Whats with this 2-layer plating business?
When gold electroplate is put directly over brass (the typical backing metal), over time copper ions present in the brass alloy can ‘migrate’ through the gold layer and appear at the surface, where they will oxidize and produce a darkening or peacock effect (this can be abated by wiping with a soft cloth, but it will slowly return again). In most commercial electroplating, this is avoided by interposing a layer of electroplated nickel, which acts as a barrier to the copper ions, but it produces a composition of the pen’s trim parts that is less authentic than plating alone (it is also more expensive due to the additional steps involved), and if (when) the gold on top wears through, it will expose the silvery nickel layer rather than the gold-toned brass. I leave it up to my customers to decide which approach they favor.
