Gold Plated vs Gold Vermeil vs Gold Filled: What's the Difference?
by FIUNA
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Gold jewelry comes with a lot of labels. Gold plated, gold vermeil and gold filled sound similar, but they describe very different products. Here is what each term means, so you know what you are buying and how to look after it.
Gold plated
Gold-plated jewelry has a thin layer of gold applied to a base metal by electroplating. The base can be brass, copper or sterling silver, and the thickness of the gold layer varies a lot between brands. Plating gives you the look of gold at an accessible price. Because the layer is thin, it wears with use, especially where the piece rubs against skin or other jewelry.
Gold vermeil
Vermeil (pronounced "ver-may") is a specific kind of gold plating. The term is commonly used for sterling silver plated with a thicker layer of gold. In the US, the FTC sets a minimum of 2.5 microns of at least 10k gold on sterling silver. In the EU there is no single legal definition, so check what a brand actually states.
Gold filled
Gold filled is not plated. A thick layer of gold is mechanically bonded to a base metal, and the gold usually makes up at least 5% of the total weight. It lasts much longer than plating and costs more.
What FIUNA uses
All FIUNA jewelry is made from 925 sterling silver. Our gold pieces are 925 sterling silver plated with 18k gold. That gives you a real silver core, the warm tone of 18k gold and an accessible price. Like all plating, the gold layer is thin and wears over time, so we are open about it and do not call our jewelry vermeil.
Why plating wears, and how to slow it down
Friction, sweat, water, perfume, creams and chlorine all wear plating faster. Take your pieces off before showering, swimming, sport and sleep, put them on after skincare, and store them dry and separately. Read our guide can you shower with gold-plated jewelry? and how to clean sterling silver jewelry.
Which one is right for you?
- Want the gold look at an accessible price and like to switch styles? Gold plated.
- Want a thicker gold layer on silver for daily wear? Gold vermeil.
- Want gold that lasts for years with heavy wear? Gold filled or solid gold.
Explore our gold-plated pieces like the Molten Ring, the Flow Ring or the Drip Collection.
