Raised Gold Plates

Whether gold-plated watches are valuable varies. Gold-plated watches generally contain very little gold, as they are primarily a base metal, to which a thin layer of gold alloy is applied as a finish. As a result, the timepieces typically don't have much value on the scrap market. However, a gold-plated watch may have value based on its age, maker, model, condition and other factors. A certified appraiser or experienced jeweler can help you determine how much your watch may be worth. Find a wide range of gold watches on 1stDibs.

The term 14-karat gold plated means that an item has a thin layer of 14-karat gold applied over a base metal like copper or brass. Fourteen-carat gold refers to metal that is 58.5% pure gold and 41.5% alloy. An alloy could be silver, zinc, copper or another metal. Shop a selection of 14-karat gold jewelry on 1stDibs.

Gold Rolex pieces are only made with solid gold, never gold-plated. Crafted with high-quality materials, Rolex uses 18-karat gold made at their in-house foundries to ensure the utmost premium metals are used in each Rolex. Shop a selection of gold Rolex watches on 1stDibs.

Yes, Omega did indeed make a gold-plated watch. The Seamaster, which was released in 1961, featured gold-plated finishes and a self-winding movement. On 1stDibs, you can find a collection of expertly vetted Omega watches from some of the world’s top sellers.

A piece of jewelry or a decorative object marked 18K gold plated does likely contain real gold. The marking indicates that the item is metal under a layer of gold alloy that contains 75 percent gold and 25 percent other metal. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of expertly vetted gold jewelry.