Plating of articles

A method for plating articles where the articles are watches or their components, is described. The method comprises: providing a liquid plating solution, a precursor species suitable for forming a metallic layer on the articles, and a plurality of luminescent particles suspended in the liquid medium, at least some of which have a diameter of 10 μm or less. The luminescent particles have a D50 distribution, measured using laser light scattering, in accordance with ASTM UOP856-07, of 5 μm or less; and plating the articles within the plating solution. The precursor species forms the metallic layer on the articles and the luminescent particles are deposited within the metallic layer while it is formed. The articles, before being plated, can comprise one or more first metal(s) selected from silver, gold and platinum, wherein the first metal is in alloy or elemental form, and the metallic layer comprises a second metal, which is a transition metal, wherein the second metal is in alloy or elemental form. A barrel plating system may be used to ensure constant movement of the articles within the plating solution and an agitation unit, such as a centrifugal pump may also be used to ensure agitation external to the barrel plating container.