18k gold plating explained in 8 minutes
"What exactly is this 18k plating thing?" This is probably the question you will hear the most in your life as a reseller. I will teach you to answer it with confidence, in any situation — in-person service, Instagram story, WhatsApp message.
What electrodeposition is
A demi-fine piece is manufactured in brass or in a hypoallergenic alloy. Once finished, it goes through a process called electrodeposition: it is dipped in a solution with 18k gold particles in suspension, and a controlled electric current causes those particles to bond uniformly to the metal surface.
The result is a continuous layer of real gold covering the whole piece. It is not paint, not varnish, not color — it is real 18k gold, deposited atom by atom.
What "18k" means
Pure gold is 24k. 18k gold means seventy-five percent of the alloy is pure gold, and the other twenty-five percent is other metals (copper, silver, palladium) that give the color (yellow, rose, white) and the strength. This is the most widely used standard in global fine jewelry — the same gold that is in solid jewelry pieces.
When Herreira says "18k gold plating", that is exactly what it is: the plating is made with real 18k gold.
The thickness question
This is where most of the market disappoints — and where you gain authority by explaining.
Plating thickness is measured in microns (a thousandth of a millimeter). The thicker the plating, the longer it lasts. Market standards:
- Costume jewelry with plating: half a micron or less. Lasts weeks.
- Mass-market demi-fine: one to two microns. Lasts a few months up to a year.
- Quality demi-fine (Herreira standard): three microns or more on everyday-use pieces. Lasts years with proper care.
That is why Herreira is not the cheapest on the market. Thicker plating means more gold deposited, more time in the electrolytic bath, more cost — and far more real-life durability for your client.
How to explain it in one sentence
I always use this one: "Herreira's 18k plating is real gold deposited by electric current in a thick layer. That is why the piece lasts years, not months like most of the market."
Short, technical, direct. Your client will get it. And will gladly pay.
What to practice this week
Time yourself and practice, out loud, explaining what 18k plating is in under forty seconds. You need to do this from memory, at the counter, with a client waiting. Drill it until it sounds natural. Do it again tomorrow. And the day after.