Metals

Metal plating

Not sure what metal plating is? Here you can explore the common jewellery practice of depositing a thin layer of one type of metal onto the surface of another.

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It adds visual appeal

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What about electroplating?

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Plated alloys

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Pandora’s three types of plating

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Hallmarks tell you what's inside

Plated metals at Pandora

14k Gold-plated

Our 14k gold-plated finish is the star of our plated unique metal blends, protecting pieces from tarnishing while also providing a luxurious gold shimmer.

14k Rose gold-plated

A 14k rose gold plating encases our designs, preventing its unique metal blend core from tarnish and finishing the designs an eye-catching pale pink sheen that's universally flattering.

Rhodium-plated sterling silver

Used on some of our sterling silver designs, rhodium is a precious metal, notable for being extremely durable and resistant to tarnish. A layer of rhodium plating brings a shiny finish and a bright lustre to your jewellery.

What is electroplating?

The electroplating process involves passing an electric current through a conductive solution called an electrolyte. The metal atoms that plate an object come from the electrolyte, so if you want to gold-plate a jewellery piece, the electrolyte must be made from a solution of a gold salt. Two terminals called electrodes are then dipped into the electrolyte and connected to a circuit with a power supply. When electricity flows through the circuit, the electrolyte splits and some of the metal atoms it contains are deposited in a thin layer on top of one of the electrodes to become electroplated. The longer the process continues, the greater the thickness of the coating.