Gold-Plated Jewelry vs Hollow Gold

There are many kinds of gold jewelry, and the names or terms used can confuse some people. A piece’s composition is indicated by its name either gold-plated or hollow gold, which greatly affects its value and quality. Making a smart purchase for your product line requires awareness of the variances among solid gold, hollow gold, gold-filled, and gold-plated jewelry.

This article offers a detailed discussion on gold-plated jewelry vs hollow gold and other variances. 

Differences between gold-plated and hollow gold

There are crucial differences between gold-plated and hollow gold pieces despite their similarities. The value of a piece is determined by the differences or aspects of the gold jewelry. Know how the two gold jewelry below: 

Is Gold Plated/Hollow Gold Real Gold?

The shortest answer is yes. Both gold-plated jewelry and hollow gold pieces are authentic real gold since both contain a certain amount of the precious metal.

Gold-plated jewelry are made of base metal like copper or brass. The base metal is coated with electroplated gold. On the other hand, hollow gold pieces are made entirely of gold but with empty areas inside. Though hollow, they are regarded as real gold jewelry since they are made from actual gold.

Gold Purity

Gold purity determines how much of the piece is made of gold versus other metals.

• Hollow Gold Jewelry: Purity is measured in karats (k), typically from 10k to 24k. The higher the karat, the more gold it contains. A 24k hollow gold piece is pure gold, while 10k and 14k contain a mix of gold and stronger alloys for durability.

• Gold-Plated Jewelry: Purity depends on the thickness of the electroplated layer. Standard gold plating typically ranges from 0.03 to 0.06 microns, while heavy gold electroplate starts at 0.25 microns or 0.5 microns and can go up to 2.5 microns.

Does Gold Plating/Hollow Gold Contain More Gold?

Hollow gold contains much more real gold compared to gold plated jewelry.

Most gold-plated rings, necklaces, or bands are mostly of non-gold material. On the other hand, even a 10k hollow jewelry has more gold content than electroplated jewelry in terms of metal composition.

Gold-Plated Jewelry Types

There are many kinds of gold-plated jewelry, each with different base metal used and gold layer thickness. Knowing these variations will enable you to decide with knowledge on the quality and lifetime of your jewelry.

After establishing what a gold-plated jewelry is, we go through the various kinds available in the market. Learn what the three common plated pieces are and how much gold they contain below: 

Standard gold plated Layer thickness: 0.03-0.06 mics

Usually between 0.03 and 0.06 microns thick, standard gold-plated jewelry electroplates a very thin layer of gold onto a piece made of a base metal like copper. Since they are covered by a thin layer of gold, standard gold-plated pieces are usually the most affordable. 

Note that gold plated jewelry are not built to last if its base layer is copper or brass. These are usually prone to wearing where the gold plate is slowly removed to reveal the inner metal layer. Their prices are the lowest of other authentic gold jewelry due to their low durability. 

Gold Vermeil Layer thickness: 2.5 mics

Gold vermeil jewelry is a premium variation of gold plating, using sterling silver as the base metal. At least 2.5 microns of gold layer are used on vermeil jewelry, which is noticeably thicker than common gold-plated jewelry. The thickness of the gold plate also means it has a purity of at least 10k. 

Vermeil jewelry is more valuable since its base metal is sterling silver instead of low-cost copper or brass. Silver makes the vermeil jewelry resistant to tarnishing and has a hypoallergenic property. When a vermeil ring is worn down to the base metal, silver does not irritate the skin. 

Gold Filled Layer thickness: 5%

Gold-filled jewelry uses a soldering or welding process instead of electroplating. The process requires thick gold layer covering the silver, brass or copper base metal. Jewelry standards require the gold plate to make up 5% of the piece’s total weight and have a purity of 10K. 

Gold is naturally resistant to tarnishing and has a robust property, making gold-filled pieces more wear-resistant than gold-plated ones. Their market cost is also set between gold-plated and solid gold pieces, allowing jewelers to attract a wide range of audiences to their product line. 

Quality: Gold Plating vs. Hollow Gold

How does gold plated vs hollow gold jewelry compare? What factors should a jeweler be concerned about between the two? We discuss the contrast between the two gold jewelry below: 

Water Resistance

Standard gold-plated jewelry has the poorest water resistance rating of the two. Solid gold manufacturers and experienced jewelers always recommend not showering or swimming while wearing gold-plated accessories. Moisture can peel off the electroplated layer. 

On the other hand, hollow gold is resistant to tarnish or discoloration. While this type of jewelry can withstand moisture, it should not be worn while swimming or doing any activities that make you sweat. Chlorine can react with the gold metal while sweat can cause oxidation with your jewelry.  

For more information for gold’s waterproof quality, check our detailed guide on waterproof gold jewelry.

Hardness and Durability

With 0.03-0.06 microns of thickness, the electroplated layer on standard gold-plated jewelry is susceptible to wear, scratches, and physical impacts. Gold-plated rings are highly prone to damage due to their frequent contact with various objects or surfaces. In addition, the base metal does not lend itself in making gold-plated jewelry durable since copper and brass are also soft. 

Being composed of more gold, hollow gold jewelry has better hardness and durability than its electroplated counterpart. There is no plating on this type of jewelry that wears down when continuously in contact with different surfaces. However, their void-center makes hollow gold pieces susceptible to dents or bending.  

Which One Is for You?

Given the advantages and disadvantages of hollow gold vs gold-plated jewelry, which is the right piece for you? Let’s answer that question by discussing the three different preferences for these jewelries and recommend a specific piece.  

Personal jewelry, Lower-cost gold jewelry

Anyone building a sizable collection at an affordable cost will benefit from gold-plated pieces. The low price tag of gold-plated pieces allows you to create a unique display at home, like gold-plated rings with unique shapes displayed on a mannequin hand. Hollow gold can still be considered, including 10k to 14k pieces that fit most budgets. 

Small-batch customization

The gold content and lightweight material make hollow gold pieces suited for small-batch customization. The voided center’s malleability allows jewelers to shape the pieces into a wide range of designs. In addition, hollow gold pieces are more affordable than solid gold pieces. Their low-cost provides jewelers with many materials for their projects. 

Retail Business

Your target audience will depend on whether hollow gold, gold-plated jewelry, or even both are best for your jewelry line. Hollow gold pieces appeal to customers who want high-end jewelry with a long lifespan and are suited as wearable accessories. Gold-plated pieces have value to customers who want an affordable accessory to accentuate their clothes or style. It pays to know what kind of jewelry brand you want to establish, helping you know if your product line consists of hollow, gold-plated, vermeil, or even solid gold pieces.

Key Takeaway

With a clear grapes of the difference between hollow gold vs gold plated jewelry can help you make an informed decision on which pieces to incorporate with your product line. The former is durable, water-resistant, and has a long life span, while gold-plated jewelry is affordable and comes in various styles. It also helps to know what your target customer wants to determine if your product line will have hollow gold rings or gold-plated bands.

FAQs on Gold Plated & Hollow Gold Jewelry