Gold Plated vs Gold Filled Jewelry: What Is the Difference?

Gold plated earrings by Ana Luisa

Gold plated vs gold filled – this is the eternal question. There are many types of gold jewelry, including chains, necklaces, earrings, rings, and others. Gold plated, gold filled or solid gold can make all jewelry look beautiful. Even though they may look the same, gold plated jewelry is very different from gold-filled, which is very different from solid gold. If you were curious about what this difference is, you have come at the right spot. In this article, you will discover a little bit more about the two most common methods of making gold jewelry: gold plated vs gold filled.

In search of the perfect piece of jewelry – gold plated vs gold filled

When you are looking for that perfect jewelry piece, it is very important to know what you are paying for. Knowing certain essential industry terms can be of a great help. Especially when you have to spot the difference between fake diamonds and real ones or between gold plated vs gold filled jewelry.

Most of us have probably purchased a piece of jewelry either for ourselves or for an anniversary/ birthday gift. Statistics show that around 30 million people have bought jewelry only in 2017. That is why jewelry industry is worth billions. And because of its worth, it is bound for some people to try to make some easy money by selling cheap jewelry as high-quality. That is why it is very important to know if that necklace, chain, studs or hoop earrings are gold plated or gold filled.

Gold plated jewelry

Gold plating represents the most affordable type of gold jewelry you can find on the market. Because the layer of gold is very thin, the costs can be reduced considerably. Gold plated jewelry can be amazing and high-quality but you have to be careful where you buy it from. If the plating was not done properly, it is possible for the thin gold lawyer to crack and break off. That is why you should not buy gold plated jewelry from shops that don’t have great reviews or a renowned reputation.

Gold plating is a fairly quick and simple process. For creating gold plated jewelry a base metal is used, such as copper or brass. Once the base metal is shaped, cleaned and rinsed, a nickel lawyer will be bonded to act as a buffer between the base and the gold plating. In the final stage, the nickel-plated base will be introduced into a gold plating tank. The total amount of gold a plated jewelry piece usually has can be of under 0.05% of the total weight of the piece.

Now, the question is: should you buy gold plated jewelry? The answer is yes. Gold plated jewelry can look just as nice as gold filled jewelry. The prices for gold plated jewelry can range anywhere from $10 to around $200 depending on the quality. Rose gold plated is usually a little bit more expensive than regular gold.

Gold filled jewelry

Most gold filled jewelry can offer that authentic look without having to pay the price of solid gold. Usually, gold filled pieces look very good, are durable and of a great quality. This happens because the gold layer is much thicker and will not rub or flake off. In fact, because of the quantity of gold used, the government regulates the gold filled jewelry, making it mandatory that the gold layer represents at least 5% of the jewelry’s total weight. The base metal used can be copper, brass or even silver and the gold layer used is 10k or higher.

The process of creating gold filled jewelry is more difficult than for gold plating because the base has to be sandwiched between two gold layers. This makes the process harder and much more expensive than plating. The downside of this process is that because of the rigidity of the gold sheet, not all jewelry items can be gold filled. Custom designs or shapes are much harder to make and will definitely cost much more.

Depending on your budget, you can purchase gold filled jewelry pieces. The pricing for such items can range between $30 and $100 depending on the shape and size of the jewelry piece.

Gold plated vs gold filled: conclusion

In the end, it all depends on your tastes and budget. If you want to create a fast jewelry collection, purchasing gold plated items are a good solution. If you are prepared to pay more money, you can also choose gold filled items. As far as design and quality go, gold plated vs gold filled is not really an issue. Both types of jewelry can look and feel amazing. For the best high-quality gold plated pieces, check our online jewelry shop.

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Ruxandra

Ruxandra is a fashion blogger who teaches fashion stumped twenty to thirty somethings how to shop their jewelry boxes for polished new ensembles. Her work has been featured in Vogue, Fashionista, Nylon, and Refinery29.