When choosing a special piece of jewellery, it is important to understand exactly what you are getting and if it is the right piece for you. Gold vermeil and gold plated are terms often used interchangeably when it comes to gold jewellery. However, there are distinct differences between the two. Let us walk you through them…

What is gold vermeil? 

Since gold jewellery has exploded in popularity, gold vermeil has become a popular choice for jewellery that is affordable yet stands the test of time. The base layer of gold vermeil is sterling silver (92.5% pure silver) which is a high-quality and durable metal. A thick layer of gold is then electroplated on top of the sterling silver. This method allows for gold jewellery to be more affordable yet less likely to fade or tarnish. 

Bonus fact: vermeil is actually pronounced ver-may!

What is gold plating? 

Gold plating uses a similar method of applying a layer of gold to a base metal. However, the base metal is usually a cheaper material such as copper or steel and the layer of gold over the top of the base is very thin. Many jewellery outlets use gold plating as it allows for a very affordable price tag for consumers while still offering that metallic gold appearance. Any piece of jewellery can be gold plated, allowing you to re-vamp a piece you don’t reach for anymore. Although, the quality of gold plating varies and, due to the thin layer of gold, plated jewellery can tarnish very quickly. 

Which one is better quality? 

There is no doubt that gold vermeil is better quality than gold plated. One reason for this is that the gold used for gold vermeil has to meet a certain quality standard (at least 10 karat but usually 14-18k). The higher the karat, the greater the purity of gold and therefore the greater the quality and durability. Gold plated jewellery does not have to meet a certain standard of purity, and therefore is more likely to tarnish quicker over time. 

Another reason why gold vermeil is of higher quality is that the thickness of gold applied to the base layer is high higher compared to gold-plated jewellery. If you’ve ever noticed your gold ring becoming bronze, you’ve got gold plating to blame!

Are both gold vermeil and gold plated real gold? 

Yes! Both have a layer of real gold over a base metal, however, gold vermeil has a thicker and purer layer of gold, making it more valuable and higher quality. 

Gold vermeil vs gold plated: The key differences:

• Base metal: gold vermeil uses sterling silver compared to cheaper metals used in gold plating, making gold vermeil better quality. 
• Gold purity and thickness: gold vermeil jewellery has a thicker and purer (14-18k) layer of gold on top of the base layer compared to gold plated jewellery which has a thin layer of low-quality gold. 
• Durability: although all gold pieces of jewellery will tarnish over time (due to natural processes), gold vermeil jewellery will last far longer than gold plated jewellery due to the quality and thickness of the gold layer. 

When designing Solacement pieces, we thoroughly researched each potential material for our rings to ensure the highest quality. All our gold jewellery is made from gold vermeil, creating beautiful yet high-quality and affordable jewellery.

Browse our collection and find your next special piece…