One of the most common questions we get: does PVD gold actually tarnish? The short answer is no — not the way standard gold-plated jewellery does. Here's why that matters, and what actually happens to each type of coating over time.
What Is PVD Coating?
PVD stands for Physical Vapour Deposition. It's a vacuum-based process that bonds a thin layer of material — in our case, 18k gold — directly onto a stainless steel base at a molecular level. The result is a coating that's fundamentally different from electroplating, which simply deposits a thin gold film on top of the metal surface.
How Traditional Gold Plating Tarnishes
Standard gold-plated jewellery uses a process called electroplating to coat a base metal (usually brass or copper) with a thin layer of gold. That coating is fragile. It reacts with moisture, oxygen, sweat, perfume and skin oils. Over time — sometimes in a matter of weeks — the gold layer wears away, exposing the base metal underneath. That's when you get green skin, discolouration and that tell-tale dull patch where the gold used to be.
Why PVD Is Different
PVD-coated gold doesn't sit on top of the metal — it bonds to it. The coating is applied in a vacuum chamber at high temperatures, creating a molecular bond between the gold and the stainless steel base. The result is a surface that's significantly harder and more resistant to:
- Water and humidity
- Sweat and body oils
- Heat and UV exposure
- Everyday friction and abrasion
PVD coatings are used in aerospace components, medical implants and cutting tools — environments where surface durability is critical. Applying the same technology to jewellery means you get gold that behaves differently from anything in a standard jewellery cabinet.
Will PVD Gold Ever Wear?
In theory, any surface coating can wear over many years of continuous abrasion. In practice, PVD-coated stainless steel jewellery worn daily holds its finish for years — far beyond the lifespan of standard gold plating, which can start showing wear in weeks. The 316L stainless steel base also doesn't corrode, so even in the unlikely event of significant surface wear, there's no green skin reaction.
The Bottom Line
PVD gold does not tarnish under normal wearing conditions. You can shower in it, swim in it, sleep in it and sweat in it. It's the closest thing to solid gold performance without the price of solid gold. That's why every piece in The Arcive collection is made exactly this way.