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Chrome plated vs. nickel plated

October 30, 2010

Hi Ted,
Does chrome plated cost more than nickel plated?
And what's the difference between regular nickel plated and nickel plated with toxic free? Which costs more?

And if all imports to US requires to have toxic free nickel plating?

Thanks!

Angela Wang
product designer - HONG KONG

Hi, Angela. Chrome plating includes a number of extra steps after the nickel plating is done. Further some things like hardware can be nickel plated in bulk, for low labor costs, but cannot be chrome plated that way. So, quality-for-quality, chrome plating is more expensive.

I'm not quite sure what you mean by toxic-free nickel plating, but many people are allergic to nickel, so a white bronze plating is sometimes substituted on jewelry and other items which people touch. Jewelry for Europe must be nickel-free, but the US presently does not require jewelry to be nickel-free, although some particular marketers like Avon and Simply Whispers might. Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
November 1, 2010

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