There is no magical power than can change a cheap metal into a rare and expensive one. But we do have something better than alchemy and that is electroplating. Electroplati ng harnesses the power of electricity to coat metals like copper with a thin layer of something better, like gold or silver. This gives the resultant product the qualities of the plating material, like sheen, strength, ductility, or resistance to corrosion, at a mere fraction of the price. Electroplating Options Gold Plating Gold plating is expensive but valued because it improves conductivity, appearance, resistance to corrosion and reflectivity. Gold is inert and does not oxidize. During gold plating, a thin layer of gold is applied to the surface of another metal using an electrochemical process. Gold is valued for its scarcity relative to other metals. Gold plating ranges from 0.000007″ thickness as used in costume jewelery, and 0.0002″. Gold. You may have an alloy of gold, cobalt, and nic...