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 below-left, 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 used on almost
all the 24k gold plated hardware I use. 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 matt surface and reduced shine.
This finish is now available on European style twist 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 slim, 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.
Some newer, premium hardware plating types are also described at the bottom of this page.
The pen-types page shows the pen styles available at Harding Pens and lists the hardware
finishes available with each style. Remember, if I do not have stock of a pen in the wood-plating
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 and
distributors. Best efforts are used to keep this information accurate and up to date, but the
available 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 or the quote-request
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 below-left, 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 used on almost
all the 24k gold plated hardware I use. 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 matt surface and reduced shine.
This finish is now available on European style twist 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 slim, 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.
Some newer, premium hardware plating types are also described at the bottom of this page.
The pen-types page shows the pen styles available at Harding Pens and lists the hardware
finishes available with each style. Remember, if I do not have stock of a pen in the wood-plating
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 and
distributors. Best efforts are used to keep this information accurate and up to date, but the
available 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 or the quote-request
page.
Brad Harding
www.HardingPens.com
Aurora, Ontario, Canada.
| Harding Pens and Woodturnings |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| One-of-a-Kind Fine Writing Instruments and Turned Treasures |
| Hardware Platings |
Exposing the beauty that God weaves into wood ...
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
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.
Platinum: This is also a very durable, hard plating. This is real platinum rather than rhodium and it should be expected to hold up
under normal careful use for many years.
Black Titanium: This is a titanium oxide molecularly bonded process. This plating is unbelievably hard and durable and much tougher
than titanium nitride. It will last for many, many years.
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 pen styles so far. These premium platings are quite expensive compared to 24 karat
gold.
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.
Platinum: This is also a very durable, hard plating. This is real platinum rather than rhodium and it should be expected to hold up
under normal careful use for many years.
Black Titanium: This is a titanium oxide molecularly bonded process. This plating is unbelievably hard and durable and much tougher
than titanium nitride. It will last for many, many years.
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 pen styles so far. These premium platings are quite expensive compared to 24 karat
gold.
wear on 24 karat gold
plate after 2 years of
daily use
plate after 2 years of
daily use