virgin Mary. Today Lapis is used in high end silver jewelry. Our Lapis collection is available at the store or online www.lacelet.net What's the difference between gold-filled and gold-plated jewelry?
Gold-plated jewelry has a smaller percentage of gold and goes through a different manufacturing process than gold-filled jewelry. To create gold-plated jewelry, a base metal goes through a series of processes and is eventually dipped into a bath of electroplating solution which contains gold. When an electric current is applied, an electrochemical reaction occurs and a thin layer of gold is deposited onto the metal. This layer is much thinner than the coating of gold that covers gold-filled jewelry, which goes through a process of mechanically bonding and heating the gold to the base metal. While gold-filled components must include gold that is at least 1/20th the weight of the entire piece, gold-plated components can have gold that only makes up a very tiny percentage. As such, gold-plated jewelry items are more prone to tarnishing as well as having the thin layer of gold eventually rubbing off than similar products made from gold-filled. Because of the lower gold content, gold-plated items are generally less expensive than similar gold-filled products. 1.Gold Plated bracelet 2. 18 K rose gold filled earrings ![]() Welcome to Lacelet Jewelry Gallery blog page. We will try to provide you with interesting information about all jewelry aspects and we welcome your input. Lacelet Jewelry Gallery features an extensive selection of elegant designer sterling silver and gold plated jewelry for men and women. Please visit our gallery in person in Burlingame, California or shop online on our website and explore our collections of over twenty international and local jewelry designers. Lacelet Jewelry Gallery is collaborating with the best designers from Argentina, Greece, Spain, Israel, Turkey - Each artist has a unique vision, a distinct style, and finely tuned skills. |
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March 2020
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