18k White Gold Swarovski Crystal Love Heart Pendant Necklace With Chain Bag

Q4 Is gold-filled the same as gold plate?

A4 No, gold plating is a miniscule layer of solid gold applied to a brass base. The plating does not compose any measurable proportion of the productA€™s total weight. It is estimated to be 0.05% or less of the metal product. Gold plating will wear off rather quickly and expose the brass base product. It does not stand up to heat, water or wear over time. By comparison, gold-filled contains 5% gold by weight; moreover, all the gold is on the surface which offers product protection from tarnish and wear

Q5 Can gold-filled tarnish?

A5 Yes it can, but it takes a rare set of circumstances. Gold-filled is usually a lifetime product because the gold layer bonded to the brass core is quite thick. However, in rare instances of extreme sulfide exposure the gold-filled can blacken. This has only occurred a handful of times over our decades of gold-filled use. Foreign transit through extremely polluted shipping docks in a few countries has caused the product to blacken on several occasions. The only domestic cases we have had were products stored in nail salons with high levels of chemical sulfide fumes and due to a fire where the structure was filled with smoke and all the gold-filled in the building turned black. These are extreme conditions that are unlikely to happen to most end users. However, it has made me think twice about breathing the air in nail salons. Usually, gold filled just requires light surface cleaning with an untreated cloth or mild soapy water.