Metal finishing Q&As since 1989

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For gemstone electroplating: How delicate and thin can my copper electroplating lines be to later plate with gold?

I am a newbie to this challenge to create gold vermeil on my gemstone-carving products. Now my question is: how thin and delicate can I make lines when I electroplate first copper on my jewelry-size carving, so that I can then plate 22K gold over the copper?

Thomas Banker
Product Designer and Producer - Bangkok, Thailand
February 21, 2009

If you can see the line and it is unbroken with no voids, you should be able to plate it. I am guessing that you do not have any corrosion concerns.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
February 25, 2009

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First of two simultaneous responses --

Thomas, if you are going to market your jewelry in the USA, you should know that simply plating gold over copper does not qualify as Vermeil in this country. Your items must be made of solid silver and be plated with a minimum of 2.5 microns thickness of gold.

Neil Bell
Red Sky Plating

Albuquerque, New Mexico

February 27, 2009

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Second of two simultaneous responses --

Additionally to what Jim advised, the gold should not be plated on top of your copper. You have to add a nickel intermediate layer to avoid gold migration into the copper. Otherwise, it will seem to have vanished and will loose all its properties.

Guillermo Marrufo
Monterrey, NL, Mexico
February 28, 2009

I believe vermeil is sterling silver with a gold top plate

George Brackett III
- Maine
March 4, 2009

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Yes, George, you're right; the federal code does specify sterling silver. I was trying to indicate that a copper item plated with silver and then plated with gold would not be Vermeil. So the substate must be solid sterling silver.

Neil Bell
Red Sky Plating

Albuquerque, New Mexico

March 5, 2009