edstreet
Member
I discovered something interesting of note that is rather alarming. I took various pen kits from several vendors (which shall be nameless for this entire thread) dumped the plating type, cost kit, vendor into a spreadsheet. I then did some differential tests on cost in regards to 10k vs rhodium, 22k vs rhodium, rhodium vs black Ti and so forth. The results yielded some consistent patterns. Which does indeed raise some alarming questions.
First gotcha that I noticed was slimlines vs Gent Jr's,
Slimine: 10k to rhodium diff = $2.30 (meaning gold is cheaper)
Gent Jr: 10k to rhodium diff = -$8.90 (meaning gold is cheaper)
Now that is a very interesting spread. slimline to gent Jr difference is $6.60. Possibly for the surface area of the gent, or so I thought. So I looked to the Statesman Jr's since it's the same size as a Gent Jr. Statesman is listed at 22k and not 10k, also black Ti vs rhodium.
Statesman Jr: 22k to Black Ti diff = $5.30.
But wait, Gent Jr spread was $8.90, so statesman Jr is $5.30? Given the statesman has a LARGER surface area to cover (2 inserts in statesman vs 1 in gent, bigger center band in statesman vs tiny ring in gents) one would expect a LARGER spread in the statesman but nope. I then thought perhaps it's the gold to black Ti, so I threw in the slimlines and euro's to compare.
Euro: 22k to Black Ti diff = $0.10. (meaning gold is cheaper)
Euro: 10k to Rhodium diff = $2.30. (meaning gold is cheaper)
So...
In 10k gold plating seems to be cheaper than rhodium plating.
In 22k gold plating seems to be more expensive than rhodium plating.
In Black Ti to Rhodium the plating difference seemed to be stead at $2.00 - $2.20
So in another thread this is a quote from a user (not ment to single anyone out but wanted to show reference to 'real world' pricing)
So gold *SHOULD* be more $ than rhodium, yet the mentioned kits the only one that is the case is the statesman. Really makes me question the 'gold' in the slimlines, euro's and gent series as I suspect it's not gold but probably something like enamel.
Also worth noting in the rhodium to chrome cost difference was $3.30 with chrome behing lower cost. Yet rhodium plating is something like 0.05% rhodium contents, not enough to make much of a difference, other than marketing label to say 'rhodium'.
Order of lower $ to higher $:
gent: 10k, black Ti, rhodium
euro: 22k, 10k, black Ti, rhodium
slimline: 22k, chrome, 10k, black Ti, rhodium
statesman: black Ti, 22k
complete opposite.
First gotcha that I noticed was slimlines vs Gent Jr's,
Slimine: 10k to rhodium diff = $2.30 (meaning gold is cheaper)
Gent Jr: 10k to rhodium diff = -$8.90 (meaning gold is cheaper)
Now that is a very interesting spread. slimline to gent Jr difference is $6.60. Possibly for the surface area of the gent, or so I thought. So I looked to the Statesman Jr's since it's the same size as a Gent Jr. Statesman is listed at 22k and not 10k, also black Ti vs rhodium.
Statesman Jr: 22k to Black Ti diff = $5.30.
But wait, Gent Jr spread was $8.90, so statesman Jr is $5.30? Given the statesman has a LARGER surface area to cover (2 inserts in statesman vs 1 in gent, bigger center band in statesman vs tiny ring in gents) one would expect a LARGER spread in the statesman but nope. I then thought perhaps it's the gold to black Ti, so I threw in the slimlines and euro's to compare.
Euro: 22k to Black Ti diff = $0.10. (meaning gold is cheaper)
Euro: 10k to Rhodium diff = $2.30. (meaning gold is cheaper)
So...
In 10k gold plating seems to be cheaper than rhodium plating.
In 22k gold plating seems to be more expensive than rhodium plating.
In Black Ti to Rhodium the plating difference seemed to be stead at $2.00 - $2.20
So in another thread this is a quote from a user (not ment to single anyone out but wanted to show reference to 'real world' pricing)
I get my clips plated here in the US and the last time I did the gold surcharge over silver and Rhodium was $19.25 per 500 pieces that less than 4 cents each. I just don't see the cost of the plating being a large factor in the cost of the component set. They are the only makers of it and as the only place to get a component set as big and blingly your paying their price. Betcha their % of profit per piece is much higher than their less expensive component sets.
So gold *SHOULD* be more $ than rhodium, yet the mentioned kits the only one that is the case is the statesman. Really makes me question the 'gold' in the slimlines, euro's and gent series as I suspect it's not gold but probably something like enamel.
Also worth noting in the rhodium to chrome cost difference was $3.30 with chrome behing lower cost. Yet rhodium plating is something like 0.05% rhodium contents, not enough to make much of a difference, other than marketing label to say 'rhodium'.
Order of lower $ to higher $:
gent: 10k, black Ti, rhodium
euro: 22k, 10k, black Ti, rhodium
slimline: 22k, chrome, 10k, black Ti, rhodium
statesman: black Ti, 22k
complete opposite.