Is gold plated jewellery worth it? Here's the Melyn Jewels opinion...

We get it. Solid gold is expensive and we're currently experiencing a cost-of-living crisis. For those who love the warm, timeless, iconic colour of gold but have other financial priorities (we're looking at you; rent!), what is the best alternative?

Many people turn to gold plated jewellery, but what is it, and how does it compare real gold? Let's find out.

What exactly is gold plated jewellery?

Simply put, jewellery that is gold plated is made from a base metal (brass or copper, usually) which is then covered in a thin layer of real gold. Emphasis on 'thin'.

"Just how thin?" I hear you ask. Typcially 0.25 microns thin!

Now, for a higher price tag you can find plating that goes upwards of 5microns. With each additional micron that is layered onto your base metal, the higher the price tag will be.

Benefits of gold plated jewellery

The main benefit is obviously the price tag! Gold plated jewellery will always be cheaper than solid gold jewellery, and that is of huge importance to many shoppers.

So far, this all sounds good, right? You take a non-precious metal like, perhaps brass, cover it in precious gold, and enjoy the wonderfully warm glow for years to come! Except...

Downsides to gold plated jewellery

..."nothing good lasts forever". The biggest downside of gold plating is that it is simply not durable enough to warrant being used on many pieces.

As the ultra-thin layer of gold wears away, the wearer is left with a chipped, flaked and uneven assortment of gold/brown/green/black hues.

The unfortunate reality is that this wear and tare not only comes from physical sources i.e your skin and clothes, but also chemical and liquid sources such as perfumes, soaps, sweat, and even simply water. Every aspect of our daily life is slowly (or quickly) eating away at the thin, precious layer of gold.

Once plating has begun to wear away, can you re-plate your jewellery? Of course, once this damage has begun, you can pay to have your jewellery replated which will bring it back to it's original golden colour. How much does it cost to replate jewellery? Prices for these services vary depending on your region, the size of your piece, and how many microns you chose to plate it with, but expect to begin with prices from around £50

Alternatives to gold plated jewellery - the beauty of brass and bronze

Not sold on the durability or the expensive upkeep of gold plated jewellery? Have you ever considered simply wearing brass or bronze instead?

Through clever generational marketing, we've been condtioned to consider precious metals as the ultimate jewellery goal, and brass, bronze and copper to be kept for cheap, throwaway jewellery.

Whilst gold has obvioulsy always been sought after, brass and bronze have a rich history once played just as important of a role in creating symbolic, meaningful and invaluable treaures, including jewellery, art, sculpture, coinage and more. Evidence of intentional brass creation dates all the way back to the 1st centuary BC!

"No plating, no worries"

It's the Melyn Jewels motto. Our gold toned jewellery is either bronze or brass, meaning you don't have to worry about gold plating fading away. If it starts to dull, simply wash the pendant/ring etc with a cloth or old toothbrush and a dollop of kitchen soap. Simple!

Pro tip: Wear your bronze and brass rings all day every day to keep them sparkling. Yes, you read that right, even when you're getting your hands wet! The day-to-day exposure to water and soap keeps your rings effortlessly bright and sparkling!

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