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PVD Coating vs Anodising vs Plating: What's Actually on Your EDC

· GoBlow

Pvd Coating Vs Anodising Vs Plating Whats Actually On Your E

Coloured EDC jewellery comes in three finish technologies: PVD coating, anodising, and electroplating. They look similar in the listing photo and behave very differently after six months of wear. Here's the difference.

Want more detail? See our PVD vs anodising vs plating page.

PVD coating (what GoBlow uses on Black, Gold, Rose Gold)

Physical Vapor Deposition. The colour metal (titanium nitride for gold tones, zirconium nitride for black) is vaporised in a vacuum chamber and bonded to the steel at the molecular level.

Hardness: 1500–3000 HV (harder than the steel underneath).
Wear life: 4+ years of daily wear before noticeable thinning.
Looks like: the colour is the surface. Doesn't scratch off — it scratches with the steel.
Cost: $$$ — most expensive process.

Full PVD guide. How long PVD lasts.

Anodising (what GoBlow Rainbow uses)

The metal (titanium or aluminium) is electrically charged in an electrolyte bath, which grows an oxide layer on the surface. The thickness of that layer determines the colour through light interference.

Hardness: equal to the underlying metal (the colour IS the metal, just oxidised).
Wear life: indefinite for the colour itself — but the surface scratches like the underlying metal.
Looks like: iridescent rainbow tones, peacock blue/purple/gold.
Cost: $$ — moderate process.

The GoBlow Rainbow uses titanium oxide anodising. More on the Rainbow finish. TiO2 vs PVD.

Electroplating (what cheap imports use)

A thin layer of colour metal (gold, rose gold) is deposited via electrolysis. The bond is weak — the layer sits on the surface rather than fusing into it.

Hardness: as soft as the plating metal (gold = very soft).
Wear life: 6 months to 2 years before flaking, often less on edges and high-wear points.
Looks like: indistinguishable from PVD in photos. Looks identical in week 1.
Cost: $ — cheapest process.

This is what most Amazon and AliExpress "gold" pendants use. The flaking starts at the closure threads and corners.

How to tell which one you're buying

  • Listed material: "PVD" stated explicitly = good. "Gold-plated" = electroplating. "Anodised titanium" = anodising. Vague language ("gold finish", "premium gold") usually means electroplating.
  • Warranty: A 4-year finish warranty (like GoBlow's) only happens with PVD. Plating brands offer 30 days at most.
  • Price: Under $50 for a "gold" pendant = electroplating. PVD adds significant cost to the manufacturing process.

Bottom line

If you want the colour to last beyond 12 months, only PVD or anodising will do it. Skip electroplating regardless of how good the listing photo looks.

Shop GoBlow finishes — all PVD or anodised, all 4-year warranty. Use BLOWIT10 for 10% off.

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