What Is the Difference Between Gold Plated and Gold Vermeil?
Plating and vermeil are often confused. Both have a layer of gold on the surface; the difference is what lies under that layer.
Solid gold
In 14K or 18K solid gold jewelry, the whole body of the piece is a gold alloy. Even if the surface gets scratched, the metal beneath is also gold, and polishing can renew it. Solid gold is the main point of comparison for plating and vermeil.
Gold plating
In plating, a thin layer of gold is applied over a base metal. The type of base metal and the thickness of the layer decide how durable the piece is. At points with a lot of friction (inside a ring, the edges of a bracelet) the layer thins over time.
Vermeil
Vermeil is gold plating where the base metal is 925 silver. In some countries the use of the name depends on specific conditions for the base metal and the gold layer; if you export, check the rule of the destination country in advance.
What to watch for in use
- Keep away from perfume, chlorine and cosmetics
- Wipe with a soft cloth; do not use abrasives
- Store in a separate pouch
Which one for which job?
For pieces worn constantly, solid gold lasts longer; stone-set models can also be made in gold with a lab-grown diamond or a natural diamond in the same design. For lighter series, a plating option on silver is settled together according to the model and its use. See gold jewelry manufacturing and quality control for details; for a quote fill in the quote form or write to info@oskasilver.com.