IP / PVD plating for stainless steel jewelry, in our own park

Stainless steel jewelry, finished on our own licensed vacuum IP plating line. Polishing before plating and inspection afterwards happen in the same park, with one team to follow your finish through.

In-house vacuum IP / PVD line
Surface preparation with plasma polishing
MOQ 200 pieces per style
12 working days for samples after specs are confirmed

Request a quote →See the process ↓

A team member with jewelry racks beside the plating workshop equipment — Jewelry racks in our plating workshop. Coating inside the chamber is not pictured.

What IP plating is

IP stands for ion plating. It is a vacuum coating process in the PVD (physical vapor deposition) family. The coating is applied in a vacuum chamber rather than in a liquid bath. It is widely used for gold-tone, rose gold-tone and black finishes on stainless steel jewelry.

For buyers, the practical point is simple: IP and PVD are the terms you will see on supplier pages for the same kind of vacuum-applied finish. When you compare quotes, ask each supplier which process they actually use, and whether they run it themselves.

Compare the two processes: PVD vs gold plating, a buyer's guide →

Finishes on stainless steel

Steel: the natural stainless steel colour, polished
18K gold-tone
14K gold-tone
Rose gold-tone
Black
Two-tone: two finishes on one piece, such as steel with a gold-tone accent

The karat numbers in "18K gold-tone" and "14K gold-tone" name the colour, not gold content. Finish options depend on the style, so we confirm what works for each design when you send your request. If you have a colour reference, a physical sample is the most reliable way to match it.

Copper alloy pieces

This page covers stainless steel, our main material. For copper alloy pieces in a collection, we also offer real gold electroplate. Tell us the design and market, and we will confirm the options before sampling. Read the difference in our PVD vs gold plating guide.

From polished steel to plated piece

Before a piece enters the vacuum chamber, it is polished and cleaned.

The team preparing jewelry racks for surface treatment — Racking preparation before surface treatment; the polishing operation is not pictured.

Plasma polishing

Plasma polishing gives steel parts an even, bright surface before plating. The line runs inside our own park, so polished parts move straight on to plating without leaving the site.

Jewelry racks on the cleaning line — Cleaning line and suspended racks.

Cleaning and racking

Parts are cleaned and loaded onto racks so that every visible surface faces the coating.

Jewelry racks loaded into a chamber before plating — Racks in the chamber before plating; coating deposition is not pictured.

Coating in the vacuum chamber

Racks go into the vacuum chamber on our IP line, where the finish colour is built up on the steel surface.

A team member inspecting jewelry pieces at the packing workbench — Checking finished pieces before packing.

Inspection

After plating, we check plating colour and consistency, surface and finish, and stone condition before the pieces move on to assembly and final inspection.

Why in-house plating matters to buyers

When plating is sent out, every batch makes an extra trip to another workshop. Keeping IP plating in-house helps in three ways:

One park, one team. Polishing, plating and inspection are done by people in the same park, so a colour question goes straight to the team that did the work.
No extra transfer. Plated pieces stay on site, from polishing to packing. Samples take 12 working days after specs are confirmed. Standard bulk takes 45 days, with hydraulic-pressed pieces at 30 days, laser-cut at 20 and MIM at 20, all counted from the day after order confirmation.
You can see it. Buyers and agents can visit the plating workshop by appointment. If you cannot travel, ask for a live video walk-through.

Durability claims and lab reports

How long a finish keeps its look depends on the base steel, the coating, the design and how the piece is worn. Rings and bracelets meet more friction than earrings or pendants. That is why we do not make general promises that a finish will never fade, or that a piece is waterproof.

Here is what we offer instead:

An in-house salt-spray testing machine, with salt-spray testing available on request
THIRD-PARTY TESTING / Lab reports for your market, on request

If your brand plans to describe products as waterproof, tarnish-resistant or hypoallergenic, ask for lab reports for your target market first. That way your product pages and packaging say only what the tests support.

How to specify plating in your quote request

Clear plating requirements give you a more accurate quote and fewer surprises at sample stage. Include:

Base material and grade: stainless steel 304, 316 or 316L, or ask us to recommend one
Finish: one of the six finishes above, or a two-tone combination
Colour reference: a physical sample or an approved earlier piece, if you have one
Two-tone areas: which parts of the piece take which finish
Target market: where you will sell, so we can plan the right lab reports
Planned claims: any wording you intend to print, such as "waterproof", so testing can be planned before bulk

Frequently asked questions

What finishes does Northmelon's IP plating line offer?

Northmelon runs its own IP plating line inside its industrial park in Dabu, Meizhou, so IP plating is not outsourced. Current finishes on stainless steel are steel, 18K gold-tone, 14K gold-tone, rose gold-tone, black and two-tone. Steel parts are plasma polished before plating for an even, bright surface. Finish options depend on the style.

Is IP plated stainless steel jewelry waterproof?

Durability depends on the base steel, the coating and how the piece is worn, so Northmelon does not promise waterproof results in general. If your brand wants to make that claim, ask for lab reports: THIRD-PARTY TESTING / Lab reports for your market, on request. Tell us your target market when you request a quote.

Is IP plating the same as PVD?

IP, or ion plating, is a vacuum coating process in the PVD (physical vapor deposition) family, widely used for gold-tone, rose gold-tone and black finishes on stainless steel jewelry. At Northmelon, IP plating runs on an in-house vacuum line after plasma polishing. Ask for lab reports for your market if you need durability data.

Do you offer salt-spray testing?

Yes. We have an in-house salt-spray testing machine, and salt-spray testing is available on request. For your target market, third-party lab reports are also available on request.

Plan your plated collection

Tell us the styles, finishes and market you have in mind. We will confirm what works for each design, then send a quote and lead time.

Price on request · MOQ 200 · FOB quotes

Request a quote → or email aaron@northmelonjewelry.com.