Chrome is a classic, durable pen plating. It’s a bright, shiny silver color. It is one of the toughest plating and can take a beating.

Pictured: Blue resin twist pen in chrome plating.

Becoming more common, Gunmetal is a shiny, metallic plating, but is a much darker color than chrome. It is just as durable as chrome.

Pictured: Red and blue colorshift resin click pen with gunmetal plating

Available in various karats, Gold is a classic, stunning plating. Like jewelry, gold is a softer plating and won’t tolerate rough handling.

Pictured: Maple and African Mahogany Wood click pen in gold plating.

Rose Gold is similar to Gold platings, but with a slightly pinkish undertone. A bit softer, it’s best to take care of these pens.

Pictured: Redheart wood and resin postable rollerball pen with rose gold plating.

Satin Chrome is a silver color, but is less metallic and shiny than chrome. It is very durable.

Pictured: Blue and white resin twist pen with satin chrome plating.

Prism pens feature bright colors, usually in combination with another plating. They even come in rainbow colors! Durable.

Pictured: Red and white resin twist pen with red prism plating and chrome.

A few pen kits come in a combination of plating types, such as Gunmetal and Gold.

Pictured: Ziricote and African Mahogany Wood click pen in gun metal and gold.

Antique Pewter is a silver color, with a bit more grey and less shine than a Chrome plating. It’s fairly durable.

Pictured: Black and red resin chevron gearshift pen with antique pewter plating.

Bright Copper is a copper finish that has not been treated to look aged, so it is shinier than Antique Copper. Fairly durable.

Pictured: Hybrid African Mahogany and combination wood pen in blue resin with bright copper plating.

Antique Copper is a copper plating that has been treated to look aged, thus less shiny than bright copper.

Pictured: Blue-dyed wood twist pen with antique copper plating.

A neat plating, Black Enamel is a solid flat-black plating. It’s not very shiny.

Pictured: Marblewood twist pen with black enamel plating

Antique Brass is a brass plating that has been treated to look aged. It is a somewhat-shiny, yellow-gold color. Farily durable.

Pictured: Ziricote wood fountain pen with antique brass plating.

Carbon Fiber can be found combined with other plating options on some pen kits. Durable.

Pictured: Red resin twist pen with carbon fiber and chrome plating.

Rhodium is a white-silver, metallic, very shiny plating. It is a high-end plating typically found only on high-end pen kits. It is very hard, durable, and corrosion resistant.

Pictured: Black Trustone fountain pen with rhodium plating.

Black Titanium is a titanium plating that has been treated to be a darker color, closer to a dark, metallic grey. It is another high-end plating that is very strong and durable.

Pictured: Australian Mallee Burl fountain pen with black titanium plating.