Durability of gold plating – realistic calculation
Determine your expected shelf life – based on Gold plating (1/3/5 µm) , wearing profile , category and base material .
Your individual durability
- Basic rule: daily wear ≈ 0.75 years per µm (realistic upper limits: 1 µm → 1.1 years; 3 µm → 3.3 years; 5 µm → 5.5 years).
- Wearing profile & category adjust this value (rings/heavy watches lower; fine necklaces/earrings higher).
- Display case: many years regardless of category (almost no abrasion).
- Material base: Precious metal/stainless steel neutral; non-ferrous metal/unknown more conservative.
Expected shelf life
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Why this recommendation?
Comparison 1 µm / 3 µm / 5 µm
1 µm
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3 µm
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5 µm
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Guidelines: Friction, edge contact, work/sports & care influence the actual durability. For PVD/paint, repairs, or watchmaker disassembly, times may vary – we will inform you proactively.
How long does gold plating last? What really determines durability
The durability depends on the layer thickness (1/3/5 µm), Usage (display case to daily), jewelry category and material base . Our calculator provides realistic time frames .