Gold Plating
A surface treatment known as Gold Plating, applied to watch components to alter appearance and/or surface properties.
Also known as: Gold-plated, Gold plate, Gilt
Definition
Gold plating applies a thin layer of gold to the surface of a component made primarily from another material, commonly steel or brass. The gold layer creates the appearance of gold while using far less precious metal than a solid-gold component. Plating thickness and process vary, and wear at edges, clasps or high-contact areas can eventually expose the base metal. Gold plating should therefore be distinguished from solid gold, gold-filled construction and modern vacuum-deposited gold-coloured coatings.
Why it matters
For buyers and valuers, 'gold plated' and 'solid gold' are fundamentally different descriptions. Condition matters because worn plating may be difficult to restore invisibly and does not carry the intrinsic gold content of a solid case.