Metal finishing Q&As since 1989

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Is silver jewelry being chrome plated?

We sponsor an international jewelry-related email-based communications network and want to address a current concern. Over the last year or so there has been worry in the jewelry industry that some cheaper sterling silver jewelry (maybe imported from China?) might be chromium plated to reduce tarnishing and to provide a good bright finish. This would actually be illegal under some national hallmarking legislation (I'm talking about true chrome plating, not a chromate conversion process). Does anyone have any clear information about this practice and could chrome plating on silver account for the odd magnetic susceptibility recently noted with cheaper silver jewelry on the US market? I am trying to assemble background information before starting a program of analysis.

Jack Ogden
Precious metals research - Hildesheim, Nieder Saxony, Germany
2004

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Hi,

I'm also with you Jack as I know from Thailand, China people are importing but some times there are Rh plated and some are not some other plating.

I used to clean silver jewelry in my workshop as I'm goldsmith by using 20% to 25%HCI and heat the jewelry and dip in that conc acid for about 10 to 15mins then I do polishing I come out like brand new but if it is pure silver, if it is 925 silver I'll become black on other parts and copper like color on other part and some dull silver color whatever you do it'll not become brand new unless we just do heavy polishing to remove plating I don't no which plating is done but I'm finding some good and is way to clean it like. In pure silver they add copper to make 925 silver I think so, and then electropolishing or just polishing and plating. I have also find that if nickel plating things you put in HCI 30% acid for about 10mins nickel will change the color. into copper color. Chrome plating is not done much on silver jewelry b'coz I have also try to strip by chrome striping solution it is not striping. I hope this info is useful for other finishing people.

Dipen Pattni
jeweler/goldsmith - Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania
2004