is pvd gold real gold? an honest answer
the short answer
yes, pvd gold uses real gold as a coating over stainless steel. it isn't solid gold. the PVD process creates a durable finish; follow the care instructions included with your piece to help preserve it.
what pvd actually means
pvd stands for physical vapor deposition. in a vacuum chamber, gold is vaporized and bonded to the steel at a molecular level using heat and pressure. that's different from electroplating, where a thin layer of gold is dipped or painted onto a reactive base metal like brass or copper. the pvd layer ends up roughly 5 to 10 times thicker than standard plating, and because it's bonded rather than deposited, it doesn't peel, chip, or wear off with daily use.
so is it real gold?
it's real gold, used as a coating. it isn't solid gold. our pieces use a real gold PVD coating over stainless steel, giving you a polished, durable finish at a fraction of the price of solid gold. we'd rather you know exactly what you're buying.
does pvd gold tarnish?
no, not the way cheap plating does. tarnish happens when the base metal reacts with air, water, and sweat and bleeds through a thin plating layer. pvd's thick, molecularly bonded coating over non-reactive stainless steel doesn't give that reaction anywhere to go. with normal wear you get years out of it, which is why we back every piece with a lifetime tarnish guarantee. if yours ever tarnishes, we replace it, free.
is pvd gold waterproof?
yes. shower in it, sweat in it, swim in it. both the stainless steel and the pvd coating are water and corrosion resistant, so you don't have to take it off. the only things to keep it away from are harsh chemicals like bleach and long chlorine soaks, and abrasive surfaces that could scratch it.
what materials do you use?
yes. all Kinsora products are hypoallergenic. every piece is made with stainless steel and finished with a 14k or 18k gold PVD coating.
pvd vs the other kinds of gold jewelry
| type | what it is | how long it lasts | roughly |
|---|---|---|---|
| solid gold | gold all the way through | forever | $$$$ |
| gold pvd what we make | real gold bonded to steel in a vacuum | years, tarnish-proof | $ |
| gold filled | a thick gold layer pressure-bonded to brass | years with care | $$ |
| vermeil | thick gold over sterling silver | 1 to 2 years | $$ |
| gold plated | a thin gold layer dipped onto brass | months | $ |
pvd offers a durable, polished finish at a fraction of the price of solid gold. follow the care instructions included with your piece to help preserve it.
why we're this blunt about it
most jewelry brands blur the line on purpose because "solid gold energy" sells. we'd rather be the brand you trust. we tell you it's a coating, we tell you exactly what that coating does and doesn't do, and we stand behind it with a lifetime tarnish guarantee.
and because good things should do more than one job, 1% of every order goes to kids in foster care, a cause our founder alexandria grew up inside of.
the pieces this page is about
18k gold pvd over stainless steel. shower in them, stack them, keep them.
shop all pieces
✓ lifetime tarnish guarantee ✓ hypoallergenic ✓ waterproof ♡ 1% to foster care