Pen Platings

Metal platings and durability

There are numerous choices available when deciding what type of plating to choose for your pen kit.  The platings below are listed in order of durability starting with the most durable.

Rhodium

Rhodium is a member of the platinum family of precious metals and is one of the rarest metals used to plate pen components. It can sell for as much as $1,500 per Troy ounce. It offers supreme durability and brilliance and is extremely wear resistant.

Hardite

Hardite is a proprietary metallic finish more durable than titanium gold but with the same lustrous shine.  It is compatible in durability to Rhodium.

Titanium

Titanium is available as both titanium gold and black titanium, black titanium sometimes referred to as gunmetal.  Titanium-platings offer superior wear and scratch resistance and are extremely durable.

Chrome

Chrome plated pen are a rich silver white and very durable.  Chrome holds up well for items that will be heavily used as in key chains.

Black Chrome

Black chrome is as durable as the bright chrome finishes

Black Enamel

Black enamel is similar in look and durability to black chrome.

10k gold

10k gold platings incorporate hard nickel or other alloys to increase the overall durability of the pen. 10k gold pens have a traditional gold look.

Copper

Copper is naturally a soft metal.  To increase the wear and tarnish resistance, components are coated with a durable epoxy finish.

24k gold

24k gold is also called fine gold and is greater than 99.7% pure gold.  To increase the wear resistance, a durable epoxy finish is used over the gold platings.