The Complete Guide to Gold Coated Items

How are Lemon Straps Signature Watchstraps coated?

Lemon Straps Signature Watchstraps are made of stainless steel and finished with 18k gold using a PVD coating process. PVD bonds the gold to the steel far more durably than traditional electroplating, so the color holds well in everyday wear. Our mission is to make long-lasting, quality jewelry watchstraps for your Apple Watch that won't break the bank.

But have you ever wondered about the differences between the terms "gold plated", "PVD coating", "gold vermeil" and "gold filled"? And why are there stamping marks on some products, and not on others? Understanding the differences is key to choosing your next favourite jewelry piece. This article guides you through their distinctions, including base metal and coating thickness, and the legal marking requirements in the UK and US.

What is hallmarking?

A hallmark is a legally required stamp that verifies the metal content, purity and origin of an item. The hallmark may include the metal's fineness, the maker's mark, an assay office mark and the date of assay. In the UK, hallmarking for precious metals, including gold, silver, platinum and palladium, is carried out by the Assay Offices. In the US, there's no requirement to stamp jewelry. Instead, sellers must disclose material details like weight, thickness or fineness, as regulated by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

So What is Gold Plated?

Gold plated jewelry is a general term for accessories made by depositing a thin layer of gold over a base material. The base material ranges from precious metals like silver, platinum or palladium, to everyday metals like stainless steel, zinc alloys or copper alloys. A commonly known gold plating technique is electroplating. The gold layer is quite thin, and has to be at least 0.05 microns. In the UK, gold plating cannot be hallmarked because the gold layer does not meet the minimum threshold of 2 microns, and is not considered part of the base material. There are no hallmarking requirements in the US.

What is PVD Coating?

PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) coating is a durable, long-lasting gold coating method. In this process, a thin layer of gold is vaporized and deposited onto the base metal. This creates a bond that's more resistant to wear, tarnish and fading, making PVD-coated jewelry a reliable choice for everyday wear. In the UK, PVD coating is legally treated the same as gold plating due to its similar thickness, and cannot be hallmarked since the gold layer is thinner than 2 microns.

What is Gold Vermeil?

Gold vermeil, pronounced "ver-may", refers to gold plated silver: the base material must be silver for a piece to be considered gold vermeil. In the US, vermeil must have a gold layer of at least 2.5 microns. In the UK, there's no definition of gold vermeil. Instead, if a jewelry piece has a gold layer of over 2 microns, the gold itself must be hallmarked. This means a piece that qualifies as gold vermeil in the US must be hallmarked under UK law.

What does Gold Filled mean?

Gold filled jewelry has a much thicker layer of gold than gold plated pieces. Typically, it consists of a base metal core covered with gold that makes up at least 5% of the jewelry's weight. This gives a more substantial gold layer, offering greater durability and longevity. Since the base metal is usually non-precious, it is also more competitively priced than solid gold. Again, hallmarking in the UK is usually required given the thickness of gold involved.

So how are Lemon Straps' watchstraps coated?

Lemon Straps' 18k gold plated Signature Watchstraps are PVD coated, a process that is more durable than traditional electroplating. The gold layer is 0.08 microns thick. The watchstraps are made of stainless steel, so they are completely waterproof.

All gold-coated items are subject to wear and tear, and there is no way to completely avoid color fading over very long-term wear (unless you're buying solid gold). Our material and coating process are designed for everyday life, so the color holds well with daily wear. To keep your strap bright for longer, wipe it with a soft cloth after wear and avoid prolonged contact with perfume, lotions, chlorine and salt water.

Check out our 18k gold plated and 18k rose gold plated items below, and start elevating your Apple Watch look.

First published on 14 Nov 2023, updated October 2026. For the most up-to-date legal requirements, please check government publications.