What is electroplating in eyeglass frame manufacturing?

Electroplating in eyeglass frame manufacturing is the process of depositing a thin metal layer onto a frame by electric current, giving metal frames their color, corrosion resistance, and skin-safe surface. A typical plating stack runs copper, then nickel or a nickel-free barrier, then a precious or protective top coat such as gold, palladium, or gunmetal. The plating controls both how the frame looks on day one and how it wears after months of skin contact, so buyers should treat coating specs as seriously as the base metal.

The Plating Stack, Layer by Layer

Why Coating Specs Matter for Your Program

1. Skin safety: coating thickness and the barrier layer decide nickel release, which EU and US markets regulate; request EN 1811 test reports for metal parts.
2. Durability: sweat, perfume, and salt air attack thin coatings, so higher-wear programs justify thicker precious-metal layers.
3. Consistency: color must match across temples, rims, and hinges, which depends on bath control and jig discipline.
4. Warranty link: peeling or flaking plating is a top return reason, so agree the coating standard and claim policy before mass production.

READSUN plates metal frames in-house with controlled bath lines, including nickel-free routes for sensitive-skin collections. Review the equipment behind the plating shop on our manufacturing capabilities page, see plated styles in custom optical frames, and read about the team on about READSUN Optical or the READSUN Optical homepage.

Need a specific plating finish? Request READSUN's coating options and plating samples.