If you have ever bought gold jewellery that turned green, faded, or left marks on your skin after a few weeks, you already understand the difference between cheap gold plating and something that actually lasts. Here is an honest breakdown of the three main types of gold jewellery - and which one is worth your money.
Standard Gold Plating
Gold plating is the most common and cheapest method. A thin layer of gold - usually between 0.5 and 2.5 microns - is electroplated onto a base metal like brass or copper. It looks like gold and feels like gold at first. But the layer is thin, and it wears off.
With daily wear, water exposure, sweat, and friction, gold-plated jewellery typically starts to fade within weeks to months. The base metal shows through, often as a greenish or brassy tone. That green mark on your wrist? That is the copper in the base metal reacting with your skin.
Solid Gold
Solid gold (9K, 14K, 18K) is the real thing. It does not tarnish, does not fade, and lasts indefinitely with basic care. It is also hypoallergenic and completely safe for sensitive skin.
The catch: cost. A simple solid gold necklace starts at 200-500 EUR and goes up quickly. For most people buying everyday jewellery or gifts, this price point is out of reach.
PVD Coating - The Middle Ground That Actually Works
PVD (Physical Vapour Deposition) is a technology originally developed for industrial and medical applications - the same coating used on surgical instruments and aerospace components. In jewellery, it bonds a gold, rose gold, or silver finish onto stainless steel at a molecular level, under high temperature and vacuum conditions.
The result is a finish that is genuinely durable. Unlike standard plating, PVD does not sit on top of the metal - it becomes part of it. The coating is 5-10 times thicker and harder than standard gold plating and resists water, sweat, perfume, and everyday wear.
PVD vs Gold Plating: Key Differences
- Durability: PVD lasts years with daily wear. Standard plating lasts weeks to months.
- Water resistance: PVD is waterproof. Standard plating fades with water exposure.
- Skin safety: PVD on stainless steel is hypoallergenic. Plated base metals can cause reactions.
- Cost: PVD jewellery costs more than standard plated pieces but far less than solid gold.
So Which Should You Buy?
If budget is no object, solid gold is the gold standard. But for most people buying beautiful, everyday jewellery - especially personalised pieces, gifts, or holiday jewellery - PVD-coated stainless steel gives you 90% of the quality of solid gold at a fraction of the price.
At Argesteel, all our pieces use PVD coating over 316L surgical-grade stainless steel. That is why we can offer a colour guarantee - and why our customers actually wear their jewellery every day without taking it off.
See for yourself: Browse the full Argesteel collection.
