Knowing the four types of Gold Jewelry.

Types of gold jewelry

There are so many types of gold jewelry available, which can be very confusing and frustrating when you’re shopping. We’ve all been there – your favorite necklace turning your neck green. Gold jewelry can be misleading with their titles. Types of gold referenced in jewelry are solid gold, gold filled, vermeil gold, gold plated… gold dipped! Confusing, right? I think so! In this post, I will outline the differences for you so you can shop smart when buying gold jewelry!

How many times have you purchased a gorgeous piece of costume or gold plated jewelry to find that it loses its luster after just a few times wearing it? Usually, the price will indicate its quality.

If you find a stylish piece that you love and don’t mind it only lasting for a season or two, that’s great! Sometimes that’s all we’re looking for to boost the look of an outfit.

First type of Gold Jewelry – Solid Gold

In its most pure form (24k) gold is soft, almost orange in color, and too weak to work with for jewelry. It is standard to add alloys to create more structure to 24k gold.  When mixed together with other metals, jewelry is still termed and known as “solid gold”  Karatage indicates the purity of the gold, or how much of the metal is pure gold. For example, 18kt gold is 75% gold, 14kt gold is 58% gold.

Metals commonly alloyed with gold for jewelry purposes include silver, copper, nickel, iron, zinc, tin, manganese, cadmium, and titanium.

Differences of alloys mixed with gold usually depend on the desired color finish. For instance, silver or nickel mixed with gold makes white gold. Copper mixed with gold makes rose gold, and so on.

The following lists the percentage of pure gold in the different karats of gold:

14k: 58% gold (most gold jewelry other than special pieces like wedding rings)

18k: 85% gold (much more expensive than 14k and more yellow)

24k: 100% gold (not for jewelry due to softness)

2nd type of Gold: Gold-Filled[Next Best to Solid Gold]

 

Did you know gold-filled is a form of gold plating? There is almost double the gold in gold-filled items than found in gold-plated. Both are plated with gold, but the process between the two is very different.

Instead of being dipped in gold like gold plated pieces, gold filled jewelry undergoes a mechanical bonding process that melts a thicker layer of gold onto the base metal. One or more sheets of solid gold (14K, 12K, 18K, etc) is wrapped around a base metal under intense pressure. The gold sheets are effectively “filled” with something other than gold.

Gold-filled items have a much thicker layer and higher quality of gold on them than gold plated. Gold filled will be less expensive than solid gold of course, but will be more expensive than gold plated. By law, gold filled jewelry must contain at least 5% gold by weight.

So how do I take care of and get the most out of my piece?

You are fine to shower in gold-filled jewelry, get it wet, wear it for life! We do recommend you remove it in salt water or chlorine.  Wearing it while using basic lotions is fine, but remove it when putting on anything strong- retinol, peels, glycolic acid etc.

While gold filled jewelry will maintain its gold cast for longer, they are expected to last between 10- 30years.

Third Type of Gold Jewelry- Vermeil: 

Gold vermeil jewelry (pronounced ‘ver-may’) is a type of gold plating which uses sterling silver as the base metal. Sterling silver is a higher quality of metal than brass or other popular inexpensive base metals used in gold plating. Vermeil is more hypoallergenic and has a thicker layer of gold than regular gold plating (but not as thick as gold-filled), which is why businesses will stress the name when referring to their gold-plated products. Vermeil uses over 2 microns (.002 mm) of gold plating over sterling, vs standard gold plating which is less than 1 micron (.001 mm.) However, Vermeil plating will still wear off within 1-2 years.

So how do I take care of and get the most out of my piece?

We recommend you keep it dry and away from skincare products.  Take it off to shower, don’t wear it swimming, and avoid coming into contact with lotions and creams.  Storage tip- keep it in a plastic bag to help avoid moisture in the air.

4th type of Gold Jewelry– Gold-Plated(Most affordable) 

Does gold-plated jewelry fade quickly? Yes- especially gold plated brass and non-vermeil. Some businesses refer to gold-plated jewelry as gold-dipped or gold-overlay. These are the same things. Gold plated jewelry will most likely tarnish or lose its color within 12 months. Gold plated jewelry consists of an inexpensive metal which is dipped using a microscopic sheet of gold plating (less than 1 micron=.001mm.) Think of it as coat of gold hair spray on cheap metal.

The gold content is less than 1%. While gold plated jewelry may possess the same luster and gold appearance at first, this layer is quick to fade when washed, rinsed, or rubbed too hard. Most fashion jewelry is gold-plated or not plated at all (even gold plated should be made clear and distinguished from regular costume jewelry.)

It’s important to make gold plated pieces last longer, you put them in a closed bag after each wear.  And don’t expose them to water or heat!

Conclusion

If you want something that will stand the test of time, something that you can pass down to future generations, then solid gold jewelry is your best bet. If you just want some fashionable pieces for everyday wear, then the ones with gold finishes are a better option.

It always lays off when you are well-informed before you make a purchase. Knowing the 4 gold jewelry types should help you choose what suits you, your skin, and your budget, you’ll choose the right gold ring, necklace and any type of jewelry you want and you won’t regret it. It would definitely keep you from making the wrong purchase. But if you choose the right one, both diamonds and gemstones will look great on it.

Remember, just because it looks like gold, doesn’t mean it’s actually gold all the way.