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"Chinese Gold" -- a jewelry metal like gold

I have seen metal this looks like gold, but it is not gold. This is mixture of other metals, and in the market it is known as Chinese gold; also this metal is very high in demand in Indian and gulf's jewelry market. I want to know what is this Chinese gold metal? And from which metal's addition is this metal?

Ankit Adeshara
plating shop - Baroda, India
June 30, 2011

I have seen metal which looks like gold, but it not real. That metal colour is also yellow; in fact this is a mixture of other metals -- anybody know about this metal, and what metal is added in this gold type metal?

Ankit Adeshara
plating shop - Baroda, India
July 5, 2011

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Hi, Ankit.

Some brasses, which are a combination of copper and zinc, look a lot like gold to me . . . and they are relatively easily plated. Titanium nitride looks very much like gold, but this is applied by PVD, not by plating. But sorry, I don't know of other approaches.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
July 5, 2011

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Hi Ankit. I believe the alloy you are looking for is known as Dutch metal or SchlagMetal. It is, as Ted says, a brass (of about 84% copper 16% zinc). It is available commercially as thin leaf for use in low cost gilding and jewelry.
The colour is a reasonable substitute for gold but it can tarnish and should have a clear sealer applied.

Geoff Smith
Hampshire, England
July 12, 2011

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What you may be looking for is Aluminum Bronze - Approximate composition 94% Cu, 5% Al, 1%Si. This alloy is being marketed in Asia under various trade names for costume jewelry. It is gold in color and has excellent tarnish resistance. However, it is a bit drossy to melt and cast due to the aluminum oxide forming on the surface of the molten metal.

Good luck,

Jim Sivertsen
Alloys & Refining - Alden New York USA
August 30, 2011