Gold plating tarnishing?

[LydiaNiz]

Someone sent me photographs today of this ring they purchased - it's apparently gold plated sterling silver (bought from UK), but it arrived like this. The person who made it said it was due to damp air, the purchaser said it was rust-like. I've never had anything plated and don't know the answer - can anyone shed some light on why it may have these spots?
Thanks!

[mizgeorge]

Looks like a bit of dodgy old brass to me....

[Dennis]

If it is sold as gold plated silver, it should have a hall mark, Lydia.

I think George is right. It looks like a rusty plated curtain ring to me too. Dennis.

[marna]

Another +1 for it looking rusty in that pic. Brass is slightly magnetic, so if you have a superstrong magnet on hand you might be able to identify it as that?

[susieq]

If it is sold as gold plated silver, it should have a hall mark, Lydia.

I think George is right. It looks like a rusty plated curtain ring to me too. Dennis.

Not yet having sent anything for hallmarking so not being clear on the rules, if it's under 7.78 grams then can't it be sold without a hall mark?

Whatever it is, I'm surely damp air shouldn't do that to it or most everything gold plated in the UK would have rusty spots after a few weeks?

Very interested to hear the outcome.

[Dennis]

If it's under 7.78 grams then can't it be sold without a hall mark?

You're right Suzie, but hallmarking would still be optional and certainly desirable, or you would risk getting a Pig in a Poke. Dennis

[caroleallen]

I know very little about plating but I think a lot of cheaper end jewellers use flash plating which is a very thin layer of gold.

[johnmoto]

Someone sent me photographs today of this ring they purchased - it's apparently gold plated sterling silver (bought from UK), but it arrived like this. The person who made it said it was due to damp air, the purchaser said it was rust-like. I've never had anything plated and don't know the answer - can anyone shed some light on why it may have these spots?
Thanks!

It looks like it's been plated with to much voltage to quickly, that's what you end up with pitting and matted
That's if it is indeed silver.

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