Micro gold plating is a trade name used by Indian jewellery makers and sellers for a finer, more controlled gold plating, usually on a brass base and often on pieces with CZ or other stones. The finish aims to look close to real gold jewellery and to last longer than ordinary low-cost plating.
It is not a defined industry standard. Two makers can both say micro plated and mean quite different thicknesses and processes, so the label alone tells you little.
How the term is used
- To describe premium imitation pieces, often in temple, AD and traditional gold designs, with a rich gold colour.
- To suggest a thicker or better-controlled gold layer than flash or one-gram plating.
- Sometimes for plating done after stones are set, so the gold reaches around each stone.
- As a marketing word on listings, with or without a measured thickness behind it.
How it differs from other terms
- Flash plating: a very thin layer for colour only, which wears quickly.
- One-gram gold: another trade term for gold-plated or gold-covered jewellery that looks like real gold; it does not mean the piece contains one gram of gold.
- Heavy gold plate: a thicker layer, typically 1 micron or more, defined by thickness rather than by name.
- Gold vermeil: a defined term for gold over sterling silver, not over brass.
What to ask the maker
- What is the minimum gold thickness in microns, and on which surface?
- What is the base metal and the underlayer?
- Is the plating done before or after stone setting?
- Is there a lacquer or anti-tarnish coat on top?
- Can you provide a thickness reading from a lab or XRF for an approved sample?
Selling micro-plated pieces
On your listings, describe what the piece is rather than relying on the trade term: brass base, gold plated, with the thickness if you have tested it. Avoid wording that suggests solid gold. Our guide to gold plating microns explains how to specify and check thickness.
What this means for a buyer
Treat micro plating as a description to be verified, not a specification. Creston & Co works for buyers only, for a fixed fee agreed in writing, asks Rajkot makers for measured thickness, compares finishes side by side and has samples tested before you commit. Book a free sourcing review.