Your guide to gold-plated jewellery
Innovation, design and craftsmanship are at the heart of everything we do at Pandora. Whether we're selecting high-quality materials or utilising innovative design techniques, each piece of jewellery is given the time, attention and quality control it deserves. In this series, we're delighted to feature our 14k gold-plated jewellery.
Radiant. Luxurious. Golden. Three words that perfectly describe our line of 14k gold-plated jewellery. Paired with our own unique metal blend, we've created a shining opportunity for you to achieve a bold metal look. Explore our ultimate guide, where you'll find everything you need to know about 14k gold-plated jewellery. From dangle charms to necklaces and rings, unlock a gold mine of styles.
What does gold-plated actually mean?
You may be asking yourself how gold-plated differs from solid gold. Here's the scoop. Gold-plated refers to any jewellery consisting of a thin layer of gold applied over another metal. While these pieces are not solid gold, the plating consists of 14k gold. To be labelled 'gold-plated,' the layer of gold must be equal or greater to 0.5 micron. This ensures that it can be purchased at an affordable price while still achieving that bold metal look that so many crave.
Gold-plating may begin to wear off around the two-year mark. However, the longevity of gold-plated jewellery often depends on what's lying underneath. At Pandora, we first coat our unique metal blend with palladium, which acts as a barrier between the core and the gold-plating. Palladium is from the same group as platinum, making it extremely durable and able to withstand oxidation and corrosion, which means your 14k gold-plated jewellery retains its golden look much longer. In addition, we use electroplating, a traditional artisanal technique that's existed for hundreds of years. Electroplating ensures that your jewellery truly stands the test of time and keeps its colour and shine.
Dedicated to reducing our carbon footprint, we're thrilled to announce that, as of now, we only source 100% recycled gold. We expect that by the end of the year, all our new gold-plated products will be produced with 100% recycled gold.
Love, Francesco and Filippo, Pandora's VP Creative Directors
"Storytelling through personal style is at the heart of everything we do. And every piece of jewellery carries their own story, too. From its first sketch in Copenhagen to being held and perfected by our expert artisans in Thailand, every charm, chain, ring -- everything -- carries a story of dreams, love and craftsmanship with it."
Why invest in gold-plated jewellery?
If you're seeking an affordable, yet luxurious statement piece to add to your ensemble, 14k gold-plated jewellery may just be your answer. We use 14k gold for our gold-plating. Only gold that is 9k or more is considered "gold." The higher the karatage, the more pure gold it contains and the thicker the gold layer, the longer it maintains its finish. Gold-plating can be extremely thin, so micron thickness is very important.
At Pandora, the thickness of our gold, our base metal and our plating process all adhere to industry standards. These techniques have been perfected over time and impart a true sense of history and craftsmanship into each and every piece we make. Plus, the plating process adds an extra layer of protection to your jewellery against tarnishing, oxidation and corrosion. This way, when you wear a plated piece from Pandora, you're actually wearing a piece of jewellery history. And because of our dedication to craftsmanship, you can love your jewellery longer.
For an extended lifespan of your plated pieces, we recommend storing them in a separate jewellery box or pouch to protect them from scratches. And remember to remove your jewellery before swimming, bathing or working out. This way, there is less chance of your jewellery oxidising and turning dark in colour.
Touched by love
Curious about craftsmanship at Pandora? Try our interactive experience and discover how we melt sterling silver, shape Murano glass and hand-apply enamel to make every piece extra special.