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Metal plating

Not sure what we mean when we talk plated metals? Here you can explore the common jewellery practice of depositing a thin layer of one type of metal onto the surface of another.

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It adds visual appeal

Metal plating is usually applied to jewellery to add visual appeal as well as added protection and durability.

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What about electroplating?

Some forms of electroplating (you can scroll down to read about what electroplating is) are both protective and decorative; metals such as gold and silver are plated to create attractive finishes as well as for affordability and durability.

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Plated alloys

Alloys can also be plated in a process whereby the electrolyte contains salts of all the metals that need to be present in the alloy.

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Pandora’s three types of plating

Pandora currently offers three types of plated jewellery: rhodium-plated sterling silver, Pandora Rose and Pandora Shine. Scroll down for more on each of these.

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Hallmarks tell you what's inside

A plated jewellery item’s hallmark will always indicate what its metal core is made of.

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What is electroplating?

The electroplating process involves passing an electric current through a conductive solution called an electrolyte. The metal atoms that plate an object come from the electrolyte, so if you want to gold-plate a jewellery item, the electrolyte must be made from a solution of a gold salt. Two terminals called electrodes are then dipped into the electrolyte and connected to a circuit with a power supply. When electricity flows through the circuit, the electrolyte splits and some of the metal atoms it contains are deposited in a thin layer on top of one of the electrodes to become electroplated. The longer the process continues, the greater the thickness of the coating.

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