What is gold plated?
What is gold vermeil?
What is PVD gold?
What is gold-filled?
As the jewellery industry expands, customers often become confused by the many different techniques used to produce gold jewellery. This guide will contain all you need to know about all the methods used for gold jewellery manufacturing, and how to pick a style that suits your lifestyle and budget. We will cover:
- Cheap/Fashion Jewellery
- Gold Plated Jewellery
- Gold Vermeil Jewellery
- PVD Gold Jewellery
- Gold Filled Jewellery
- Solid Gold Jewellery
(A cross ❌ will be put next to methods we don’t like or intend to use, and a tick ✅ next to methods we use or wish to use very soon!)
Cheap/Fashion Jewellery ❌
This is the method used by most fast fashion brands and online marketplaces such as Aliexpress.
Price Range: Below 2000 KES / £15 / $20. Can be as low as 100 KES / £0.70 / $1
What it is: A low-cost, cheap metal alloy is coated with gold colour or electroplated with an extremely thin layer of real gold. These cheap alloys usually contain nickel as a base for plating with gold. The gold layer will wear away quickly, leaving you with tarnished, darkened jewellery in just a few uses. Exposure to water and sweat can turn your skin green or cause the jewellery to rust.
Where to find: Fast fashion brands, online marketplaces etc. Usually, if the item is very cheap, it’s most likely flash plated or coated with gold colour.
This type of jewellery is best for those who only wear jewellery very few times a year, or want a large, bold piece to wear only on special occasions. Those who wear jewellery regularly should stay away from this type, as you will spend money replacing the pieces often. ⚠️ If you have sensitive skin or ears, this jewellery will cause allergies and reactions to your skin due to the nickel base. If there is no mention of the gold karat used to plate the piece, you can assume it has been coated with gold colour.
Gold Plated Jewellery ✅
Much better than flash plating or colour coating, but lifespan is not the longest. The most popular method for modern jewellery brands. This method is good for heavy chains as it keeps the cost in the affordable range.
Price Range: 3000-9000 KES / £25-70 / $25-$80 (depends on the thickness of the gold plating)
What it is: Gold plating uses the same electroplating method but deposits a higher amount of gold onto the surface of the base metal. This gives a more luxe feel and look, and will last longer than cheap jewellery. The base metal used is nickel-free brass or sterling silver (more about sterling silver in the next section 😉). These metals should not cause reactions on the skin, especially sterling silver.
Where to find: We sell it here! Can also be found in department store brands, independent brands (usually online).
This type of jewellery is best for those who wear jewellery more regularly and want quality jewellery on a lower budget. The karat/ct of gold used to plate these are usually 14, 18 or 24. The gold plating will last years if looked after properly. We love using 18k gold to plate our pieces because of its rich gold hue.
Gold Vermeil Jewellery ✅
One of our favourite methods. Combines luxury jewellery and affordability.
Price Range: 5000-30,000 KES / £35-250 / $45-$300 (depends on the thickness of the gold plating and the weight of the silver)
What it is: Gold vermeil uses sterling silver as a base and is then plated with gold, usually 18k. Sterling silver is a precious metal like gold, so combining the two creates luxury pieces without a hefty price tag. Vermeil jewellery also has a thicker gold plating, therefore lasts longer than cheap jewellery. Pieces made with silver are often hallmarked with a “925” somewhere on the jewellery wherever possible (note that very small pieces like stud earrings may not have space for a 925 stamp). This is to certify that you are getting genuine silver in your jewellery. Sterling silver will not cause reactions on the skin.
Where to find: We sell it here! Can also be found in higher-end department store brands and independent brands (usually online).
This type of jewellery is best for those who wear jewellery regularly and want luxury yet affordable pieces. When the gold plating wears off, it will reveal the beautiful sterling silver base underneath. You can keep the piece silver, or have it replated. The gold plating will last years if looked after properly. We love using 18k gold to plate our pieces because of its rich gold hue.
PVD Gold Jewellery ✅
Another one of our favourites. Creates durable, waterproof, long-lasting pieces with an affordable price tag.
Price Range: 2000-15000 KES / £15-120 / $20-$150 (if real gold is used the price will be higher)
What it is: Stainless steel is bonded to a thinner layer of gold using a method known as physical vapour deposition (aka PVD). Real gold or gold colour can be used with this method (we prefer real gold 😉). PVD allows the layer of gold to be resistant to water damage, sweat and scratches for many years, making it safe to shower with or sleep in (although we still don’t recommend sleeping in your jewellery for safety reasons). Stainless steel will not cause reactions on the skin. The hue that real gold PVD gives is similar if not identical to solid gold and vermeil jewellery despite having a thinner layer of gold.
Where to find: Can be found in department store brands and independent brands (usually online). Watch brands use this method as watches tend to be worn every day so will need to be resistant to daily wear.
This type of jewellery is best for those who wear jewellery every day and want the same look that vermeil or solid gold jewellery has at a much more affordable cost. The gold PVD will last several years if looked after properly! Whilst we don’t recommend swimming or sleeping with jewellery on, PVD pieces will be more resistant to chlorine damage should you take a cheeky dip in the pool with your jewellery on 😉
Gold Filled Jewellery ✅
A heavy gold layer bonded to a base metal creating beautiful waterproof, long-lasting pieces. The closest alternative to solid gold.
Price Range: 5000-35000 KES / £45-250 / $55-$350 (price will be higher if the layer of gold is thicker and/or the chain is heavier)
What it is: Solid gold is bonded to either brass or sterling silver in very high temperatures. This layer means that the content of gold is usually 5% (or more) of the weight of the piece. Brands tend to use 14 or 18 karat gold, and pieces are stamped whenever possible with a number to certify that the jewellery is gold filled. For example, 14/20 is used to certify that 5% of the jewellery is solid 14k gold. This layer of solid gold is resistant to water damage, sweat and scratches. Gold-filled jewellery will last for many years, making it safe to shower with or sleep in. It is the closest and most premium alternative to solid gold. Gold-filled jewellery will not cause reactions on the skin. However, the method used to manufacture gold filled jewellery is very costly and when combined with the higher gold content, the purchase price will remain on the more expensive side.
Where to find: We sell it here! Harder to find but usually stocked by independent brands online. Popular in the USA, Brazil and Australia.
This type of jewellery is best for those who wear jewellery every day and have a larger budget to spend on their jewellery. Whilst we don’t recommend swimming or sleeping with jewellery on, Gold Filled pieces will be more resistant to chlorine damage should you take a cheeky dip in the pool with your jewellery on 😉 If you swim in the ocean/sea with your gold filled pieces on, give them a rinse and a wipe when you come out of the water. Gold-filled jewellery is SHOWER-SAFE!
⚠️ Be aware of cheap wholesalers and marketplaces saying their jewellery is gold filled. The “gold filled” name is used to drive traffic to their page. The cheap jewellery is not gold filled.
Solid Gold Jewellery ✅
The best quality you can get but will be very expensive.
Price Range: 25000-120000+ KES / £150-1000+ / $250-$1200+ (price will be higher if the gold karat is higher)
What it is: Solid gold is measured in karats (or ct). Pure gold is mixed with other metals to make it more durable. Here are the different karats of gold you will find when shopping for solid gold jewellery:
- 24k gold is pure gold but it’s too soft for daily use, deep orange colour, stamped as 999
- 18k gold is 75% gold, stamped as 750
- 14k gold is 58.3% gold, stamped as 585
- 9k gold is 37.5% gold, stamped as 375
Where to find: Luxury brands, local jewellery shops.
This type of jewellery is best for those who don’t have a budget and want pieces that can be passed down generations. The gold will never tarnish. Solid gold lasts forever. ⚠️ Be aware of some local shops and marketplaces saying their jewellery is gold when it may be gold plated.
If you have any further questions or would like to enquire about solid gold jewellery, please email us at hello@scarletandsaige.com
Happy shopping!