Gold Vermeil

What is gold vermeil?

Gold vermeil is a legally regulated term that refers to a high quality kind of gold-plated jewelry. To be legally called "vermeil" in the United States, the jewelry piece must meet ALL of these conditions:

• Have sterling silver as its base material. Sterling silver is an alloy made of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other materials, and is a standard material used in high quality jewelry (versus, e.g., brass or copper).
• Be plated in a gold layer that is at least 10k (10 karats). That means the gold is at least 41.7% gold content.
• Have gold plating that is at least 2.5 microns thick. A micron is 1/1000th of a millimeter.

Put another way, vermeil pieces are made with precious metals such as sterling silver, with heavy plating to ensure long-lasting wear. 

 

 

Is vermeil the same as gold plated jewelry?

Gold vermeil is not the same as gold plated jewelry. The main differences between gold vermeil and gold plated jewelry are the thickness of the gold plating and the base metal used. Gold plated jewelry has plating at least 0.5 microns thick (5x less than gold vermeil). It does not require a sterling silver base; it usually uses inexpensive materials, such as copper or brass as its core metal. Since the layer of gold is so thin, the gold plating tends to wear off very quickly, which can cause the jewelry to degrade at a faster speed.

Gold vermeil is a legally regulated term that refers to jewelry with a sterling silver base metal and a layer of gold plating that is at least 2.5 microns thick. Gold vermeil is superior to gold plated jewelry in terms of longevity, quality and value!

What is 18k gold vermeil?

18k gold vermeil is vermeil that has been plated with a thick layer of 18k gold over a sterling silver base. 18k gold vermeil is 75% pure gold and 15% alloy. Jewelry makers opt for 18k gold for the outer plating rather than 100% pure gold (aka 24k gold) because 18k gold is more durable and has less of an orange tone.

Is gold vermeil good quality?

After solid gold, gold vermeil is the highest quality type of gold tone jewelry that you can buy. It is a great option for those who are seeking an affordable and high quality alternative to solid gold jewelry.

Gold vermeil jewelry uses a thick layer of gold plating over a sterling silver base, while cheap gold plated and gold filled jewelry use a thin layer of gold over brass or copper as their base metals. They are susceptible to tarnish, and the thin layer of gold will wear off quickly, leaving the unattractive metal to show through.

If you are looking for a sustainable option for jewelry but cannot afford solid gold, gold vermeil is your next best choice.