- Gram gold means gold-plated jewellery with less than 1 g of gold (World Gold Council); “1 gram” is not the weight of the piece.
- “1 gram gold” draws about 40,500 searches a month in India, “artificial jewellery” 27,100 and “gold plated jewellery” 22,200 (Semrush).
- Gold covering, forming and impon are trade names with loose meanings; ask about the base metal, the plating thickness and the guarantee.
- Tanishka Jewels: micro gold-plated (imitation), 2–3 microns, nickel-free copper-alloy base, 6-month colour guarantee.
Ask for “one gram gold” in Hyderabad, “gold covering” in Chennai, “forming” in a wholesale lane or “imitation jewellery” at a market stall, and you may be handed the same kind of necklace. The names differ; the buying questions do not.
What do one gram gold, gold plated and gold covering mean?
They are different names for jewellery made of a base metal with a gold-coloured or gold-plated finish. None of them means solid gold. The World Gold Council describes “gram gold” as gold-plated jewellery that is, essentially, jewellery with less than 1 g of gold, and a BlueStone explainer notes that the “1 gram” is not the weight of the piece but roughly the small amount of gold used in plating, sometimes spread across a batch.
| Name | What it usually means | What to ask the seller |
|---|---|---|
| Gold plated | Gold electroplated over a base metal such as brass or copper alloy | How thick is the plating, and what is the base metal? |
| One gram gold / 1 gram gold / gram gold | A retail name for gold-plated pieces; the “1 gram” is not a weight you can check on a single piece | Is there a written guarantee, and what does it cover? |
| Gold covering | A trade term for gold-finished pieces, common in sellers’ trade names, especially in Tamil Nadu | Is it plated, and how thick? |
| Forming / gold forming | A trade term some sellers use for gold-look plated or electroformed pieces; meanings vary | What exactly is the process and finish? |
| Micro gold plated / micron plated | Plating measured in microns; there is no single standard for the term | What is the thickness in microns? |
| Impon | Another name for panchaloha, a traditional five-metal alloy (Wikipedia); usually sold gold-toned | Is it plated, and what is the alloy? |
| Imitation / artificial / fashion jewellery | Umbrella terms for jewellery that is not solid gold; customs classes it as imitation jewellery of base metal, plated or not (HSN code 7117 (“imitation jewellery”)) | Is it plated at all? |
| Demi-fine | A mid-tier label; see our guide to demi-fine jewellery | How does the brand define it? |
Names are used loosely and usage varies from shop to shop and family to family; we have not found a verified state-by-state map, so treat the table as a reading guide, not a rulebook.
How does India search for the same jewellery?
Different words lead to the same shelf. The table below shows how many times a month people search each name in India (Semrush India database, October 2026).
| Search term | Monthly searches (India) |
|---|---|
| 1 gram gold | 40,500 |
| artificial jewellery | 27,100 |
| one gram gold jewellery | 22,200 |
| gold plated jewellery | 22,200 |
| 1 gram gold jewellery | 14,800 |
| imitation jewellery | 12,100 |
| gold plated | 9,900 |
| one gram gold | 8,100 |
| impon jewellery | 8,100 |
| demi fine jewellery | 3,600 |
| gold covering | 2,400 |
| gold covering jewellery | 1,600 |
| gold polish jewellery | 880 |
| micro gold plated jewellery | 720 |
| gold forming jewellery | 590 |
| forming jewellery | 390 |
“1 gram gold” on its own draws about 40,500 searches a month, more than “gold plated jewellery” (22,200). That is why this guide, and each category guide below, uses all the names a shopper might type.
Are they all the same? What actually differs
| Factor | Why it matters | What Tanishka Jewels says |
|---|---|---|
| Base metal | Decides skin comfort and how well plating holds | Nickel-free copper alloy (skin reactions vary by person) |
| Plating thickness | Thicker plating takes longer to wear through | 2–3 microns, multi-layer, our published specification |
| Guarantee | Tells you what happens if the colour fades | 6-month colour guarantee, free replacement via WhatsApp photo |
| Buyback and returns | Tells you what you can do if you change your mind | 7-day returns; tiered buyback at 50% / 35% / ₹100 minimum |
Our guides to how long gold plating lasts and what to check in a jewellery guarantee go deeper.
What does Tanishka Jewels call its jewellery?
Tanishka Jewels sells micro gold-plated (imitation) jewellery, not real gold: multi-layer plating, 2–3 microns thick, over a nickel-free copper-alloy base. We use “gold plated” and “micro gold plated” because we can state the plating thickness. We use “one gram gold”, “gold covering” and “forming” only as names shoppers know the category by, not as a specification, because a gram figure cannot be verified on a single piece. The full wording is on our About page.
Which category should you read next?
| Category | Guide | Pieces | Price range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earrings | Gold plated earrings: jhumkas, studs and danglers guide | 13 | ₹149–₹1,299 |
| Mangalsutra | Gold plated mangalsutra: designs, names and buying guide | 5 | ₹849–₹1,299 |
| Chains | Gold plated chains: length, style and care guide | 4 | ₹449–₹549 |
| Necklaces | Gold plated necklaces: short, layered and AD stone styles | 16 | ₹649–₹2,000 |
| Rani haar | Gold plated Rani Haar: long necklace designs and prices | 7 | ₹999–₹1,799 |
| Bangles | Gold plated bangles: sizes, sets and styles | 12 | ₹499–₹1,199 |
| Rings | Gold plated rings: styles and how to find your size | 9 | ₹149–₹349 |
| Jewellery for men | Gold plated jewellery for men: chains, bracelets and rings | 11 | ₹199–₹1,349 |
| Jewellery sets | Gold plated jewellery sets: bridal and combo set guide | 9 | ₹949–₹2,000 |
Dressing for an event instead? See our jewellery by occasion guide. Browse everything at the shop.
What is covered if the colour fades?
| Promise | Terms |
|---|---|
| 6-month colour guarantee | If the gold colour fades within 6 months, WhatsApp a photo to +91 81428 45928. A free replacement is dispatched within 48 hours, with no return shipping and no form. |
| Not covered | Physical damage (bending, breaking, cutting), loss or theft, and damage from chemicals, perfume or chlorine |
| Buyback | 50% of the purchase price within 6 months; 35% at 6–12 months; minimum ₹100 after that (cash/UPI or store credit). A partial refund that declines over time, not appreciation |
| Returns | 7-day returns from delivery for unused pieces in original packaging; exchange for a new design in months 7–12 |
Frequently asked questions
The label matters less than the answers behind it. Ask about the base metal, the thickness and the guarantee, and the names stop being confusing.
Not sure what you are looking at?
Send us a photo of any piece on WhatsApp and we will explain what it is made of and what it should cost.
Deepa founded Tanishka Jewels to bring the look of fine gold to the modern woman: jewellery designed with a fashion-first eye, finished by hand and made to be worn, loved and remembered. Connect on LinkedIn →
