If you are a fan of gold jewelry, you have probably already wondered the difference between a piece of jewelry made of gold, fine gold plated, gold filled, vermeil, fine gold plated or gold stainless steel!
I'm sharing some explanations with you to help you with your next gold jewelry purchases.
Gold jewelry
Solid gold is the material of choice for high-end jewelry. It is valued for its durability and intrinsic value. Pure gold, often referred to as "24 karat," is too malleable to be used as is. It is usually alloyed with other metals to increase its strength. Solid gold jewelry is often marked with its karat content: 18 karat (75% gold), 14 karat (58.5% gold), or 9 karat (37.5% gold).
Gold-plated jewelry
Gold plating is a more affordable alternative to solid gold. It consists of a thin layer of gold applied to a metal base, usually copper or brass. This layer must be at least 3 microns thick (European legislation).
Gold-plated jewelry
A piece of jewelry gilded with fine gold, such as gold plating, is a piece of jewelry made of a material such as brass, silver, or stainless steel to which a thin layer of gold is applied. The thickness of this layer varies between 0.3 and 1 micron of gold.
Gold-filled jewelry
Gold-filled gold is created by bonding a thick layer of gold (at least 5% of the jewelry's total weight) to a base metal through a process of heat and pressure. This technique makes jewelry more durable than gold-plated jewelry.
Vermeil jewelry
Vermeil is a form of gold plating, but with stricter criteria. To qualify as vermeil, the jewelry must have a sterling silver base covered with a thick layer of gold (at least 10 karats and a minimum thickness of 2.5 microns). Vermeil is prized for its combination of luxury and durability.
Brass jewelry
Brass jewelry is made from a copper and zinc alloy and is an inexpensive alternative to precious jewelry. Its malleability allows for the creation of highly versatile jewelry. However, it is a material that oxidizes, and can therefore leave green marks on the skin. Therefore, brass jewelry should not come into contact with water, perspiration, or creams.
Gold-plated stainless steel jewelry
Gold-plated stainless steel is a manufactured alloy composed of iron, carbon, and chromium, coated with a gold layer (often by a PVD plating process: Physical Vapor Deposition or by electrolysis). Durable, stainless steel jewelry is water-resistant. It is therefore the material chosen for Chouette Merveille handmade jewelry.
If you would like to know more, do not hesitate to read the article on stainless steel in jewelry or on the different types of stainless steel .