Different Types of Gold & Gold Plating

When it comes to gold jewellery, there’s no shortage of types on the market – which can be incredibly confusing, especially if you’re new to the jewellery space.

When it comes to gold jewellery, you really want to ensure you’re shopping from a brand that you can trust. High-quality gold jewellery doesn’t just look better, it’s also going to last longer so that you can get the most out of your pieces.

There are a range of different phrases you might see when you’re shopping for gold jewellery including gold plating, gold vermeil, gold filled and solid gold.

Here’s our guide to the different types of gold jewellery you can refer to next time you’re shopping for new pieces for your collection.

 

What is Gold Plating?

Gold-plated jewellery is a kind of jewellery that is coated in a light layer of gold on top of a base metal. The thin layer of gold is plated onto the base to create gold-plated jewellery.

Historically, gold-plated jewellery has been easily tarnished, especially when exposed to water or sweat. However, at NORVEI, we plate every one of our gold jewellery pieces with 14K gold using advanced PVD plating. Every single piece is dipped 5 times to ensure maximum protection and long-lasting shine. Water, sweat and heat resistant as well as completely hypoallergenic – there won’t be any green skin with NORVEI (we can’t say the same for other brand though!).

 

How About Gold Vermeil?

Gold vermeil is 2.5 microns of gold plating on top of sterling silver. Gold vermil is completely hypoallergenic so it’s suitable for anyone with sensitive skin. Gold vermil tends to last longer than standard gold-plated jewellery because the coating is much thicker.

Gold vermail isn’t foolproof, and consistent use may cause the gold to wear off in areas where there is a lot of constant contact.

 

Next, Gold-Filled

Next up is gold-filled jewellery. This type of jewellery has a solid layer of gold mechanically bonded to a base, typically brass. Unlike gold-plated jewellery, gold-filled jewellery is mechanically bonded to the base metal and, therefore, won’t rub off.

Gold-filled is great for everyday wear, it won’t tarnish, and it’s waterproof so it is an investment in your jewellery collection that will last a number of years.

Gold-filled jewellery can handle everyday wear and tear whilst still being relatively affordable, if you look after your gold-filled jewellery you can really make it last a lifetime.

 

Finally, Solid Gold

Solid gold jewellery is exactly what it sounds like, and it comes with a price tag to match. Essentially, the entire piece is made of gold with no base metal. This is where different karats come into play. The lower the karat, the less gold and the less expensive your solid gold pieces will be.

14K gold is typically the karat you’ll want to go for if you’re looking for everyday pieces, not only does it have a stunning yellow colour that looks great, it’s super durable too.

Solid gold is tarnish-resistant, hypoallergenic and perfect for everyday wear. Since it’s a precious metal that is made to last lifetimes, your solid gold jewellery can be passed down through generations as a family heirloom.

 

Choose Your Pieces Wisely

Whether you’re shopping for women’s jewellery or men’s jewellery, you need to ensure you’re choosing your pieces wisely. Our collection of men’s gold jewellery includes bracelets, chains and pendants so that you can find the pieces that really speak to you.

Whether you’re after something bold or you’re more of a minimalist, knowing the types of gold and the benefits of each allows you to make informed decisions when it comes to expanding your jewellery collection.

Curate your dream jewellery collection by opting for quality jewellery pieces that will really stand the test of time.