Silver or Gold Plated: How to Choose Your Finish
Every piece we make is 925 silver. The choice you're making is the finish on top: keep the natural silver colour, or add a layer of gold. Here's what that means in practice.
What "925 silver" means
925 silver is 92.5% pure silver, mixed with other metals so it's strong enough to wear daily. Pure silver on its own is too soft for jewellery. Whether you choose silver or gold plating, the metal underneath is the same 925 silver.
Silver-plated: the classic
A silver finish keeps the cool, bright tone most people picture when they think of silver. It suits cooler skin tones, sits well with other silver pieces, and shows fine engraving clearly. It's the easier choice if you already wear silver watches or rings.
Gold-plated: the warmer look
Gold plating is a thin layer of gold applied over the 925 silver. You get a warm, golden look at a silver price, and the piece stays lighter than solid gold. It flatters warmer skin tones and pairs well with gold watches or bangles.
Does plating wear off?
Plating is a surface layer, so with daily wear it fades over time, faster on pieces that rub against clothing or a desk, such as bracelets and rings, and slower on necklaces. Perfume, lotion, chlorine and sweat speed it up. Put jewellery on last, after perfume and cream, and wipe it with a soft dry cloth after wearing.
How to make either finish last
- Put the piece on after perfume, lotion and hairspray
- Take it off before swimming, showering or the gym
- Wipe it with a soft dry cloth before and after wearing
- Store it in its pouch or box, with the clasp closed
Every silver piece from Silver Corner includes lifetime cleaning and polishing, so the natural silver finish can always be brought back to how it looked on day one.
Which should you choose?
| Choose silver if | Choose gold plating if |
|---|---|
| You wear silver or steel watches | You wear gold jewellery |
| You want the lowest upkeep | You want a warmer look |
| The piece is a bracelet or ring you'll wear daily | The piece is a necklace, which rubs less |
Where to start
Most of our custom name jewellery comes in both finishes, and so do our women's pieces. Ready-made silver chains keep the natural silver finish.