E-coating and lacquer are both clear protective layers applied over plated jewellery to slow tarnish and wear. Lacquer is dipped or sprayed on, while e-coating uses an electric current to deposit a thin, even film over every exposed surface.
Both are common in Rajkot. The choice affects how the piece looks, how evenly it is protected and how much it costs.
Lacquer
Lacquer is a clear resin applied by dipping the piece or spraying it, then drying or baking it. It is quick, cheap and available in almost every workshop.
The weakness is evenness. Lacquer pools in recesses and runs thin on sharp edges, which are the places that wear first. Too much lacquer can look glossy or slightly yellow, and drips or bubbles show on flat surfaces.
E-coating
In e-coating, the jewellery is placed in a bath of coating material and an electric current draws the coating evenly onto the metal. The piece is then cured in an oven. The film is thin and uniform, including inside filigree and around stone settings.
E-coating needs dedicated equipment and careful process control, so it costs more and fewer small workshops do it in-house. Many send pieces to a specialist coating unit.
Side by side
- Evenness: e-coating is more uniform. Lacquer varies with the operator.
- Look: e-coating is less visible. Lacquer can add gloss or a slight tint.
- Protection on edges: e-coating usually covers edges better.
- Cost: lacquer is cheaper and faster.
- Repair: both can be stripped and reapplied, but replating usually means removing the coat first.
Things to check on samples
- Look for drips, bubbles, dust specks and cloudy patches under good light.
- Check that stones are not dulled by coating over their faces.
- Check colour against the uncoated master, since some coats shift the tone.
- Ask whether the coating is applied in-house or sent out, and who checks it.
What this means for a buyer
Choose e-coating for pieces that must look the same for a long time or have fine detail, and lacquer for lower-priced fashion lines. Either way, name the coating on your order. The handmade vs machine-made guide explains how process choices affect cost.
Creston & Co works for buyers only, for a fixed fee agreed in writing. We check coating quality in Rajkot before packing and report what we find. Ask for a free sourcing review.