Restoring and Replating Worn Gold-Plated Items
Most people assume a worn gold-plated item is finished. It usually is not.
Gold plating is a surface layer. When it wears through, what is exposed is the base metal underneath — and in almost every case that base metal can be stripped, prepared and plated again, to a better standard than the original.
Why Gold Plating Wears
Friction and contact. Rings, watch cases, door furniture and handles take constant handling. Plating wears where skin touches it most.
Thin original plating. This is the most common reason by far. A great deal of mass-produced gold plating is applied at well under a micron. It looks correct on the day and wears through within months.
Chemical exposure. Perfume, cleaning products, chlorine and perspiration all attack a plated surface.
Age. Even good plating has a service life, particularly on high-contact pieces.
Can It Be Restored?
In the great majority of cases, yes.
We strip the remaining plating, assess and repair the surface beneath, polish and prepare it, and replate. The result is not a patch — it is a new finish applied to a properly prepared surface.
Where restoration is not possible is when the damage is structural rather than cosmetic. If the base metal is pitted, cracked or has lost detail, plating will faithfully reproduce those flaws. We will tell you honestly if that is the case before quoting.
What We Commonly Restore
We commonly restore jewellery — rings, bracelets, chains, settings; watch cases, bracelets and bezels; decorative and heritage objects; antiques; door furniture and interior fittings; and trophies, awards and commemorative pieces.
The Chance to Improve on the Original
Replating is not simply putting things back. Most items we restore were originally plated far too thinly.
Our standard finish is 5 microns, and we can plate up to 10 microns. On a piece that wore through once, specifying a heavier deposit is the difference between restoring it and restoring it permanently.
You can also change the finish. An item originally in yellow gold can be returned in rose gold, platinum, or an antique finish — we work in 24k, 22k, 18k and 9k gold, rose gold and platinum, with mirror, brushed, satin and antique surface options.
Base Materials
We restore work on stainless steel, brass, copper, silver, aluminium, titanium and chrome-plated parts. Plastic components require a specialist assessment.
Your Warranty
Plating and customisation carried out on your own item carries a three-year Goldgenie warranty, subject to applicable warranty terms and normal exclusions — misuse, accidental damage and inappropriate care.
What It Costs, and How Long
The £250 minimum project charge applies. Beyond that, restoration is quoted on the condition of the piece, the preparation required, its size, your chosen finish and quantity. A heavily worn item needs more preparation than a lightly worn one, and preparation is most of the work.
Most projects are completed within 7 working days. Insured DHL collection and return are included for clients outside the UK and the UAE.
Getting an Assessment
Send photographs of the item, including close-ups of the worn areas. We will tell you whether it can be restored, what finish we would recommend, and what it will cost.
More on our gold plating services page.
FAQs
In most cases, yes. We strip the remaining plating, prepare the surface beneath and replate. Restoration is not possible where the damage is structural rather than cosmetic.
Usually. Most worn items were originally plated very thinly. Our standard finish is 5 microns and we can plate up to 10 microns, which is considerably more durable than typical mass-produced plating.
Yes. An item originally in yellow gold can be returned in rose gold, platinum or an antique finish.
Plating and customisation carried out on your own item carries a three-year Goldgenie warranty, subject to applicable warranty terms and normal exclusions.
Our minimum project charge is £250. Beyond that it is quoted on the item's condition, the preparation required, its size, the chosen finish and quantity.
