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  for Metal Finishing since 1989
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How to improve the gold plating quality

2004

Sir,

I have purchased a gold plated Titan watch. Within a few weeks its plating has gone and start giving itching on the body if it is worn. I contacted the manufacturer in this regard and they said they were ready to replace it as and when it goes off. But I suggested to improve the composition and process to improve the quality of their product.

But as I understand from their reply, they are not going to do anything. Can anyone give me a suggestion to deal with this prob? I was asking the mfgr. for the replacement of plating alone and not the machine or watch bangle. I think my requirement is very reasonable. If this is not corrected by the manufacturer, the future customer also will suffer as I suffered. because the watch is costing Rs.3200, it can not be thrown away. Kindly some one help me giving some solutions.

P.A. Sasidharan
self - Kalpakkam, Tamilnadu, India

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2004

If you send a photo of the watch and a scan of a dated receipt we can post it here for further comment. But you probably have little legal protection, and it seems to be commonplace in the watch industry to apply only enough gold plating to watches that they will look good only until sold. I gave my wife a ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] myself where the gold wore off the high spots within 10 days of wear.

My honest advice is to order your next watch only through Lands End ("Guaranteed. Period®") or LL Bean ("Return at any time for any reason if it proves less than satisfactory.") or a company that offers an equivalent guarantee.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey