Production Methods Difference Between Gold Overlay and Gold Plated

Manufacturers use gold -- a versatile and durable precious metal -- to produce various products, including writing instruments; such as pencils or pens, eyeglass frames, hollow-ware, jewelry and flatware. Gold plated and gold overlay products, which contain both gold and base metals -- such as nickel, copper or zinc -- allow consumers access to products with aesthetic virtues of gold, but without the expense. Despite a common relationship to gold, gold plated and gold overlay differ greatly.

Federal identification standards for gold-plated and gold-overlay products are based on the process and materials used during manufacturing. Gold-plating involves the application of gold alloy or gold to non-precious metals; such as copper, zinc, and nickel, using any suitable plating process to achieve even surface distribution of the gold materials. The gold layer must have a significant overall thickness equaling at least 20 millionths of an inch, which is based on the comparative thickness of half a micron of pure gold. In addition, karat designation must be at least 10 karats. Similarly, the gold alloy for gold-overlays must also be no less than 10 karats, but it is applied to the non-precious metal surface using mechanical plating methods; such as welding, brazing, and soldering. While the U.S. Federal Trade Commission does not define a minimum thickness, the gold alloy must account for no less than one-twentieth of the product's total weight.

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