What’s the difference between Gold-filled, Gold-plated and Vermeil?
You may have heard jewellers talk about gold plating, gold-filled and gold vermeil when you buy jewellery. What Does Gold Filled Mean?
First let’s go over each basic definition, then compare them and find out how you can choose which one is best for you!
What is Gold-Plated Jewellery?
Gold-plated jewellery is created by coating base materials such as copper or brass with an extremely thin layer of gold. This process is called electroplating, and the gold content is usually less than 0.05%.
Gold-plating can easily rub off with normal use. It is also more likely to become tarnished quickly and cause skin irritation in people with sensitive skin. While gold itself does not corrode, copper, brass, and other liquid materials in the air, sweat, lotion, and perfume, etc. are particularly affected. Gold-plated jewellery can be much cheaper than other gold jewellery, so it is a good choice for testing of new trends or for just one occasion.
In the Amoura gold-plated standard, the thickness of electroplated gold must be greater than 0.3 microns, which means the gold content is above 1.6%.
As for the base metal material, Amoura choose 925 silver.
What is Gold Vermeil Jewellery?
Similar to gold-plated jewellery, gold vermeil is when sterling silver, typically marked as 925, is plated with a thin layer of gold, normally with a thickness of 2.5 microns. As sterling silver is a less expensive metal than solid gold, you'll often find gold vermeil jewellery to be more of a budget-friendly option. Unfortunately, after some time, the plating will wear off, so this is something to keep in mind. Vermeil jewellery is a great choice for those who want something to wear casually and who use and style gold jewellery on a day-to-day basis, while still being affordable.
The Difference Between Gold-Plated and Gold Vermeil Jewellery
There are some notable differences between gold-plated and vermeil jewellery. One of the most remarkable is that vermeil will use sterling silver as a base metal, while gold-plated jewellery will use other metals. The thickness of the gold layer is another significant difference. The thickness of the base metal depends on how long the base has stayed in the solution.
- The core metals – Gold-plated items have no restriction regarding the base metal. In contrast, vermeil always has silver as the base metal. This is one of the biggest requirements for vermeil jewellery.
- Plating thickness – According to international standards, the minimum thickness of gold in gold vermeil jewellery must be between 0.0025 millimetres or 2.4 microns. There is no thickness requirement for gold-plated items.
- Price – Gold vermeil jewellery is usually more expensive than normal gold-plated jewellery.
What is Gold-Filled Jewellery?
Gold-filled jewellery is a genuine layer of gold, permanently bonded onto the base metal with heat and pressure. It contains more than 100 times more gold than gold-plated and gold vermeil jewellery, and it is tarnish-resistant, nickel free and hypoallergenic. The gold content is legally required in the US to be at least 5% of the total weight. This makes a big difference in terms of the jewellery's ability to resist wear and tear in the long run. It is extremely durable; it won't chip or flake, and it is tarnish resistant.
With proper care, gold-filled jewellery can serve you for a long time. In terms of cost, you should expect a slightly higher price tag, but not as high as solid gold. High-quality gold-filled jewellery can withstand everyday usage without tarnishing. Because it is hypoallergenic, it is also safe for most skin types and won’t prompt a reaction.
