Our handmade jewelry collection features two different materials: silver and gold vermeil. Everyone knows what silver is, but we've noticed that many people aren't familiar with the term gold vermeil, and that gold vermeil is often confused with gold plating. There are significant differences between the two. That's why we're dedicating a blog post to this topic.
Gold plated vs. Gold vermeil
Gold-plated jewelry must have a base made of a metallic material, such as copper. This is then covered with a 0.5-micron layer of gold. Gold-plated jewelry can be offered at a competitive price. While the jewelry is actually coated with gold, the base can be made of any metallic material. This allows for low production costs and, of course, a very attractive retail price. With proper care, gold-plated jewelry will remain beautiful for quite a long time, but it won't last for years.
Gold vermeil jewelry has more stringent requirements to be considered gold vermeil. The base of the jewelry must be silver. A layer of at least 18-karat gold is applied over the silver base, and this layer must be at least 2.5 microns thick. The gold layer is therefore five times thicker in gold vermeil than in gold-plated jewelry and has a higher carat grade. The production price of gold vermeil is quite high, and the retail price of gold vermeil items is therefore considerably higher than gold-plated items. On the other hand, the item is of very high quality, thanks to the silver base and the thick layer of gold, at least 18 karat.
Gold vermeil jewelry is long-lasting. However, we recommend not showering, swimming, or exercising with the items. The acidity of soap, for example, can corrode the jewelry, just as it can with silver and gold. The jewelry can be cleaned with a special care cloth. You can find all the information about caring for your jewelry here .
With proper care, the jewelry will last for years. Because it's not made entirely of gold, it's also stronger. Gold is quite soft, so items made entirely of gold can easily deform. This won't happen with gold vermeil jewelry. The price of gold vermeil jewelry is also much lower than that of real gold, making it more affordable for more people!
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