Manufacturing Gold Plated Bangles

Overview

Not everyone can afford the much sought after expensive, fine jewellery. For those who want an inexpensive substitute of the costly gold or silver jewellery, the cheaper alternative is buying the inexpensive but lustrous silver or gold plated jewellery. Silver plated bangles and Gold Plated bangles are a cheaper alternative of the expensive gold and silver bangles. With the rising gold prices neither is buying gold bangles everyone’s cup of tea nor is it feasible to wear jewellery made of genuine gold every day. Let’s take a look at the process involved in the manufacture of Gold plated bangles.

Manufacturing Gold Plated Bangles

The modern day process of creating gold plated bangles involves mainly of electroplating. Modern day process of electroplating begins with the creation of metal salt using a plating metal, usually silver or gold. When an acid and base combine to create a neutralization reaction, these salts are formed. Metal salts are created when the positively charged ions of a metal combine with a non-metal or an acid. This salt is then mixed with water to form the solution for the process of electroplating.

The object to be plated is immersed in this solution and an electric current is passed through the solution. The component to be plated is immersed in this bath and an electric current is supplied through it. The current which is directed to the object to be electroplated passes through the metal salts as it moves through the solution.  The current is directed to the component and dissolves the metal salts as it moves through the bath. The gold molecules move with the current and are deposited on the object that is to be electroplated. The duration for which the object stays in the solution determines the thickness of the plating formed on the object.

RE-PLATING

There comes a time when the plating on the gold plated bangle or the silver plated bangle starts wearing off. If the plating of the jewellery starts wearing off, it can be re-plated to restore its original luster. With the metals which are covered with a plating of gold, gradually the atoms begin to diffuse into the layer of the metal itself. This eventually leads to the dulling of the color of the gold plated jewellery over time. This dull surface can be restored with its original luster by re-plating the jewellery. Re-plating safely returns the gold color.

 

WEARING DOWN

It should be remembered that the plating of gold will eventually wear off. However there are some factors that determine how soon the gold plating will wear off although the rate of tarnishing can depend upon the piece of jewellery too.

·         The thicker the plating, the longer it will last. It is simply because there is more to be weathered off.

·         Gold is inherently more attracted to some metals which is why gold plating on those metals might last longer than that on other metals. Gold stays for longer on titanium and silver than it does on nickel or copper. The affinity of gold for a particular metal is directly proportional to the duration for which it will stay on the metal.

·         Rubbing or using the jewellery more will lead to wearing off of the gold plating faster.

 

Conclusion

Gold plated jewellery or silver plated jewellery is an affordable alternative for fine or precious jewellery. When it comes to buying bangles, purchasing gold plated bangles or silver plated bangles proves to be a wise and cost effective decision. Understanding the manufacturing process of gold plated bangles proves helpful in caring for these bangles.