The first thing I do with a gold plated bracelet is run a thumbnail along the inside edge, where it would touch a desk or a sink. That's where the plating gives up first, and if there's any green tinge waiting to happen, you'll feel a seam or a rough patch before you ever see it. A good one feels smooth all the way round, like it was finished rather than just dipped and dried.
It's the sort of thing that works harder than you'd expect once it's actually on your wrist rather than sitting in a drawer. A plain bangle sits under a jumper sleeve without snagging the wool, a chain link one looks right against a plain cotton shirt, and a stack of two or three thin ones does more for a bare arm in summer than a single statement piece ever has for me. I wear mine with the sort of clothes that don't ask for permission, jeans, plain tops, nothing with a lot going on, because the bracelet is the detail and it stops being one if everything else is shouting too.
Here's where the cheap and the good ones really part company, though. The bad one looks identical to the good one for about three weeks, then the colour starts going thin at the clasp and at any point it rubs against another piece of jewellery, and underneath is a flat yellowish metal that makes the whole thing look tired rather than just worn. A better plated piece, thicker gold, properly bonded, will dull slightly over months rather than patch, and a jewellery cloth brings most of that shine straight back. Keep it away from perfume and hand cream if you can, take it off before a shower if you want it to last, and don't let it sit tangled with other pieces in a dish where the clasps can scratch at the plating. None of that is difficult, it's just the difference between a bracelet that's still decent at Christmas and one that's gone patchy by October.
On colour, I'd go for a warmer, slightly antique gold over anything too bright and yellow, it ages better and looks less like costume jewellery when the shine does eventually soften. Rose gold plating wears well too, and hides any dulling better than a cool, pale gold does.
This is for anyone who wants gold on all day, every day, without worrying about losing something expensive down a drain.
White BraceletsPretty White Gold Plated Chain Bracelets We Love
Silver BraceletsSilver Gold Plated Bracelets We’d Happily Wear on Repeat
Silver BraceletsSilver Gold Plated Chain Bracelets That Make a Lovely Gift
Our Favourite Pink Gold Plated Bracelets
Chain BraceletsGreen Gold Plated Chain Bracelets We Rate
The Green Gold Plated Bracelets We’re Eyeing Up This Season
Gold Plated Personalised Bracelets That Earn Their Place
Chain BraceletsGold Plated Personalised Chain Bracelets Actually Worth Buying
Charm BraceletsGold Plated Personalised Charm Bracelets: The EditAlso worth a lookCharm BraceletsThe first one I had was a thin silver chain from a market stall with a single charm…See the collections →
Our Edit of the Best Gold Plated Stacking Bracelets
Charm BraceletsGold Plated Stacking Charm Bracelets That Tick Every Box
Gold Plated Star Bracelets We’d Happily Wear on Repeat
Gold Plated Statement Bracelets Worth Adding to Your Wardrobe
Chain BraceletsStandout Gold Plated Statement Chain Bracelets to Shop
Charm BraceletsGold Plated Statement Charm Bracelets That Have Caught Our Eye
Pretty Gold Plated Tennis Bracelets We Love
Gold Plated Waterproof Bracelets That Make a Lovely Gift
Chain BraceletsGold Plated Dainty Chain Bracelets That Make a Lovely GiftAlso worth a lookChain BraceletsA good chain bracelet has weight to it before it's even on your wrist.See the collections →
Charm BraceletsGold Plated Name Charm Bracelets That Finish Any Look
Charm BraceletsGold Plated Dainty Charm Bracelets We’d Buy Again
Gold Plated Pendant Bracelets on Our Radar
Gold Plated Flower Bracelets Worth a Closer Look
Chain BraceletsGold Plated Pendant Chain Bracelets for Everyday Wear
Chain BraceletsPretty Gold Plated Flower Chain Bracelets We Love
Charm BraceletsThe Gold Plated Pendant Charm Bracelets Shortlist
Charm BraceletsGold Plated Flower Charm Bracelets You’ll Never Take Off
The Gold Plated Friendship Bracelets We’re Eyeing Up This SeasonAlso worth a lookGold BraceletsGold bracelets suit anyone who likes a bit of movement at the wrist without having to think about…See the collections →
Our Top Gold Plated Heart Bracelets Right Now
Chain BraceletsOur Kind of Gold Plated Heart Chain Bracelets
Charm BraceletsShop the Edit: Gold Plated Heart Charm Bracelets
The Gold Plated Hoop Bracelets We Keep Going Back To
Where to Find the Best Gold Plated Initial Bracelets
Finding the Best Gold Plated Chunky Bracelets
Gold Plated Layered Bracelets We’d Recommend to a Friend
Chain BraceletsGold Plated Chunky Chain Bracelets to See You Through Winter
