Gold plate - does it always rub off?

[Flyinggeese1234]

My question I suppose is are there different degrees of quality of gold plate?

I want few necklaces, I love gold. I can’t afford ‘a few’ solid gold necklaces!

I like this for example www.wolfandbadger.com/uk/pearl-necklace-with-chain/

It’s at the more expensive end of costume jewellery (for me). Will the gold plate come off? This has been my experience with cheaper items in the past, but it’s been a while. Is gold plate better nowadays? Is ‘vermeil’ any different?

Any advice please? Thanks!

Gold plating will always rub off eventually. This could take weeks, months or years though. You can get different thicknesses of plating. You can also get something re plated when it's worn off. You should also consider gold fill and gold vermeil.
Wolf and Badger is very good quality and lovely stuff!

Thanks emberplum. I’ve even known gold plate to degrade just in the jewellery box when unworn for a while. I don’t want to spend £150 and have something that looks awful potentially after even a few weeks.

Vermeil is thicker than gold plate and I think tends to last better (this page talks about it www.monicavinader.com/blog/news-and-events/gold-plated-vs-gold-vermeil )

I’ve got several gold vermeil things - bracelets, necklaces, earrings - and they’ve lasted really well. One of the bracelets I wear a LOT is definitely a bit faded now - it’s gold vermeil over silver - but I did wear it every day for a long time and it’s around 10 years old now. For a necklace, I think you’d be ok. But vermeil may be a better bet than plate.

Hey thanks Talipesmum. Really good to know.

I also like this www.wolfandbadger.com/uk/layered-chain-necklace-gold/ so do people just buy gold plated jewellery accepting that it’s pretty much disposable?

I’d look at lots of reviews for the seller (ie the one that makes the necklaces, not Wolf and badger, which is just the selling site). It might be totally fine!

Good call, will do.

I do think though that people review an item pretty soon after delivery (if they’re going to at all) and wouldn’t come back 3 months later to say something has tarnished.

I appreciate the replies. Just looking to not waste money, but at the same time I really do fancy a few new necklaces given I’m stating at my own face and neck for hours a day on Teams calls!

I think the answer is yes! It does always run off. I've just found this out the hard way as some lovely pendants DH got me are now all patchy and discoloured. I took them to a brilliant local jeweller to ask about replating and he explained there was no point as the plate would just rub off again. I'm now gradually replacing plated chains with gold chains. Vermeil is a thicker layer of gold than plate but it still wears off eventually.

This is a hard life lesson!

Look at your local auctions rather than retail.
Often gold jewellery (especially chains and bracelets) can be sold just for or just above 'scrap' price and is a lot more affordable than buying via a Jewellery Store.

Try looking for gold filled jewellery rather than Gold plated, it's far better quality. Bini Chohan is an independent jewellery maker who makes gold filled jewellery, I have a couple of her pieces and the quality is exceptional.
Www.binichohan.com

claracluck1978 I do keep an eye on auctions (subscribe to alerts for certain things) but I love some of the more current designs too and they just don’t seem to crop up at auction. Chunky gold as a solid necklace would be a fortune.

Pinktruffle thanks will look. I’ve never heard of gold filled so will check it out. Does it not tarnish/come off like gold plate?

Gold filled: en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold-filled_jewelry so it does come off but looks like it would last a lot, lot longer. Interesting.

Slightly off topic, but hope I might find my people here: does anyone have a good trick for making new plated or vermeil look less blingy/more authentic without damaging it too much. I was wondering about shoe polish or something...

My experience with plating is that when it (very quickly) starts to come off a cheap metal base it can irritate my skin, but gold over silver often wears quite slowly and gradually without irritating my skin.

@Talipesmum

I’d look at lots of reviews for the seller (ie the one that makes the necklaces, not Wolf and badger, which is just the selling site). It might be totally fine!

I didn't know that this was how this site works. Thanks for flagging