Materials glossary / Plating and finish
PVD coating
On the label: PVD coating · Plating and finish
What it is
Physical vapor deposition: a hard, thin metal or ceramic film (often titanium nitride for gold color) bonded in a vacuum chamber. Much harder-wearing than electroplating; the usual finish on colored stainless steel and titanium.
Plating and finishs: A thin layer of one metal over another. The layer's thickness, written in microns, decides how long it lasts; US law sets minimums for what may be called gold-filled or vermeil.
In the research
1 PubMed papers mention it with jewelry, allergy, eyewear or UV; the three most recent:
- Novel Three-Dimensional and Biocompatible Lift-Off Method for Selective Metallization of a Scleral Contact Lens Electrode for Biopotential Detection · Frontiers in medical technology, 2022
A paper is a paper, not a verdict: titles are listed so you can read them, and a study on one fabric or one filter says little about the piece in your hand.
Other plating and finishs
Clasp & Lens describes materials from the public record and does not appraise, grade or test pieces; what a listing states is the supplier's statement. If a piece causes a rash, take it off; a reaction that spreads or blisters is a doctor's question, and sunglasses are no substitute for impact-rated eye protection where that is required.