Why We Don’t Offer PVD, Plated or Stainless Steel Memorial Jewellery
When choosing memorial jewellery, you’re not just choosing a design.
You’re choosing something that will hold meaning for years to come, something worn daily, kept close, and often passed down.
At Memory Within, we’re often asked why we don’t offer plated jewellery or stainless steel options.
The answer is simple.
Because they don’t reflect the standard we set for the pieces we create.
Choosing Materials That Last - Not Just Look Good
Memorial jewellery is different from fashion jewellery.
It isn’t worn for a season.
It isn’t replaced when styles change.
It’s chosen during deeply emotional moments, often to hold ashes, hair, or fur elements that cannot be replaced.
Because of that, the materials used matter, not just today, but years from now.
What Is Plated or PVD Jewellery?
Plated jewellery, including gold-plated and PVD-coated pieces, is created by applying a thin layer of metal over a base material. Stainless steel, alloy metals, or silver.
It can look identical to solid gold or silver when new.
But over time:
- The surface layer wears away
- Daily wear causes fading and thinning
- The base material beneath becomes visible
This is the natural behaviour of plated jewellery.
For everyday fashion pieces, that may be acceptable.
For ashes jewellery or memorial jewellery, it introduces a level of impermanence that doesn’t sit comfortably with what the piece represents.
How Thick Is Plating, Really?
Most people don’t realise just how thin plated jewellery actually is.
In many cases, the gold or silver layer isn’t even visible to the eye in terms of thickness. It’s measured in microns - thousandths of a millimetre.
- Flash plating can be as little as 0.1 microns can start wearing off in days to weeks
- Standard plating is often around 0.5 to 1 micron typically lasts a few months to around a year
- Heavier plating may reach 2 to 3 microns. Can last 1 to 3 years with careful wear. This is often referred to as Vermeil (pronounced ver-may) Vermeil is often seen as a higher-quality option - and it is. But even at 2.5 microns, it remains a layer over silver, not a solid gold piece. It will wear away. It cannot be replated once used with inclusions.
- PVD plating/covered/fused/vacuum bonded - 0.5 to 3 microns. Slightly better scratch resistance due to the manufacturing process, but will continue to wear away over time.
To put that into perspective, a human hair is around 70 microns thick.
So even what’s described as “thick plating” is still just a very fine surface layer.
Why That Matters Over Time
Because plating sits on the surface, it doesn’t last forever.
With everyday wear, especially on rings, pendants and bracelets, that thin layer gradually wears away through contact with skin, water, clothing, and everyday life.
Over time, the base metal underneath begins to show through. That can mean:
- a change in colour
- dullness or patchiness
- exposure of metals that may not be suitable for long-term skin contact
It’s not a fault. It’s simply the nature of plated jewellery.
Why We Don’t Use It
When you’re creating something that holds a person, a memory, a life, it needs to last.
At Memory Within, we work exclusively with solid precious metals because they don’t rely on a surface coating to look the way they do. The material runs all the way through.
It means your piece can be worn, lived in, and passed down, not something that slowly fades back to what it was underneath.
For us, that’s not an upgrade.
It’s the standard.
Is Stainless Steel Suitable for Memorial Jewellery?
Stainless steel jewellery is often marketed as durable and low maintenance.
While that’s true, it isn’t designed with heirloom longevity in mind.
Unlike precious metals, stainless steel:
- Cannot usually be resized
- Is difficult to repair or rework
- Cannot be restored in the same way as silver or gold
Over time, if a piece needs adjusting or refinishing, options are very limited. Very few jewellers will work with this material purely due to the difficulty in future maintenance and repair should this be required. We will not use a material that we cannot offer a repair service for, should this be required.
For something intended to last a lifetime, and beyond, that matters.
The Importance of Solid Precious Metals
At Memory Within, we work exclusively with solid sterling silver and gold memorial jewellery.
Not plated. Not coated. Not "fused"
Solid precious metals offer something different:
- The material runs all the way through the piece
- It wears naturally rather than wearing away
- It can be resized, repaired, and restored
- It is suitable for long-term, everyday wear
This is what allows jewellery to become heirloom, not just something worn, but something kept.
Memorial Jewellery Designed to Be Passed Down
When jewellery holds something as personal as ashes, it often becomes part of a family story.
That might mean:
- Passing a piece from parent to child
- Resizing a ring years later
- Restoring a well-worn pendant
These are things only possible with the right materials.
Plated jewellery and stainless steel don’t offer that same flexibility.
Solid precious metals do.
A Commitment to Quality at Memory Within
Memory Within has always been built on one principle.
That when something holds meaning, it should be made properly.
Choosing not to offer plated or stainless steel jewellery allows us to:
- Maintain a consistent standard of quality
- Create pieces that can stand the test of time
- Offer reassurance to the families who trust us
It isn’t about offering more options.
It’s about offering the right ones.
Jewellery To Remember, For Years to Come
Every piece we create is made with care, intention, and respect for what it holds.
And because of that, we will never compromise on the materials used to create it.
Because memorial jewellery should not just look beautiful.
It should last.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is plated memorial jewellery long lasting?
Plated jewellery can look beautiful initially, but over time the surface layer will wear. For memorial jewellery, solid materials are generally preferred for longevity.
What is the best metal for memorial jewellery?
Solid sterling silver and gold are considered the best options, as they can be worn daily, repaired, and passed down over time.
Can stainless steel memorial jewellery be resized?
In most cases, stainless steel cannot be resized or easily altered, which can limit its suitability for long-term wear.
Does memorial jewellery last forever?
With proper care, solid precious metal memorial jewellery can last a lifetime and beyond, making it suitable as an heirloom piece.