Are you working on building your jewelry collection? Not sure what to buy?
Jewelry gets expensive once you’re trying to curate a full collection. Does every piece have to be a solid gold high-end treasure? Why not buy a few pieces of plated jewelry to supplement your nicer pieces?
Not sure if it’s worth it? Let’s talk about it. Keep reading to learn all about whether or not plated jewelry is right for you.
What Is Plated Jewelry?
When you buy high-end jewelry, you’re likely seeing jewelry that’s solid gold or silver. This means that the material is the same all the way through (even if that material is an alloy of several metals).
Plated jewelry, however, is different. This means that there is a base metal and a metal that covers that base.
Base metals are often affordable and durable, like steel, brass, or titanium. To make gold or silver plated jewelry, like the jewelry you can find on this page, designers then coat the base metal with a thin layer of the plating metal.
Silver and gold plated jewelry aren’t inherently bad, but here are a few pros and cons.
Pros of Plated Jewelry
One of the top reasons people buy plated jewelry is that it’s more affordable than solid jewelry. You can often find plated jewelry for a fraction of the price of the “real deal,” and the appearance is similar enough that most people won’t notice the difference from a distance.
This means that this kind of jewelry is great for when you want a large jewelry collection, but you don’t have the budget for high-end pieces.
If you love stacking rings and necklaces, but you can’t afford to have more than one or two statement pieces, plated jewelry is perfect for filling in the gaps.
Plated jewelry may also be better for situations in which your jewelry could get damaged or dirty. While you may not want to wear your more expensive jewelry when you’re at risk of losing it or ruining it, you can still accessorize in style with plated jewelry.
Cons of Plated Jewelry
Plated jewelry is affordable for a reason. The plated jewelry quality isn’t ideal for things you’ll want to keep long-term with constant use. The plating can and will rub or chip off over time.
There are some specific circumstances in which you’ll want to avoid plated jewelry. If you happen to have an allergy to nickel, plated jewelry isn’t the best option because the plating will wear down and expose the metal underneath.
Jewelry that you insert into piercings shouldn’t be plated unless you know your body well enough that you know you won’t deal with irritation. Piercings are more sensitive than your arms, fingers, neck, or anywhere else that you’d put “standard” jewelry.
Plated Jewelry: Yes or No?
In short, plated jewelry is worth it for your day-to-day jewelry needs. It’s not as durable as solid jewelry, but it’s great for fashion. Don’t be afraid to supplement your higher-end jewelry with some affordable plated pieces.
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