Is gold plated jewelry real gold?
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- Issue Time
- Oct 12,2026
Is gold plated jewelry real gold?
Yes, the surface layer is real 18-karat gold — but it is a finish, not the body of the piece. At Hengdian (HD) Jewelry the core is brass finished with a thin 18K gold layer of 0.1-0.3 micron as our standard. That is what makes gold plated affordable and fast-turning: you get the gold colour and shine without the precious-metal material cost of solid gold or gold filled.
How to describe it to customers
- Accurate: "18K gold plated brass" — never claim solid gold.
- Value: low unit cost supports a wide, frequently refreshed assortment.
- Care: keep it dry; the plating is a surface, not a solid body.
For our full material and plating specification, reach us on WhatsApp.