We stock a few stainless steel pieces that are gold in colour. The following will be a brief guide as to the rigorous process that is used to get that colour as well as the added benefits one gets from the process.

Background

With the increasing trend of consumers moving towards stainless steel jewellery for those that are looking for affordable pieces with increased durability, equivalent aesthetic and better ageing there has also been a need to have the pieces in different colours. Everything from gold to multicoloured variants have entered the market to allow for very wide range of styles and preferences. The stainless steel jewellery industry moved to make use of the very same industrial processes used to colour heavy duty stainless steel used in construction and other similar industries. 

The process

The process that is used goes by a few names but is generally known as a vacuum deposition method with two main methods in the industry being physical vapor deposition (PVD) or physical vapor transport (PVT).

The process starts off with the stainless steel jewellery being cleaned thoroughly to ensure that the coating will bond well. The stainless steel is then placed in a vacuum chamber with the target metal that will be used to create the coating, the target metal depends on the colour that is going to be created and the finish needed. A small amount of gas is introduced, in most cases it is argon gas. A high voltage circuit is then set up, a strike and base layer are added then the target metal is allowed to adhere. In a nutshell the process allows the gas ions to release the target metal such that it can be deposited onto the stainless steel. Once completed, the deposit will give the desired colour, renewed shine and strength. In the case of the gold colour the target metal can be made up of a variety of metals including copper, rhodium, bronze, tin, nickel and many more to create an alloy, depending on the shade and brightness of gold required on the stainless steel jewellery piece.

What about durability, strength, discolouration?

Because this is done via a plating process and not an electrochemical process the coating will not discolour or fade and will actually improve the abrasion resistance of the metal as a whole. Keep in mind that this very same process is used for creating coloured stainless steel for construction, outdoor sculptures, structural fixtures and transportation for example on trains. Unless put under extreme conditions and not cared for, the colour should remain for a very long time. As is the case for all of our pieces we highly recommend you follow general jewellery care practices to look after stainless steel jewellery i.e., don't expose to chemicals and water for long periods of time, clean regularly, store in the protective box provided when not in use and don't wear when undertaking heavy duty work that could damage it.

What about real gold plating?

Although there are some processes where items may be plated in real gold plating e.g., 9kt or 24kt, it has become incredibly difficult to tell the difference and has resulted in an increase in fake pieces in the market. Factually speaking the price for such equivalent items should be much higher but are often not and consumers are falsely led to believe they are plated in real gold when actually they are not. As a result of the above there is this trend towards consumers preferring stainless steel jewellery for everyday pieces that have a colour plating of their choice, whether it be gold, rose gold or as is the case for another growing trend, black plated stainless steel. If you do choose real gold plated items, it is advised to ask your retailer for proof of the coating. 

What to do if you are unsure about our products?

While we will always list the type of metal/material in our descriptions and also endeavour to put out more articles like these to explain our materials in more detail, please feel free to send us an email at info@lambence.co.za or a simple Instagram DM and we will be more than happy to assist in explaining in more detail. If you need more pictures or videos to be sent to you to gain more confidence we can also arrange for that.