Concept of semi-jewelry and plated bijouterie

Knowing how to explain the quality of a semi-jewel or plated bijou in a clear way is essential for those who wish to be successful resellers . It is essential that the answers are at the tip of the tongue to answer your customers when necessary to talk about the quality and durability of your products.

In the table below we detail in a simple way the differences between semi-jewelry and plated bijoux:

The chemical process is very important to give life and durability to the accessories you sell.
Several people are curious to know what it means, how it works and what steps are taken until the end result of a Ronê piece.

This is a production stage that aims to ensure the durability and beauty of the accessories.
We call this chemical process GALVANOPLASTY  which we explain in detail in the table below.

 

 

The semi-jewel bath is divided into several stages, each of which has specific characteristics, processes and purposes. All of these steps are part of electroplating, which is all chemical treatment performed on any metal surface. Below are the main stages of bathing in semi-jewels:

 

Degreaser

A process of cleaning the parts is carried out using a degreaser, allowing the baths to adhere effectively.

alkaline copper

In this step, a thin layer of copper is deposited so that micro-imperfections in the base metal are not visible. Alkaline copper also contributes to improved adhesion.

Acid Copper

It is the copper process responsible for giving shine to the pieces.

nickel free

Application of a base of tin and palladium before gold processes, in order to create a layer that prevents copper migration.

Pre Gold

A thin layer of gold is applied to protect and standardize the color of the pieces.

Foliation

It is the process in which the layer of gold applied to the piece is defined, it is also where the difference in durability is defined. The greater the milesimage applied (amount of gold) the more its durability increases.

Final Color

In this process, the final color is applied in order to obtain a uniform color finish on all parts.

cataphoretic varnish

An immersion varnish is applied whose function is to provide extra protection against external oxidation, greater brightness and durability and to create an anti-allergic layer for users.

 

Types of existing baths:

Below, we list some types of bath in semijoias and plated costume jewelry that bring the noble metals most used in this process. See what they are:

Silver

Silver-plated pieces are very popular and stand out for being cost-effective, in addition to maintaining a whole tradition in the world of semi-jewelry.

The biggest concern of those who buy this type of semi-jewelry is the darkening that can occur in some pieces. Several factors influence this issue, including sweat, use of perfumes and cleaning products.

Therefore, the silver bath is also used to recover pieces and thus extend their use for much longer.

Gold

Along with silver bathing, gold bathing is the best known when we talk about types of bathing in plated semi-jewels / bijouterie. The application of gold can be done in the most varied amounts, with corrosion resistance being influenced by the amount of gold applied.

Carrying out gold baths on a large scale requires the use of technology and specific devices such as electronic rectifiers to guarantee the similarity of the pieces, that is, that one does not receive a much larger layer of gold than the other of the same model.

Rhodium

Rhodium is an excellent alternative to silver. There are two types of rhodiums: white and black. Its cost is higher, but the cost-effectiveness is very attractive, after all, it has a great capacity to increase the durability of jewelry by influencing quality in several aspects.

Coating a piece with rhodium helps protect a piece from being scratched or otherwise damaged. It is worth mentioning that, due to constant use and contact with the skin, this coating can come off, making it necessary to perform a new rhodium bath.

Rhodium is also responsible for the final shine of jewelry made of gold that needs to achieve a whiter color. Typically, these pieces use a metal alloy that is around 75% gold and the rest other materials. When finished, however, the color takes on a more yellowish tone, and it is recommended to go through a white rhodium bath to ensure a shiny finish.

The choice between white and black rhodium only concerns the type of tone you want to achieve, since, in general, they have similar quality in terms of durability.

Graphite

The graphite bath aims to give the semi-jewel a darker tone. The reference is the tone of the onyx stone, which is why some prefer to call it an onyx bath.

After performing the graphite bath, it is recommended to brush a thin layer of varnish to ensure more durability to the finish.

This bath serves both to qualify the finish of a semi-jewel and to recover pieces that already show a certain deterioration.

However, it is important to know that there are specific metals to receive this bath. Are they:

• brass / tombac ;
• copper;
• stainless steel;
• tin alloys.

 

Technical aspects of electroplating:

After the final bath, there is an important process within galvanizing, which is drying. In it, the pieces are placed in ovens or centrifuges so that any water residue is eliminated.

If this is not done, there is a great chance that the piece will be left with marks, which can be considered a malfunction and make the semi-jewel lose market value.

About the immersion time, it varies according to the objectives and type of metal used to carry out the bath. The thickness of the piece is also a factor that greatly influences the immersion that will be carried out.

In immersion, the thickness of the coating used is determined by the way and speed with which the metallic bath is applied. All of this is intended to prolong the useful life of the metal used, with protection being the main mechanism for this to happen.

Aesthetics also stand out after a galvanizing process is carried out, even because this investment brings a differential and guarantees greater quality to the parts.

Recommendations:

At RONÊ, we mainly produce and sell plated / plated costume jewellery. That is, all our pieces are coated with a thin layer of noble material (gold / silver / rhodium). Therefore, as with semi-jewelry or any costume jewellery, there are some precautions and recommendations for use necessary to maintain the good condition and natural shine of all pieces.

• Avoid contact of your RONÊ Jewelery with creams, detergents, sunscreens, soaps, perfumes, baths or similar, as their residues can make the pieces opaque or milky;
• Avoid bathing in the sea, swimming pools and/or rivers with the pieces;
• In any aesthetic procedure, try to remove the parts, thus avoiding possible contact with chemical products;
• Avoid washing dishes or doing manual work that could cause friction with the bathed jewelry;
• Avoid contact with rough surfaces.
• Be careful when storing, so that they don't scratch or wrap around each other. Hanging the necklaces or storing them in the packaging can be great ideas.
• To clean the parts, use a magic flannel and other indicated products;
• Do not leave bathed jewelry exposed to the sun;
• Avoid sleeping with the jewelry, so that they don't get crushed or damaged;
• Avoid bathing with the jewelery so that it does not lose its shine when in contact with products;
• Place the parts at least 20 min. after applying a cosmetic.