What Is 18K Gold-Plated Jewellery?

Direct answer:
18K gold-plated jewellery is jewellery made from a base metal (usually stainless steel or brass) coated with a layer of 18-karat gold (75% pure gold) through an electroplating process. It gives you the look of solid gold at a fraction of the cost.

How It Differs From Solid Gold

• Solid 18K gold = gold all the way through
• 18K gold-plated = base metal core + a gold layer on the surface (thickness measured in microns)

Is 18K Gold-Plated Real Gold?

The outer layer is real 18K gold — it's not fake gold, it's genuine gold applied over a different metal.

Does the Karat Number Matter for Plating?

Yes. 18K plating has a richer, warmer tone and is more tarnish-resistant than 14K or gold vermeil plating, because higher-karat gold contains fewer reactive base metals.

Will It Turn My Skin Green?

Good-quality 18K gold plating over stainless steel (like Jenima Jewels pieces) is hypoallergenic and won't discolour skin — a common complaint with cheap costume jewellery.