Top-Level Gold Coating Techniques

Electroplating

At Chiaro Jewelry we use electroplating (also known as e-coating) to coat the jewelry. The Premium 925 Sterling Silver is coated with layer of gold by applying a direct electric current. This partially dissolves the metals and creates a chemical bond between them.

By creating a chemical bond, the plating is a permanent addition to the surface of the base metal. This means that it will not naturally fall off or separate. However, plating can be worn off over months and years of use and wear.

In addition to increased quality and a different look, electroplating adds protection from rust, damage or corrosion. 

The Process

The e-coating process consists of four phases:

  • Pretreatment
    The metal surface is prepared for e-coating with a thorough cleaning and phosphating.
  • Electrocoat Bath
    The coating begins with a bath of approximately 85% deionized water and 15% paint solids.
  • Post Rinses
    The e-coating process is over 95% efficient because what limited paint solids cling to the surface as it exits the bath are removed by post rinses.
  • Bake Oven
    After the final rinses, the oven cross links and cures the paint for maximum performance; most e-coating systems employ a minimum bake time of 20 minutes under 375-degree heat.

Excellent Corrosion Protection and Eco-Friendly

Unlike other liquid coatings, e-coating uses no solvents. There are virtually no harmful VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) out-gassing into the environment from an electro-coating plant. This not only makes the work environment healthier, it also minimizes the impact on the environment and makes it an environmentally friendly process. 

Traditional liquid and spray painting causes considerable overspray that is difficult, if not impossible, to collect and recycle. In e-coating, paint resins are suspended in a chemical bath that is mostly water. There is no overspray and almost no waste. Even as the parts are rinsed, the excess resins are reclaimed and recycled into the electro-coat bath—a closed system.

Part of being green is making products last longer. E-coating delivers better corrosion protection than conventional paint because its charged-particle, full-immersion process coats the surface of parts on a molecular level that is far more thorough than spraying.