TYPES OF GOLD FOR JEWELRY

We love gold jewelry, but it's not all the same & the differences are important to know, so I typed this up to help explain it.

GO WITH THE GOLD!

I always say go with solid gold if you're able to. It's an investment piece that will last forever if properly cared for. You don't have to worry about the gold rubbing off. Give it a good clean every now and again (a toothbrush + mild soap is perfect for this), and it will look great as long as you have it. 24K is pure gold & the most valuable - 24 parts out of 24 are gold. Other karat types like 18K, 14K, & 10K are alloys made with gold. Yellow gold is often a mixture of gold + copper, silver, & zinc. The closer to 24, the more gold is in the alloy & the more vibrant the yellow tone. Because gold is an alloy, there will be slight variations in color. The yellow tone can also change depending on the fabrication process.

GOLD FILLED

This material consists of a layer of gold bonded to a base metal, usually jeweler's brass. By law, the weight of solid gold in 14k gold filled material should be 5% or 1/20. Unlike gold plated, it is a more substantial layer of 14k gold that will not rub off easily, but it can if you're not careful. When I use 14k gold filled materials for ring bands, I find that they can last years, but will eventually need to be replaced if it's used as an every-day piece. Use a polishing cloth to clean your gold filled jewelry. I also recommend wearing it in the shower to rinse off lotions, perfumes, sweat, and whatever else gets on it during the day. Gold filled jewelry can be refined and sent in as scrap, so never throw it away!

GOLD VERMEIL

Gold vermeil is basically gold plated over silver, albeit a thicker layer of gold that will hopefully last longer than the typical gold plated jewelry. This is a popular option for higher end jewelry because of the fact that the base metal is silver. It can be re-plated, or if that's not an option, you can wear the piece in silver once the gold rubs off.

GOLD PLATED

This is when gold is plated in a thin layer over a cheap base metal. Some people like this option because it is much more affordable than the others, but the result is something that doesn't last & cannot be recycled or maintained.

I often get asked about the difference between solid gold, gold filled, and the other options, so I hope this helps!