Our customers often ask us what the differences between different types of metals we used in our jewellery. We will explain you today the difference between some of our most common materials, so you can decide which is the perfect for you.
Let's start with Gold filled.
Gold-filled is an of a solid layer of gold (typically constituting at least 5% of the item's total weight) mechanically bonded to a base of Bras, Cooper or zinc. Although a gold-filled piece of jewellery is not sold gold, it has the same desirable properties and look of solid gold.
This material its supper high standard quality, it won’t tarnish and will not rub off or turn colours. If you are allergic or sensitive to certain metals you can wear gold filled without worries of an allergic reaction.
What about gold vermeil?
Gold vermeil is one of our favourites, you might be asking yourself why? This is a high-quality form of gold plating in which a thick layer of gold (this must be more than 2.5 microns and is usually between 14k – 22k gold) is coated upon 925 sterling silver.
Vermeil usually looks like gold to the naked eye, making it a great alternative for those who can't afford pure gold jewellery.
What is Gold Plated?
This is undoubtedly the best option for wearers who are jewellery obsessed but need to stay in a budget. It gives the impression of luxury while not causing you to break the bank every time you see a cute, trendy necklace or bracelet. Gold-plated jewellery is made contains a very thin layer of gold over another metal.
The downside of gold plating is that the gold layer fades and tarnished over time and can cause allergies to the components.
What type of jewellery should I buy?
It's entirely up to you, generally your budget will be the deciding factor. Gold fill is slightly more expensive, due to the complex and time-consuming process of heat & pressure bonding, but is often more durable than gold vermeil. On the other hand, compared to gold-plated, gold vermeil is an excellent choice if you tend to be sensitive to metals in gold-plated, and can wear more elegantly as the top layer of gold fades. If you don't care about the quality, we will recommend going for any gold-plated piece, so you can have hundreds of them to style.
I hope this helps you in understanding the key differences between these three metals. If you are interested, you can also read my previous blog post on how to take care of your jewellery?
https://thepuzzledesign.com/blogs/how-to-care-of-your-jewellery/how-to-take-care-of-your-jewellery