Hardware Platting Options
This page lists information on pen hardware finishes available on pens, pencils and key-
chains. Lets start with gold plating. The karat system is commonly used to rate gold purity.
24 karat is pure gold, and is often referred to as 24 k gold. 10 karat is 10/24ths gold. Since
gold is a soft metal, pure gold in not necessarily the best. When they dilute gold, they add
materials that improve the wear characteristics. Thus 10 k gold usually has better wear
characteristics than 24 k gold. Gold plating, like the plating used on pen hardware is very
thin and wears with use and handling – see the image of my 24 k pen hardware after two
years of daily use.
Pen kits with platting other than 24 k are still limited in Canada, but there is a new finish
refereed to as upgraded gold. This plating is pure enough to still meet 24 k standards, but
contains some trace elements that improve the durability. The upgraded-gold plating
method is also reported to be better and contributes to longer plating life. Upgrade gold is
now available for European, Greek, El Grande, and Cigar pens. There is a price premium
for these parts, but this finish will improve the pen’s platting life.
All kits are available in normal gold with the typical shine you are used to seeing on jewelry.
Some kits are now also available in satin-gold which has a roughened surface and
reduced shine. This finish is now available on European style twist pens and Cigar Pens.
There is also a chrome finish available on some pen styles. This finish is the shiny silvery
colour that you are used to seeing on car bumpers and this finish wears better than gold.
Chrome is available on European, Cigar, and El Grande pens.
A satin-nickel finish is also available now. This finish has a dull silver colour with limited
shine. Satin-nickel is available on European and Cigar pens.
Both the chrome and satin-nickel finishes look very impressive when combined with some
darker coloured woods such as African Blackwood, Black Walnut, and Redheart.
The pen-types page shows the pens available at Harding Pens and lists the finishes
available with each style. Remember, if I do not have stock of a pen in the wood-platting
combination you like, I can usually craft a custom pen for you in about a week. I
do not charge a premium for custom orders, just send me a quotation-request. I do not
stock all plating types in all kits, but if you want it, I can order the parts in that platting type for
you.
Please note that these finishes are subject to change by the hardware manufacturers
distributors. Best efforts are used to keep this information accurate and up to date, but the
platting may change without notice and there is nothing I can do about that.
Thanks for viewing my web site, I would love to hear your feedback. Also, please send me
any questions you may have. You can reach me through the contact-me page.
Brad Harding
www.HardingPens.com
Aurora, Ontario, Canada.
This page lists information on pen hardware finishes available on pens, pencils and key-
chains. Lets start with gold plating. The karat system is commonly used to rate gold purity.
24 karat is pure gold, and is often referred to as 24 k gold. 10 karat is 10/24ths gold. Since
gold is a soft metal, pure gold in not necessarily the best. When they dilute gold, they add
materials that improve the wear characteristics. Thus 10 k gold usually has better wear
characteristics than 24 k gold. Gold plating, like the plating used on pen hardware is very
thin and wears with use and handling – see the image of my 24 k pen hardware after two
years of daily use.
Pen kits with platting other than 24 k are still limited in Canada, but there is a new finish
refereed to as upgraded gold. This plating is pure enough to still meet 24 k standards, but
contains some trace elements that improve the durability. The upgraded-gold plating
method is also reported to be better and contributes to longer plating life. Upgrade gold is
now available for European, Greek, El Grande, and Cigar pens. There is a price premium
for these parts, but this finish will improve the pen’s platting life.
All kits are available in normal gold with the typical shine you are used to seeing on jewelry.
Some kits are now also available in satin-gold which has a roughened surface and
reduced shine. This finish is now available on European style twist pens and Cigar Pens.
There is also a chrome finish available on some pen styles. This finish is the shiny silvery
colour that you are used to seeing on car bumpers and this finish wears better than gold.
Chrome is available on European, Cigar, and El Grande pens.
A satin-nickel finish is also available now. This finish has a dull silver colour with limited
shine. Satin-nickel is available on European and Cigar pens.
Both the chrome and satin-nickel finishes look very impressive when combined with some
darker coloured woods such as African Blackwood, Black Walnut, and Redheart.
The pen-types page shows the pens available at Harding Pens and lists the finishes
available with each style. Remember, if I do not have stock of a pen in the wood-platting
combination you like, I can usually craft a custom pen for you in about a week. I
do not charge a premium for custom orders, just send me a quotation-request. I do not
stock all plating types in all kits, but if you want it, I can order the parts in that platting type for
you.
Please note that these finishes are subject to change by the hardware manufacturers
distributors. Best efforts are used to keep this information accurate and up to date, but the
platting may change without notice and there is nothing I can do about that.
Thanks for viewing my web site, I would love to hear your feedback. Also, please send me
any questions you may have. You can reach me through the contact-me page.
Brad Harding
www.HardingPens.com
Aurora, Ontario, Canada.
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| One-of-a-Kind Fine Writing Instruments and Turned Treasures |
| Hardware Platings |
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New Premium Platings:
Titanium Gold: Titanium plating produces an extremely durable finish. The process first deposits titanium oxide (matched to
the color of gold) onto the hardware part. Then 24k gold is bonded on the parts to achieve a color match to other gold finishes.
The parts are then re-plated with gold. The final result is hardware that will dramatically out-wear normal gold plating.
Sterling Silver: The hardware parts receive a restaurant grade 20 micron plating to ensure the beauty lasts for many, many
years. This is the same type of plating found on fine silverware.
These new platings are only available on a few pens so far. The new Cambridge Fountain Pen uses both for a stunning look.
Titanium Gold: Titanium plating produces an extremely durable finish. The process first deposits titanium oxide (matched to
the color of gold) onto the hardware part. Then 24k gold is bonded on the parts to achieve a color match to other gold finishes.
The parts are then re-plated with gold. The final result is hardware that will dramatically out-wear normal gold plating.
Sterling Silver: The hardware parts receive a restaurant grade 20 micron plating to ensure the beauty lasts for many, many
years. This is the same type of plating found on fine silverware.
These new platings are only available on a few pens so far. The new Cambridge Fountain Pen uses both for a stunning look.