Many jewelry enthusiasts are confused and often ask questions like “is stainless steel gold fake?” or “is stainless steel real gold?” Knowing the truth about stainless steel gold jewelry is crucial for making informed decisions.

In this comprehensive guide, we will take a deep dive into what gold stainless steel jewelry is, answer if it’s fake, how it’s made, its worth, how long it lasts, and the set of consumers and brands it’s best for.

What is Gold Stainless Steel Jewelry?

Gold stainless steel jewelry involves coating a thin layer of gold on stainless steel metal through PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) or electroplating. This jewelry combines the durability of stainless steel with the luxurious appearance of gold, making it mimic solid gold’s appearance.

Is Stainless Steel Gold Fake?

No, stainless steel gold is not fake. The base metal is high-grade stainless steel (typically 304 or 316L stainless steel) and the gold layer applied on it is real gold.

When marketed as “Gold PVD Stainless Steel” or similar, it’s a legitimate, durable, and affordable alternative to 100% gold. It even offers superior hypoallergenic and longevity properties.

While some manufacturers may use fake gold, at Kesheen, we use real gold on all our gold plating and solid gold jewelry, ensuring all our products exude quality and originality.

How is Gold Stainless Steel Jewelry Made? The Gold Plating Process

How is gold stainless steel made? There are 2 methods of plating gold on stainless steel jewelry and they are: PVD & electroplating. Let’s explore the difference between PVD coating and electroplating, and how they work.

Method 1: PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition)

PVD coating jewelry involves cleaning the stainless steel thoroughly and putting it in a vacuum chamber to vaporize. Afterward, the gold particles are vaporized in the vacuum and bonded to the stainless steel. The gold particles are heated to gas state before bonding to the stainless steel. This results in a highly durable and long-lasting finish.

Why is PVD Best for Stainless Steel Jewelry?

PVD gold jewelry boasts superior durability and high resistance to scratches or damages. Unlike electroplating, PVD features titanium nitride (TiN), the secrets in PVD gold jewelry’s long-lasting color.  The TiN is a layer between the stainless steel and gold layer that improves the durability and prevents chemical reactions with air and water, making the jewelry less likely to deteriorate.

Method 2: Electroplating

This plating method involves inserting the stainless steel into a gold ions solution, which is then charged with an electric current. The electric current transfers the gold ions to the stainless steel, thereby forming a thin coating on the surface.

Why is Electroplating Less Durable on Stainless Steel Compared to PVD?

Stainless steel metal is hard whereas electroplating is a low-energy electrical process, thereby depositing the gold particles on the metal softly. This makes the gold plated layer not adhere firmly to stainless steel, causing to wear off and tarnish quickly.

Electroplating is more suitable for soft metals like silver and brass jewelry.

How to Tell Stainless Steel Gold is Real?

There are 2 major ways to tell if stainless steel gold is real or fake. They are:

• The Fisher and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) test to analyze the metal content in the jewelry. It measures the composition and thickness of the gold surface coatings to confirm if it’s real or fake.
• Look for “Au” (the symbol for gold) in the jewelry production report to confirm if it’s coated with real gold.

Is Stainless Steel Gold Jewelry Right for You?

Just like any jewelry, there are stainless steel jewelry pros and cons. But the pros outweigh the cons, making it a good choice, especially for this set of consumers and brands.

For Jewelry Brands

Know these before choosing stainless steel for your jewelry line:

• Perfect if your brand is focused on offering durable, hypoallergenic, affordable, and sustainable jewelry.
• Offers quick product updates and lower cost, making it a smart choice for trend-based collections.
• Ideal for brands targeting Gen Z and Millennial consumers who value style and cost-friendliness.
• Great for jewelry collections that need to be durable, sweat-proof, and water-resistant.

For Jewelry Consumers

Know these before choosing stainless steel gold as your preferred jewelry:

• Perfect if you’re looking for affordable, stylish, and low-maintenance pieces.
• Ideal for everyday wear, especially for those with active lifestyles and people who don’t want to take off their jewelry before showering or swimming.
• Great for those with sensitive skin (particularly when it’s made with 316L stainless steel).
• If you’re seeking investment value or heirloom-quality pieces, stainless steel gold jewelry isn’t ideal.

Is Stainless Steel Gold Worth Anything?

Yes, stainless steel gold holds significant value beyond its low-price. It’s a combination of two metals, with enviable qualities. Stainless steel gold exudes solid gold’s brilliance while offering the superior toughness and biocompatibility of stainless steel.

How Long Does Gold Stainless Steel Jewelry Last?

It depends on the quality of the stainless steel metal, as well as the originality and thickness of the gold layer. Normally, a properly made PVD gold stainless steel can last at least 2 years.

Conclusion

Finally, is stainless steel gold fake? It has been established from this guide that stainless steel gold is not fake, but its realness is determined primarily by the quality of the stainless steel and the thickness of the gold layer.

To get the best stainless steel gold jewelry, you need a professional custom jewelry manufacturer like Kesheen who prioritizes using real gold, quality materials, and has a wealth of experience in producing premium pieces.