Pricing
Transparent Pricing
No mystery, no "call for pricing" games. Two numbers, applied per metal deposited, define every quote we write, and every quote is confirmed from photos before you commit.
$500
Minimum per metal
Each metal deposited carries its own minimum, and every job, from a single ring to a production tray, receives the full lab process.
$100/ sq in
Per square inch plated, per metal
Each metal is priced on the area actually plated or the minimum, whichever is greater — measured during assessment, confirmed in your quote.
1 day
Typical quote turnaround
Send a photo; we confirm a firm price within one business day.
How the minimum and rate apply
The $500 minimum and the $100 per square inch rate apply per metal deposited. Each metal is priced at $100 per square inch plated or the $500 minimum, whichever is greater.
A job that deposits more than one metal (a nickel undercoat plus a gold top coat, for example) is estimated as separate line items, one per metal, each with its own minimum.
Strikes, activation and pretreatment are included in the line for their metal — a nickel strike is part of the nickel line, a gold strike is part of the gold line. They are never billed as separate processes.
Sales tax of 9.75% applies to plating charges. Shipping is not taxed.
What affects your final quote
The per-square-inch rate is the starting point; six factors move the final number up or down. All of them are assessed from your photos before we quote, so the price you approve is the price you pay.
Surface area
The plated area is the core of the price — larger surfaces use more gold and more bath time. We measure the actual area to be plated, not the whole object.
Condition and preparation
Worn plating to strip, corrosion to remove, or scratches to polish out all add prep time before the item can enter the bath.
Base metal
Steel, brass, copper, and aluminum each need different pre-treatment. Some metals require additional activation or a strike layer before the nickel underplate; that work is part of the nickel line, never a separate charge.
Thickness specification
A decorative flash and a mil-spec engineering deposit are very different jobs. Thicker gold means more time in the bath and more gold deposited.
Quantity
Production runs are priced per run, not per piece stacked at single-item rates — volume pricing applies on larger orders, and repeat runs are scheduled capacity.
Number of metals
Nickel undercoat plus hard gold is two metals and two line items, each carrying its own minimum. A gold strike under the gold, or a nickel strike under the nickel, adds nothing to the count.
Payment terms
- 50% deposit on acceptance of the estimate, 50% on completion before parts ship.
- Payment by wire transfer or Zelle. No card processing.
- The price you approve is the price you pay; nothing is committed until the estimate is approved in writing and the deposit is received.
Bulk and production pricing
Production runs are priced per run, with volume pricing on larger orders and scheduled capacity for repeat work. Send part count and drawings.
Get your free photo quoteWant the full cost breakdown?
Our deep dive on what drives gold plating cost covers thickness, karat, prep, and volume economics in detail.
Read: What affects gold plating cost →Why the $500 minimum exists
Professional plating carries fixed costs that don't shrink with the item: bath chemistry preparation and maintenance, ultrasonic and chemical cleaning, activation, masking, nickel underplating, thickness verification, and documented inspection. Skipping any of those steps is how bargain plating peels in six months. The minimum exists so that every order — even a single small piece — goes through the complete process rather than a shortcut version of it. Each metal's bath carries those costs independently, which is why the minimum applies per metal.
Every quote starts with a photo
All quotes are photo-based: send pictures of your item with a rough size and quantity, and we'll return a firm price — usually within one business day. Nothing ships, nothing gets dropped off, and nothing is committed until you've approved the number.
Send us a photo of your item.
Most quotes take one photo and one business day. Text a picture to (760) 458-3299 and we'll take it from there.