How Much Does It Cost to Gold Plate a Watch?
Customising a watch changes its value. Whether it raises or lowers it depends entirely on what the watch is.
There is no single price, and anyone quoting one without seeing your watch is guessing.
Customisation starts at £480 for the watch body and buckle, or £590 for the full watch including the strap or bracelet. Beyond that, every watch is quoted individually after assessment.
See our luxury watch customisation service.
What sets the price
The watch itself. Case size, bracelet or strap, and how much surface area needs covering.
Base material. Stainless steel, brass, copper, silver, aluminium, titanium and chrome-plated parts all plate well, and each prepares differently.
Existing condition. A watch in good order costs less than one carrying an old finish, scratches or wear. Previous plating has to come off before new plating goes on.
Preparation required. This is most of the work and most of the cost. It is also the stage a cheap quote skips.
Bracelet complexity. A bracelet with many links takes considerably longer than a case alone, and more again if it has mixed finishes.
Chosen finish. 24k gold, 18k gold, rose gold and platinum (applied as rhodium) differ in precious-metal content. Mirror, brushed, satin and antique surface finishes differ in finishing time.
Thickness. Our standard finish is 5 microns; up to 10 is available and costs more, because there is more gold on the watch.
Collection and delivery. Outside the UK and the UAE, complimentary insured DHL collection and return are included in the quotation.
Goldgenie watch customisation prices
| Customisation | Starting price |
|---|---|
| Watch body and buckle | From £480 |
| Full watch, including strap or bracelet | From £590 |
| Diamond setting | Quoted separately on enquiry |
Have a look to watch customisation page.
These prices cover the precious-metal finish, not diamond setting. Diamond setting is quoted separately. We work with VS1-grade natural diamonds or lab-grown stones, and price depends on the stones, the setting and the design.
The final quotation depends on the watch's model, size, condition, preparation requirements, selected finish and thickness.
Why the cheapest quote usually costs more
Plating thickness is invisible on the day and decisive within a year.
A great deal of cheap watch plating is applied at well under a micron. It looks identical when it comes back and wears through at the lugs and clasp within months. You then pay again — and the second job costs more, because the failed plating has to be stripped first.
At 5 to 10 microns on a properly prepared surface, a watch finish lasts.
When you compare quotes, ask about microns. If the answer is vague, you have your answer.
What you get
Work on your own watch carries a three-year Goldgenie warranty, subject to applicable warranty terms and normal exclusions. Most projects are completed within 7 working days.
We customise watches from every major maker — Rolex, Omega, Patek Philippe, Cartier, Breitling, TAG Heuer, Audemars Piguet, Tudor, Longines and Seiko among them — along with Apple Watch and bespoke commissions. If your watch is not listed, send photographs and we will confirm what is possible.
Getting a quote
Send photographs of the watch — including the case, bracelet and any worn areas — and tell us the finish you want. We will assess the watch and come back with a price and timescale.
We collect worldwide using insured DHL. UK clients can also post their watch to us or drop it off in person at our London service office in Enfield. Outside the UK and the UAE, insured DHL collection and return are included in the agreed quotation. See the full range on our luxury watch customisation page.
FAQs
Customisation starts at £480 for the watch body and buckle, or £590 for the full watch including the strap or bracelet.
It depends on the quotation. A bracelet adds significant surface area and finishing time, so tell us at the outset whether you want the case only or the case and bracelet.
Outside the UK and the UAE, complimentary insured DHL collection and return are included in the agreed quotation.
Usually, the difference is thickness. Cheap plating is often applied at well under a micron and wears through within months. Our standard is 5 microns, with up to 10 available.
Most projects are completed within 7 working days.
Three ways. We operate a global insured DHL pick-up service and will arrange collection from your address anywhere in the world. If you are in the UK, you can post the watch to us or drop it in person at our London service office in Enfield. Outside the UK and the UAE, insured DHL collection and return are included in the agreed quotation.
