If you’re shopping for gold jewelry, you may have seen jewelry labeled “gold vermeil”, so what is gold vermeil? Here is a brief but comprehensive explanation of what this means.
Gold Vermeil is sterling silver jewelry with gold plating. You can recognize it because it will bear the hallmark or stamp “925” on it.
We’ll talk about gold vermeil in this article and when it might be the best option for you.
What Does “Vermeil” Mean?
Any piece of jewelry that has a sterling silver base layer with a solid gold layer electroplated on top is called vermeil.
However, for a piece of jewelry to be marketed as “gold vermeil” in the United States, it must meet specific requirements:
- The base material must be sterling silver. Sterling silver is an alloy made up of 92.5% silver by weight and 7.5% other metals, most commonly copper. The alloy is more durable than fine silver (or pure silver), but it tarnishes easily. In the same way that vermeil is a good base for plating, its conductive surface does the same.
- The gold-plated layer must be comprised of at least 10 karat gold, but it can range from 14k to 24k.
- The sterling silver must be plated in gold at least 2.5 microns thick (micron = 1/1000th of a millimeter)
What is Gold Vermeil?
So what does gold vermeil mean exactly?
An extremely durable form of gold jewelry is gold vermeil. Since sterling silver is used as the base metal, only precious metals were used to create your piece.
Following that, the base metal is electroplated with a thick layer of gold. While it may sound similar to gold-plated jewelry, gold vermeil jewelry has a much thicker layer of gold. In contrast to cheap gold-plated jewelry, it is therefore less likely to fade, tarnish, or wear away.
But what exactly is vermeil? Simply put, it’s the method used to create gold vermeil jewelry.
Related Reading:
What Does “14k Gold Vermeil” Mean?
If you see “14k”, “18k” or another karatage before “gold vermeil“, this simply refers to how much gold content there is: 24k is 99.9% gold content, 18k is 75% gold content, 14k is 58.3% and 10k is 41.7%.
Higher karatage does not always equate to better quality because pure gold is brittle and yellow in color.
By combining gold with other materials, the gold is strengthened and is better suited for use in jewelry. Mixing it with other materials also changes the hue of the gold so the yellow tone is not so aggressive.
How Long Does Gold Vermeil Last?
The answer to this question depends on a number of variables, including the gold plating’s thickness, how frequently you wear your jewelry, and the types of activities you engage in.
Generally speaking, high-quality gold vermeil can last five to ten years with proper maintenance before they start to show signs of wear.
Does Gold Vermeil Wear Off?
In short, yes – unfortunately, gold vermeil can wear off after heavy use; however, with proper care, the plating layer can last for many years because it is so thick.
While gold vermeil is considered resistant and durable, like all alloyed gold, with typical wear and use, the metal can naturally start to fade over time… but don’t expect this to happen anytime soon.
How to Care for Gold Vermeil?
The main thing with this particular piece of jewelry in your collection is to keep it nice and dry. Make sure you are not wearing it when applying lotion, perfume, or anything similar, at the very least. Wearing gold vermeil would help even more if you could stop sweating.
Use a soft, dry cloth to clean good vermeil. No one will ever tell you to use steel wool extremely harshly, so use a gentle approach instead.
Furthermore, when cleaning your gold vermeil, try to stay away from any kind of chemicals.
With good care, your gold vermeil will last a longer time!
Is Gold Vermeil Waterproof?Vermeil is a long-lasting high-quality type of gold, but not waterproof.
Is Gold Vermeil Good Quality?
After solid gold, gold vermeil is the highest quality type of gold tone jewelry that you can buy.
For people looking for a solid gold jewelry substitute that is both inexpensive and of excellent quality, this is a fantastic choice.
Gold vermeil jewelry uses a thick layer of gold plating over a sterling silver base, while cheap gold plated and gold-filled jewelry use a thin layer of gold over brass or copper as their base metals.
They are prone to tarnishing, and the thin layer of gold will quickly wear off, exposing the ugly metal underneath.
Gold vermeil is your best option if you want to wear jewelry that is sustainable but can’t afford solid gold.
Should I Buy Gold Vermeil?
If you want to display some gold but you don’t want to spend a lot of money, go for it. It’s not so much about what is gold vermeil worth as it is what it’s worth to you.
It’s a dirty little secret, but a lot of style-conscious millennials and zoomers that you see wearing gold chokers and bracelets are actually wearing gold-plated jewelry.
Gold Vermeil Vs. Other Gold
- Gold Vermeil vs Solid Gold
A substantial layer of solid gold electroplated over sterling silver is known as gold vermeil. When a piece of jewelry is solid gold, it has no plating or sterling base layer.
The difference being that the layer of gold is thicker and the metal underneath is sterling silver.
The exclusivity, beauty, and quality of designer jewelry are all present, but at affordable prices, making it the best of both worlds.
- Despite having layers of electroplated gold, both gold vermeil and gold-plated jewelry differ in their base metal composition and gold layer thickness.
- Electroplated over a sterling silver base, gold vermeil has a minimum thickness of 2.5 microns.
- A cheap base metal, usually copper, is plated over much thinner gold jewelry.
Like vermeil, gold-filled jewelry frequently has a thick layer of gold plating on top.
However, gold-filled pieces use a cheaper base metal.
The name is misleading—it doesn’t mean “filled with gold.” It is more akin to gold plating.
Final Words on What is Gold Vermeil
In recent years, gold jewelry has grown in popularity and availability.
In conclusion, gold vermeil (pronounced ver-may) is a premium type of gold jewelry in which sterling silver is coated with a thick layer of gold—usually between 14k and 22k gold—that must be thicker than 2.5 microns.
If you want to learn more about gold jewelry, continue reading:
FAQs about What is Gold Vermeil
Does Gold Vermeil Tarnish?
Not for a long time. Other gold-plated jewelry tarnishes because the plating is thin and wears away over time, revealing the sterling beneath. However, gold vermeil has a much thicker layer of gold covering the sterling silver, which makes it last longer before tarnishing.
Can Gold Vermeil Get Wet?
Always take off gold vermeil jewelry before working out, doing your hands, or taking a shower. Before wearing your gold vermeil jewelry, apply any perfumes, creams, or hair products.
Is Gold Vermeil Good Quality?
Gold vermeil is the highest quality jewelry you can buy that isn’t solid gold. It is a fantastic, cost-effective alternative for gold jewelry. Gold vermeil is unquestionably the best affordable option when it comes to demi-fine jewelry.
Which is Better Gold Plated Or Vermeil?
Gold vermeil is of a higher quality than gold-plated jewelry. Given their similarities, gold vermeil and gold-plated jewelry are frequently contrasted.
