Understanding the different finishes: Gold Plated vs. Fine Gold Plated

Understanding the nuances between the different “gold-plated” and “24-karat fine gold-plated” finishes is essential to making informed choices and understanding the price differences. Although the name "gilded with fine gold" may seem more attractive, it is important to note that the quality and durability of the jewelry will be lower than that of "gold plated" jewelry.

The Gold Plated Jewel: It is an alloy of base metals, usually brass, coated with a layer of 18-karat gold. This layer of gold is applied by electrical or chemical methods, creating a coating with a minimum thickness of 3 microns. French legislation intervenes in this area by imposing a plating thickness of at least 3 microns for a piece of jewelry to be qualified as gold plated. Thus, the quality of a gold-plated piece of jewelry is largely measured by the thickness of the gold layer, guaranteeing its durability and shine over time.

The 24K Fine Gold Gilded Jewel: On the other hand, the term "gilded with fine 24 carat gold" refers to a finish where the jewel is covered with an extremely thin layer of gold, less than 3 microns. Unlike gold plated, there are no strict regulations in France regarding the thickness of plating for jewelry gilded with fine gold. Products gilded with 24k fine gold have a plating thickness ranging from 0.03 to 1 micron, often referred to as "Flash". To deserve the designation “Gilded with Fine Gold”, the plating must be made with pure 24-carat gold. This gives a luxurious shine to the jewelry, although the lesser thickness of gold makes it more delicate and susceptible to wear.

At OREHANA, we attach great importance to the choice of materials in the design of our jewelry. This is why we offer you gold-plated jewelry, in order to be part of a logic of responsible consumption, encouraging “consume less and opt for superior quality”.