You're buying gold-plated jewelry. It looks like gold. The price is lower. Everything seems great.
But after a month the colour fades. Why?

Because not every gold-plated piece is the same.
And the term "1-micron gold plating" is a concrete piece of information about quality and durability.

Gold-plated jewelry — what does it really mean?

Gold-plated jewelry is jewelry made from a base metal (in MARAI's case, exclusively sterling silver 925) covered with a layer of gold. It's not solid gold.
But how thick the gold layer is makes a huge difference.
The layer is measured in microns (μm).

1 micron = 0.001 millimetre.

It sounds like a microscopic difference — but in practice it means months or years of extra durability.

What is 1-micron gold plating?

1-micron gold plating means there's a layer of gold 1 μm thick on the surface of the piece.

For comparison:

0.1–0.3 microns → fast-fashion standard

0.5 microns → mid-range quality

1 micron → high-quality everyday plating

2+ microns → premium / fine-jewelry durability

The difference?
A piece with 0.2 microns can start losing colour after a few weeks of intensive wear.
With 1-micron plating, the effect lasts considerably longer.

How long does gold plating last?

One of the most-searched questions. The answer depends on four things:

1. Layer thickness (microns) — the thicker the gold layer, the longer the colour holds.

2. The base (what the jewelry is made of). The best base is sterling silver 925 — durable, noble, skin-safe.

3. How you wear it. Contact with water, perfume, sweat and detergents shortens the life of plating.

4. What you wear. Not every piece wears down at the same rate. Rings have the most contact with:
– skin
– water
– detergents
– surfaces (desks, door handles, bags, gloves)

That's why they wear down fastest — even with 1-micron plating.

What does that mean in practice?

✔ 1-micron plating on earrings can look great for years.
✔ The same micron on a ring will need a bit more care.

It's not a product flaw — it's the natural physics of how rings get used.

That's why at MARAI:
→ we design rings so they're comfortable and possible to refresh
→ and earrings and ear cuffs are perfect if you want to enjoy that golden shine for a really long time.

Why does 1-micron plating cost more?

Because it means:

• more gold used
• a longer galvanisation process
• tighter quality control
• often a hand-finishing step

Cheap plating saves money on layer thickness. The result? A lower price. And a quick disappointment.

So when you see gold-plated jewelry at a suspiciously low price — it usually means a 0.1–0.3 micron layer.

Does plating wear off?

Yes. Every plating is an outer layer, so it can naturally wear off over time.

To make plating last as long as possible:

✔ take it off before bathing
✔ avoid contact with perfume
✔ store in a separate pouch
✔ don't clean with aggressive products

The good news? Silver-based jewelry can be re-plated.

At MARAI we work on a sterling silver 925 base and apply a 1-micron layer of gold to keep the balance between:
✔ durability
✔ aesthetics
✔ a fair price

It's not fast fashion.
It's jewelry meant to stay with you.