Technically speaking, it's not plating. Electroplating involves an electrolytic bath and the coating is applied by a process called electrodeposition. In PVD, as the name implies, the layer is deposited physically in a vacuum.
The advantages of both are debatable. Especially when it comes to metals like gold. The only clear advantage gold PVD has over electroplated gold is eco-friendliness.
A community member
Mar 31, 2019
TherocBoth methods you mentioned are indeed plating. You assumed I was referring to electroplating, but I never said so. In both cases thin layer of gold is formed on the surface of material, ergo plated as opposed to gold filled where gold would be mixed in the material during casting.