Authoritative Interpretation of Jewelry Electroplating

If you are in the jewelry business or wondering why your silver jewelry tarnishes after just a few days of wear, spending 5 minutes reading this article will provide you with answers. Additionally, you'll be equipped to express your opinions confidently on electroplating-related discussions and not be easily misled.

Nice City Jewelry places a high emphasis on electroplating, believing that customer satisfaction stems from quality and adhering to the principle of high cost-effectiveness.

During market research, it was found that many individuals still have a vague understanding of electroplating. Therefore, it is deemed necessary to share knowledge in this area with supporters of Nice City Jewelry to prevent them from falling into pitfalls.

Why is electroplating necessary for jewelry?

Electroplating involves applying a thin metallic coating to metal objects using an electrolytic method to prevent corrosion, enhance appearance, and improve wear and reflectivity. While it sounds simple, practical implementation requires precise scientific knowledge and rich experience.

Electroplating is a complex process. For example, in gold plating, the material to be plated is immersed in a potassium gold cyanide solution as the cathode, while a metal gold plate acts as the anode. When a direct current power source is connected, gold deposits onto the material needing plating. This process, termed electroplating or water plating, is widely used in the jewelry industry. Mei Long Jewelry has a firm grasp of electroplating for jewelry. The minimum standard for collaborating electroplating facilities is over 20 years of experience, ensuring reliability.

What happens in electroplating facilities upon receiving jewelry?

1.Copper Wire Hanging:

Each piece is individually hung on silicone racks with copper wire to ensure complete and uniform plating.

2.Wax Removal and Cleaning:

Jewelry surfaces undergo electrolytic cleaning with purified water. Nice City Jewelry's partnering facilities use purified water cleaner than drinking water available externally, maintaining continuous flow to preserve water purity.

3.Silver Plating:

After thorough cleaning, jewelry is placed in a silver tank for a base layer of silver plating, enhancing adhesion between different metal materials. The thickness of the silver layer typically ranges from 3 to 5 microns.

4.Palladium Plating:

Jewelry then proceeds to a palladium tank for plating to enhance wear resistance and oxidation resistance. The thickness of the palladium layer is generally around 0.02 microns.

5.Rhodium Plating:

Rhodium, a noble metal, is used for bright and durable surface treatment, enhancing whiteness and visual appeal. The thickness of the rhodium layer usually ranges from 0.02 to 0.03 microns, up to 0.3 microns maximum.

Typically, when referring to microns of electroplating, it indicates the thickness of the rhodium plating layer. Why do some rings on the market tarnish after just a few days of wear? A significant part of the reason lies in this electroplating layer. Thicker electroplating reduces the likelihood of tarnishing, but the corresponding cost increases.

There are many electroplating factories in the market that falsely report thickness to reduce costs. They charge for 0.03-micron thickness but only provide 0.01-micron electroplating. This undermines product quality, affects customers' brand image, and leads to a loss of reputation in the market.

To dispel customer trust concerns, we purchased a thickness gauge worth over 400,000 yuan, capable of accurately detecting the thickness of each component of the product, turning promises into visible facts.

Of course, if gold or rose gold plating is applied, attention must also be paid to the color of the electroplating. The difference between gold and rose gold lies in the addition of copper. Gold plating comes in many color plates: 9K/14K/18K/22K, etc. The thickness typically ranges from 0.03 to 0.05 microns, with a maximum of 5 microns.

6.High-Temperature Ultrasonic Cleaning:

After rhodium plating, another round of high-temperature ultrasonic cleaning is performed to completely remove acids and alkalis from the jewelry surface, reducing the likelihood of discoloration in finished products. (Many ordinary electroplating factories either don't know about this step or choose to ignore it to control costs).

7.Electrolytic Protection:

To enhance color retention, a final layer of protective film is applied, integrating different materials for protection. The effectiveness of this step depends on each manufacturer's unique formula and technology.

（Some customers also request electrophoretic coating, which is a method of applying organic paint to the surface of metal using electricity. This technique ensures that every corner and crevice of the jewelry is covered with a uniform protective coating. Essentially, it creates an ultra-fine transparent plastic layer that protects both the silver and its plating, significantly extending the lifespan and luster of the jewelry. The color may differ slightly from previous methods, and the tactile sensation will be smoother, primarily depending on the customer's preference.）

8.Baking:

The final step, also prone to oversight. Some manufacturers experience discoloration issues shortly after finishing production, which is often due to insufficient baking. Once baked, the process is complete, and every step directly impacts the final product's outcome.

Of course, some steps are adjusted based on customer requirements. For example, when encountering clients with high demands for appearance quality, after completing the silver plating in step 3, jewelry undergoes another polishing before silver plating, effectively doubling the silver plating. This enhances the overall product quality. Mei Long Jewelry serves customers from all walks of life, aiming to provide high cost-effectiveness.

Nice City Jewelry's partnering electroplating facilities have extensive collaborations with top brands such as APM, Disney, and Swarovski, demonstrating a clear understanding of quality control and international standards. The electroplating process strictly adheres to environmental protection standards and absolutely avoids harmful metals like lead, nickel, and cadmium.

The adjustment of light agent concentration, assurance of metal tank concentration, and precise control of time and temperature by operators are crucial for success. Any slight deviation in these steps can lead to jewelry discoloration issues, making prevention crucial.

In conclusion, understanding the electroplating process and its intricacies is vital for jewelry businesses. Nice City Jewelry's commitment to quality and customer satisfaction sets a standard in the industry, ensuring that every piece of jewelry meets the highest standards of excellence.

How does Meilong jewelry do electroplating quality testing?

Salt Spray Test

The salt spray test machine is a device that accelerates the natural oxidation process. Every batch of jewelry shipped by Mei Long Jewelry undergoes testing individually, and only when the test results meet the normal standards are they sent out to customers.

The international standard is under a concentration of 5% for 24 hours.

Nice City Jewelry's partnered electroplating factory can achieve 72 hours under a concentration of 10%.

Striving for excellence in international standards, Mei Long Jewelry is committed to establishing a quality barrier for customers, extending far beyond just electroplating.

CONTACT US

Shancheng Jewelry Co, Ltd. passionately designs and crafts exquisite jewelry. Leveraging our extensive experience, we deliver top-notch rings, necklaces, earrings, and more. Our dynamic design team consistently innovates to cater to diverse customer needs.

For inquiries about our products, feel free to reach out to us anytime through the following channels:

• Whatsapp: +86 18927912670
• Email: nicecity274@gmail.com