Frequently Asked Questions
General questions about gilding
We gold-plate the following metals for you:
- Stainless steel : Corrosion-resistant, durable, and robust; ideal for shiny gold plating.
- Silver : A highly valued precious metal; it provides an excellent base for gold plating.
- Brass : Warm, golden appearance; good for detailed designs.
- Copper : Red metal that acquires an attractive color depth through gilding.
- Platinum : Extremely valuable and durable; an excellent base for high-quality gold plating.
- Palladium : Lightweight and corrosion-resistant; a noble choice for gold plating.
- Low-alloy gold jewelry : Suitable for gold plating, offers a cost-effective option with good looks.
We reject these materials:
- aluminum
- tin
- zinc
- molding
- titanium
- plastic
- 3D printing
- Plant
- PVD-coated objects
- Painted surfaces
- Clothing
- Ceramics
- Carbon
- tungsten
If you are unsure what material your piece is made of, send us a message and we will be happy to advise you!
We thoroughly and professionally sand and polish all scratches before each gold-plating process. Only through this step are these perfect results achievable.
Only after the surface has been carefully prepared and shines like new again does the actual gilding take place.
Without this intensive preparation, scratches would remain clearly visible after gilding and lead to inferior results.
Electroplating jewelry is a process in which a thin layer of real gold is applied to a piece of jewelry. This layer gives the jewelry a new shine, allowing it to be worn with joy for years to come.
Almost all jewelry can be gold-plated, whether rings, necklaces, bracelets, pendants, or earrings. We adapt our layering process to the respective material to achieve the best possible results.
We use the galvanic process for our gold plating.
With electroplating, your piece undergoes various process baths tailored to the base material. After thorough preparation, a hard gold layer is deposited on the metal by immersing the metal in an electrolyte solution.
An electric current flow then causes gold particles to adhere evenly to the metal surface.
This process creates an elegant and durable gold plating that is both visually appealing and durable.
If your jewelry has lost its shine or is heavily worn, gold plating can refresh its appearance and extend its lifespan. Gold plating is particularly worthwhile for heirlooms or jewelry with high sentimental value.
The durability of gold plating depends on the thickness of the gold layer and the care of the jewelry. With proper care, professional gold plating can last for many years.
If the item is worn and expensive, refurbishing it will definitely increase the resale price significantly.
If it is cheap costume jewelry, gold plating will not achieve this effect.
Gold plating can also increase the aesthetic value and durability of your jewelry, which is especially important for heirlooms or emotionally valuable pieces.
Process and procedure of gilding
The process begins with thorough cleaning and preparation of the piece of jewelry. Depending on the material, a primer and/or intermediate layers are then applied as an adhesion layer or diffusion barrier before the actual gold plating (hard gold plating in our case) is applied. An additional color gold plating can then be applied to achieve the desired gold tone.
Processing typically takes 10-14 business days from the time your jewelry arrives. Rush services can be offered for an additional charge in urgent cases.
Yes, we offer various gold tones, including 14kt, 18kt, and 24kt yellow gold, as well as rose gold and pink gold. You can choose the gold tone that best suits your style. If you prefer silver, platinum and palladium are available as alternatives.
With professional gilding or prior professional preparation, engravings and fine details are fully preserved.
The process begins with your inquiry , followed by a consultation and quotation. Alternatively, you can book gold plating for common pieces directly online with us at any time . After your confirmation, we clean and polish the piece of jewelry, apply the palladium diffusion barrier, and perform the gold plating. Finally, a quality control check and insured return shipment follow.
Quality and durability
Durability depends on the thickness of the gold layer, the wearer's habits, and the care of the jewelry . A thicker gold layer (e.g., 5-6 microns) offers longer protection than a thinner layer (2-3 microns).
Avoid contact with chemicals, perfumes, and excessive moisture. Gently clean your jewelry with a soft cloth and store it separately from other jewelry to avoid scratches. Detailed information can be found HERE.
If the gold plating wears off over time, we can offer re-gilding to give your jewelry a new shine.
A thicker gold layer generally offers more protection and longer durability. This is especially important for frequently worn jewelry or pieces subject to heavy wear.
Our guarantee
At LAFFARTS, we strive for the highest quality and customer satisfaction. That's why we offer a comprehensive two-year warranty on our gilding work. This warranty covers a wide range of services and materials, but there are important exceptions you should be aware of.
Scope of warranty
Our guarantee applies to gold plating of jewelry made of the following materials:
- Silver
- palladium
- white gold
- platinum
- stainless steel
Minimum circulation
The guarantee applies to jewelry plated with a minimum of 5 microns of gold plating. This thickness provides sufficient protection and durability for the gold plating.
Warranty period
The warranty period is two years from the date of gold plating. During this period, you can be assured that we stand behind our work and will correct any plating defects caused by us.
Covered defects
Our warranty covers the following defects:
- Peeling of the gilding
- Coating defects
- Other defects that indicate an error on our part
Exceptions
However, there are certain exceptions that are not covered by our warranty:
- Self-inflicted scratches: Damage caused by improper handling or storage.
- Normal wear and tear: Wear and tear caused by daily use is not covered.
Care instructions
To ensure the longevity of your gold plating, we recommend following our care instructions. Avoid contact with perfumes, lotions, and chemicals, and store your jewelry separately to prevent scratches.
Warranty claim procedure
If a problem occurs within the warranty period that is covered by the warranty, please proceed as follows:
- Contact us via our contact form or by phone to report the warranty claim.
- Please send us the affected piece of jewelry securely packaged.
- Our team will assess the damage and carry out the necessary re-gilding or repair free of charge.
Service outside the warranty period
We are available to assist you at any time, even outside the warranty period.
For damage caused by the wearer or normal signs of wear on jewelry that we have already serviced, we offer discounts on further service.
Simply contact us to receive a personalized quote and restore your jewelry to its former glory.
Shipping and processing
If you're local, you can bring your pieces to us in person if needed. Customers from Austria, Germany, and Switzerland can send your jewelry securely packaged and adequately insured to our workshop via DHL or Value Shipping. We only ship via insured return shipping to ensure your pieces arrive safely.
Simply browse our pre-made gold plating options, which can be booked directly online , or simply send us an inquiry with photos and details of your piece of jewelry. We will then create a customized quote for you.
Our shipping is insured, so you are fully covered in the unlikely event of damage during transport.
You will receive a status update after each update of your booked gold plating.
As soon as your package arrives with us, you will receive a confirmation of receipt via email, an information as soon as your gilding is being processed and a final report with further information as well as your tracking number once our work is completed.
In addition, you can inquire about the status of your gold plating at any time by sending us a short message or giving us a call.
Costs and payment
The costs depend on the type of jewelry and the desired gold plating. A single simple ring can be gold-plated starting at around €70. For larger or more complex pieces, we would be happy to provide you with a customized quote. Generally speaking, the more pieces you gold-plate per order, the lower the individual prices we can offer you. Automatic volume discounts are already set up in the shop.
We accept most major payment methods, including credit card, PayPal, Klarna, Apple Pay, and bank transfer.
Yes, we offer discounts for larger orders or repeat orders. Contact us for a customized quote.
If you book your gilding directly online in the shop, you'll automatically receive the first quantity discount for orders of just two pieces of your choice. (This will be displayed in your shopping cart.)
For orders over 150€, we will cover the return shipping costs for you!
Ihre Vergoldungs-Anfrage
Kostenfrei & unverbindlich. Antwort meist am selben Werktag. Für Standardstücke sind auch Direktbuchungen möglich.