QuestionI have some favorite earrings that are gold plated and are now
reverting to their "mother" metal. How would one go about
restoring their lustre? Where does one buy relevant supplies in
small quanties? Thank you!
AnswerDear C Hornstein, thanks for this question.
First of all, let's look at how a gold plate is applied to base metal earrings in the first place. That will help you see how this is not suited for a do-at-home project.
ELECTROPLATE. Generally, most costume earrings with a gold color are plated with a flash of gold to provide color. Underneath the gold are other layers of plate to provide better color and retention to the thin gold layer.
The process is called electroplating, what some folks call "dipping" in gold. Dipping is certainly a popular way of saying it but is quite incorrect. There is not a way to dip a metal item into molten gold and obtain a fine and uniform coating of gold, that is, if the item does not melt from the high heat of the molten metal! The actual solution into which a metal object is placed to be electroplated with gold is a watery solution, generally based on a form of cyanide, the poisonous chemical. The solution contains ions of gold within the solution. Heated to about 140f degrees or so, the solution is ready. The item is suspended in the solution with an electrical wire attached. Another wire goes to an "anode" or piece of pure gold also placed into the solution. A current of electricity is run through the solution from the anode to the item, carrying with the current the ions of gold. The gold is deposited in a thin film on the item to be plated.
Prior to any plating, all traces of previous plated material are removed, generally using another cyanide based solution called a "stripping solution". The item is then polished and finished as desired, cleaned using ultrasonics and an "electrocleaner" or alkali solution with electrical current similar to used in plating. The cleaning removes all traces of polishing compound and oils which would interfere with good electroplating. Then the item is plated(as mentioned above), rinsed well and packed to go!
The only real at-home solutions might be a gold paint or one of the gold/wax based rub-on products from good crafts stores. These are not going to make the item look new but will at least cover the exposed base metal and give some form of decency back to the earrings.
Jewlers will generally not attempt to replate costume jewelry. The work is too labor intensive compared to the cost of costume jewelry.
These are my straight thoughts on your question. Please get back if you need more information. If interested in seeing basic electroplating set-up, go to one of these websites where jewelry supplies are sold. Search plating or electroplating.
www.contenti.com
www.gesswein.com
Both businesses are well established and reputable.
Thanks again for the question.
God Bless and Peace. Thomas. Sept. 10,2006 3:03pm
