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Many Wizard Of Auz pieces feature gold plating in their design.
We use 18kt yellow gold plate which is applied liberally, generally 9-12 microns in thickness (usually gold plating uses less than half of this). Most gold plated features on our jewellery are protected from wear and tear by the nature of the design, but some, especially the bezels of larger rings, are more vulnerable.
When we first introduced gold plating to our designs two years ago, we crash-tested several pieces by subjecting them to rigorous use, well outside the terms covered by the warranty. After a year, no gold-plating on pendants, earrings or bracelets was adversely affected although one pendant was lost in the sea, an earring was lost bush-walking, and ear-lobes were pulled in bed. One gel sugilite ring I wore over 9 months, during which time I weeded, burned, and replanted forest, chain-sawed and slashed, swam at the beach, loaded tonnes of rock by hand, and travelled twice around the World - did see the gold plating get a bit worn away around the top and the ring is of course quite scratched, but like a great pair of used jeans, I wouldn’t want it any other way.
Resizing;
Gold plated rings can not be resized by conventional means because;
• Stretching will leave cracks and weaknesses in the gold-plate.
• Cutting and soldering requires heat that will melt away the gold into the silver base.
• Repolishing using a machine over gold plate will polish it away.
However, resizing can be done by a professional if they can replate the features on your piece. Any work or alterations to your piece not carried out by us will void the warranty.
Cleaning:
Gold plate is not adversely affected by normal cleaning procedures (see below) but bear the following in mind;
• Being over-abrasive or applying too much pressure when cleaning will thin the plate.
• Avoid the use of corrosive dips on anything, but especially on gold-plated pieces.
• Ultrasonic and ionic cleaning is fine for gold-plate but as always, do not allow your piece to touch others to avoid vibration marks. See the notes on Ultrasonic cleaning below.
We do not offer a gold plating or replating service, except under certain warranty conditions.
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