FAQs
What is Gold Plating?
Gold plating is a method of depositing a thin layer of gold onto the surface of another metal, most often copper or silver, by chemical or electrochemical plating.
Gold plating can range in thickness between 0.17 to 2.5 microns. Plating with a thickness of around 0.17 is called gold electroplated or gold wash/flashed. This is an extremely thin layer (about 0.05% of gold) and is only recommended for jewelry pieces that are sheltered from heavy wear and tear, like pendants and earrings. This thickness of plating wears off quite quickly.
The ideal thickness for gold plating is around 0.5 to 1.0 microns. While this might sound like a thin layer, it’s sufficient even for jewelry pieces that are exposed to rough wear, like rings and bracelets.
What type of plating does TAC use?
All of our pieces at THE AIKO COLLECTION use the PVD Plating system.
PVD is a vacuum coating process that will produce a beautiful decorative and a very functional finish on the items being coated.
PVD utilizes a titanium nitride that provides an extremely durable and a tough wearing coating. PVD coatings possess a far higher resistance to wear than traditional gold plating.
How do I care for my TAC piece(s)?
At THE AIKO COLLECTION, we take pride in the quality of all of our pieces. All pieces are suitable for daily wear with all of our pieces 100% nickel and lead free.
All of THE AIKO COLLECTION pieces are plated between 1 - 2 microns thick in 18K Gold, over sterling silver for maximum longevity.
In order for your jewellery to last as long as possible, we highly recommend the following care instructions:
Do not shower, swim, sleep or exercise in your TAC pieces.
If you are applying makeup, perfume and/or moisturiser, be sure to do this before putting on your pieces.
Our packaging has been designed to also increase the longevity of your pieces, so ensure to keep your TAC pieces in there when you’re not using them.
Try to keep your pieces in a cool dry place, out of direct sunlight and in a room with little moisture when not in use.
How do I clean my TAC piece(s)?
Everyone’s skin varies in PH levels and the oils from your skin may have a higher level of acidity than others. This acidity may cause your pieces to oxidise and cause discolouration, because of this we highly recommend you clean your piece after each wear if possible.
When cleaning, take extra care to avoid damaging or scratching your pieces.
Use a warm soft cotton bud to clean your pieces. Avoid using any chemicals to clean your jewellery and do not rub too hard with a cloth as it can cause damage.
Gentle polishing of your pieces are okay to remove marks or light tarnishing, but be careful not to over polish as this can damage the gold plating.
Refunds and Exchanges
Does TAC offer refunds or exchanges?
At THE AIKO COLLECTION, we want to ensure you’re completely satisfied with your pieces so our returns and exchange policy has been designed to cater for a seamless transaction.
For all refunds/returns, please ensure that the pieces are returned undamaged, unused and with all original packaging within 14 days of purchase. Items on sale are not eligible for a refund.
All refunds will be credited to the original payment method and all shipping and handling charges are at the expense of the customer and are non-refundable.
Please note that due to health reasons we do not refund or exchange on any of our earrings. Please also note that all refunds can take up to 10 working days to show in your account due to varying processing times between payment providers.
For all exchanges, please contact us within 30 days of purchase to initiate an exchange. Please ensure that all pieces are returned undamaged, unused with all original packaging.
You can either exchange your item for a different size or items to the same value, or alternatively you can request a store credit.
If the item is faulty, please contact THE AIKO COLLECTION via email at info@theaikocollection.com within 7 days of receipt. Please include your order number, photo of fault and reason for return with this email.
For all other enquiries, please email us at info@theaikocollection.com