Gold and rose gold that does not wear off.
PVD is a titanium coating bonded to stainless steel in a vacuum chamber. It is not paint, not foil and not plating — which is why it survives sun, rain and cleaning in a way gold-coloured spray never does.
What PVD actually is
Physical Vapour Deposition. The finished SS 304 letter goes into a vacuum chamber where titanium is vaporised and bonded to the surface as a molecular layer. The colour is in that bonded layer, not in a film sitting on top, so there is nothing to peel, flake or bubble.
Compare that with the two cheaper routes: gold spray paint fades within a season outdoors, and gold vinyl foil lifts at the edges as soon as water gets under it. Both look identical to PVD in a photograph on the day of installation.
Shades we supply
- Mirror gold — the bright, reflective classic. Jewellers, banquet halls, hotels.
- Matte / satin gold — softer, no glare, hides fingerprints. The usual pick for reception walls.
- Rose gold — the standard for salons, clinics, boutiques and bridal stores.
- Champagne — a pale, restrained gold that reads as neutral against beige and stone.
- Black chrome and titanium black — deep black with a metallic depth that paint cannot reach.
- Blue, bronze and copper — available on order for architectural work.
Where it earns its price
PVD costs more than a plain steel letter. It pays for itself in two situations. First, exterior signage in a brand colour that would otherwise need repainting every couple of years. Second, anything a customer stands close to — reception desks, salon walls, showroom entrances — where a foil edge lifting is immediately visible and cheapens the whole space.
Halo lighting with gold
Gold and rose gold letters look their best reverse-lit with a warm white LED at around 3000 K. Cool white flattens the tone and makes gold read as grey at night. We default to warm white on gold and rose gold unless you ask otherwise — a small detail that makes a large difference on site.
Cleaning and care
A soft damp cloth is all it needs. No abrasive pads, no scouring powder and no acidic cleaner — PVD is hard, but it is a surface layer and abrasives will dull it over time. Cleaned that way, an exterior PVD letter holds its colour for many years.
Common questions
Is PVD gold the same as gold plating?
No. Gold plating deposits actual gold electrochemically and is soft and expensive. PVD bonds titanium in a gold colour and is far harder — better suited to signage that is exposed and occasionally cleaned.
Will rose gold PVD fade in the sun?
It holds colour far longer than paint or foil. Over many years of direct sun, an exterior PVD surface can shift very slightly, but it does not peel, flake or blotch the way coated alternatives do.
Can PVD be applied to brass or aluminium?
PVD is done on stainless steel for signage. Brass has its own natural colour and is finished by polishing and lacquering. Aluminium takes anodising instead, which gives a comparable champagne or black.
How do I tell real PVD from gold paint or foil?
Look at the letter edge and the inside of the return. On PVD the colour continues around every surface evenly. Paint shows brush or spray build-up at the edge, and foil shows a visible seam or lifted corner.
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Send the sign width, the material you have in mind and a photograph of the wall. That is usually enough for us to quote.