[Jewelry making - Article 00289] - Re: [Orchid] Does gold-filled wire tarnish?

[MillsGem]

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Beth,

    Please let me clarify a couple of your statements. Gold filled is a
    very misleading term that suggests that somehow gold has been placed
    IN the wire or plate. Actually the term filled means that the gold
    has been pressure bonded to a base metal ( usually wire or sheet) and
    that the amount of precious metal constitutes 5% by weight of the
    object. The gold coating on gold filled objects is infinitely thicker
    than plating. Nonetheless, since we are talking about objects that
    are usually made up from plate or wire, the manufacturing process
    dictates that said stock will be cut into smaller segments. This is
    where the problem lies: the exposed base metal at the ends of the
    cut definitely oxidizes and the nasty black oxide makes the object,
    (especially chains ) look grundgy. The wear that occurs at the
    contacts between articulated joints is very rapid in plated objects
    and much less likely in filled objects. Nonetheless, the
    aforementioned wear will definitely occur within a short time.
    Another advantage of gold filled is that it can be soldered whereas
    torch soldering on plated objects will result in vaporization of the
    gold plating thus leaving a blackened surface. 

Ron Mills, Mills Gem Co. Los Osos, Ca.
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