Gold: vermeil, plated and solid

I want to explain the difference as this affects the quality of the pieces, and its care should be different.

All my plated pieces are crafted in recycled sterling silver and then dipped in a layer of gold. This is what gold vermeil means, having a good quality metal as a base is essential.

When you only see ‘gold plated’, the piece is usually made with a non-fine metal base like brass, copper or steel, which has a lower quality than sterling silver. These pieces don’t last.

I am a big fan of silver, it is a noble and lasting material. Jewellery items made with brass, copper or steel are highly disposable. This is what most ‘fast jewellery’ is made out of.

Vermeil is better quality than plated. Mainly due to its base metal. If the plating comes off, you have a sterling silver piece underneath.

But at the end of the day, it is just a layer of gold in both cases. Not the real thing. These type of jewellery should be kept away from water and all humidity - no showering or swimming. It should also stay away from lotions, creams and oils - all your skincare. Contact with water, soap or chemicals will speed up the process and cause the gold layer to fade sooner. Harsh chemicals might even ruin the gold plate right away, so don’t use any polishing cloths or liquids on them.

Finally, if you want to wear your gold jewellery every day, you should consider investing in solid gold pieces. This metal is obviously extremely long lasting and that’s why it is used for wedding bands and engagement rings. Pieces that you never take off.

I hope this was helpful and that you learned something new.

Email me if you have any other questions!

Sofia