Intro
Identifying the difference between gold plating vs solid gold is essential for jewelers, distributors, or wholesalers. It helps you know the real value of a piece when sold in any market or how hights its appeal will be. Below is a comprehensive guide to gold plated, gold filled, and solid gold jewelry characteristics.
Gold Plating vs. Gold Filled vs. Solid Gold Jewelry
| Gold Plating | Gold Filled | Solid Gold | |
| Metal Material | Brass/Silver + Real Gold Layer | Brass/Silver + Thick Real Gold Layer | Gold, in and out. |
| Jewelry Jargon/Vocabulary | Gold Plating/Gold Vermeil/Gold Dipped/Hollow Gold | Gold Filled | Solid Gold |
| Price range | moderate | Higher, fine | Premium,luxury |
Gold Plating Explanation
Gold plating offers a reasonably priced access in the jewelry market. This is due to the piece being partly gold and partly alternate metal, namely brass or copper. Below is a full discussion of what gold plating jewelry are:
Is gold plating real gold?
Yes, it is, at least for the outside layer. Gold plating is a common method used to give objects a gold aesthetic at a low cost. Usually, the process is electroplating a very thin layer of gold to a conductive base metal like copper or brass using electrical currents to bond them. Affordability is a major factor when it comes to gold plating. Manufacturers can create pieces with complex shapes or designs at a low cost with this process.
Gold Filled Explanation
Gold filled jewelry stands as a mid-tier option between gold plated and solid gold in terms of its cost. While it shares similarities to gold plating where a piece is not fully made of the valuable metal, there is a difference between the two.
Is gold filled real gold?
For the outside layer, it is. To clear the misconception, gold filled jewelry are not pieces with a liquid form of metal in its core. The process of involves the bonding of gold onto a base metal such as sterling silver or brass. To be legally considered gold filled, ajewelry must have at least 5% of gold content. The gold content is why pieces that are filled are more expensive than electroplated ones, but are cheaper than solid gold jewelry.
Solid Gold Explanaiton
Unlike the first two types, solid gold consists more of the valuable metal. For this kind of jewely, there are two different types that we will talk about below:
Solid Gold Types
- Karat: It denotes the piece’s purity or the percentage of god mixed with the based metals. The karat range is 10K, 14K, 18K, and 24K, which indicates the percentage or parts of gold found in a piece. If a gold ring is considered 10K for example, the piece has 10 parts gold and 14 parts of a base metal. Pieces that are 24K means it is almost entirely made of gold.
- Color: In jewellery terms, color indicates what type of metal is mixed with gold. Yellow gold would mean a piece has silver and copper fused with the valuable metal. White gold on the other hand has palladium or nickel due to these metal’s color. You may also come across pink or rose gold, which is a piece with copper as its based metal to achieve the color.
Differences Between Gold Plating, Gold Vermeil, Gold Filled and Solid Gold
- Composition
- Value
- Durability
- Water Resistance
- Hardness
- Color Retention
| Type of Gold Jewelry | Composition | Value | Durability | Water Resistance | Hardness | Color Retention |
| Gold Plating | Base metal with thin gold layer | Low | Low | Low | Soft (due to thin layer) | Low (fades over time) |
| Gold Vermeil | Sterling silver with thin gold layer | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Soft (depends on gold layer) | Moderate |
| Gold Filled | Base metal with thick gold layer | Higher than gold plating | High | High | Moderate | High |
| Solid Gold | Entirely gold or gold alloy | Premium | Very High | Very High | Varies (depends on karat) | Very High |
How to Tell Gold Plating from Solid Gold?
Knowing if your hewelry is sold gold or gold plated comes down to three key factors. Below are the ways experts can differentiate various gold pieces.
- Weight
Because of its density, weight solid gold jewelry is clearly heavier than gold plated objects. A thin layer of gold over a lesser base metal makes up gold plating, thus plated pieces will feel far lighter than their solid gold counterparts.
- Hallmarks
Search for the jewel’s karat stamp or hallmark. Solid gold jewelry manufacturers will incorpoate stamps like “10K, “14K, or “18K” to their work. The mark indicates the purity of thejewelry. In regards to gold filled and gold plated difference, there are hallmarks to indicate this. Gold plated objects have marks like “GP” (Gold Plated), “HGE” (heavy gold electroplate), or “RGP” (rolled gold plate).
- Price
Price is among the most telling contrast between gold plating vs solid gold. Because of the quantity of gold used and its enduring value, solid gold jewelry is far more costly. While gold plated jewelry is less expensive, it does not have the long-term investment possibilities of solid gold.
What We Recommend for your Jewelry Line
The style, use, and target audience of your jewelry line are affected by the kind ofjewelry you plan on selling. There are different cost, durability, and appearance advantages specifically gold jewelry. Below are the type of gold jewelry we recommend for specific jewelry line.
Fashion Jewelry
Gold plating is the perfect choice for fashion jewelry. This category stresses affordability and trends, hence gold plated items are a wonderful way to seem luxurious without having to pay such high prices. The durability of gold plating becomes significant since wearable accessories are prone to wear due to constant usage. Gold plated pieces let you offer bold and unique designs that are suitable for most markets.
Demi-Fine Jewelry
For demi-fine jewelry, which falls between fine and fashion jewelry, gold filled is the advised choice. While still reasonably priced, gold-filled jewelry is more durable than gold-plated pieces. The durability of gold-filled demi-fine pieces makes them great as wearable jewelry due to their resistance against wearing.
Fine Jewelry
Depending on who your target market will be, both solid or filled gold are suitable choices for fine jewelry. The higher purity of gold is an expectation of fine pieces, which is a step closer to being in the luxury lines. For customers who want to wear fine gold rings or find gold bracelets, the filled gold pieces are the best match for them. In the case of collectors who place importance on the value and aesthetic of a piece, pure gold items are the best fine jewelry for them.
Luxury Jewelry
Solid gold is the only advised material for luxury jewelry. Only solid gold can be offered in terms of quality and value, which are what collectors want. This type of jewelry is usually displayed only, which makes the less–durable solid gold form suitable. Luxury jewelry is also sought for as heirlooms since these are highly resistant to corrosion and are long-lasting.
Key Takeaway
To conclude the difference between gold plating vs solid gold, is that the former is more affordable and suited for wearable accessories than the latter. Solid gold is better as luxury jewelry or as a form of investment since it consists mostly of the expensive metal. Understanding the distinction between the two can make your jewelry attractive to your target market.
