How To Remove Gold Plating From Silver

Claire asked: How practise I remove gold terminate from silverish? Many years agone, I had a silvery necklace, bracelet and earrings dipped in gold. Now, I would like to remove the gilded to article of clothing my jewelry as silver. How do I remove the aureate? Thank you.

Gold is a stable metal that resists most chemicals. It can exist difficult to dissolve. The level of success volition depend largely on the thickness of the gilt plating. If information technology is a thin layer, it may be able to be removed past following the directions beneath.

Removing a Thin Layer of Golden

This method is for those who desire to remove the gold plating themselves. The results are varied and can be less than desirable. Information technology is difficult to obtain jeweler quality results with home methods. Nevertheless, if you wish to attempt, here are the products and methods to apply.

You lot Will Demand:

Mildly abrasive pad (Scotch-Brite)
Felt cloth
Tripoli Chemical compound
Jeweler'south rouge
Silverish smooth
Soft cloths

Steps to Remove the Gold Plating:

Begin past using a mildly abrasive pad to remove as much of the gold as possible. Hold the piece carefully and use some pressure level every bit y'all motility the pad back and forth across the gold plating. Information technology may accept some time, but this will remove the thin layer of gilt.
In one case the gilded is removed, you will be left with a scratched surface. To remove the scratches, use a felt material with Tripoli chemical compound to buff the surface smooth.
If the original piece was shiny, follow the Tripoli compound with jeweler'south rouge, again rubbing it onto the surface with a soft material.
Wipe abroad any remaining smoothen with a soft textile.
If desired or needed, finish the removal procedure by applying a expert quality silverish smoothen.

Removing a Heavy Layer of Gold

While it is possible to remove a thick layer of gilt plating, information technology needs to exist done past a professional person. Professional jewelers and jewelry repair shops have admission to the stiff acids and procedures necessary to remove the aureate without damaging the silver underneath. We recommend contacting your local jeweler to accept the gold plating removed for you.

Additional Tips and Advice

Think twice before removing the aureate plating if that was the original state of the piece. Often times, the gold plating is put on the piece not only for beauty, but for protection to the other metals in the necklace.
Some accept found metal polishes, such every bit Brasso or Wright's Silverish Foam, effective in removing thin gold plating. Just rub it over the aureate with a soft cloth.
Depending on the jewelry, a professional person jeweler may be able to only vitrify off the gilded plating for a small fee.