Gold Plated vs Gold Filled vs Vermeil: What's the Difference?

Gold plated, gold filled and vermeil sound alike, but they describe different constructions. All three are a layer of gold over another metal. What changes is the metal underneath, how thick the gold layer is and how strictly the name is regulated. Here is what each one means and how to read a listing.

What is gold-plated jewelry?

Gold-plated jewelry has a thin layer of gold applied over a base metal such as brass or sterling silver. There is real gold in the layer, but the piece is not solid gold. Because the layer is thin, it wears first where it rubs against skin, clothes and other jewelry, and the base metal can start to show.

Most of our pieces are gold plated. Examples from our pages: the Heart Gem Charm is 18k gold plated over brass, the Mini Flower Stud is 18k gold-plated 925 sterling silver and The Bloom Stud is 14k gold plated over sterling silver.

What is gold-filled jewelry?

Gold filled means a thicker layer of karat gold is bonded to a base metal by mechanical means. Under the FTC Jewelry Guides (16 CFR 23.3), a piece can be called gold filled in the United States when the layer is a gold alloy of at least 10K on all significant surfaces and makes up at least 1/20 of the weight of the metal in the whole piece. It is usually marked with a fraction, such as 1/20 14K. It is thicker than plating, and it usually costs more. We don't list any of our pieces as gold filled.

What is vermeil?

Vermeil is gold over sterling silver. Under the FTC Jewelry Guides (16 CFR 23.4), the name is used in the United States only when the base is sterling silver, coated on all significant surfaces with gold of at least 10K, in a durable layer equivalent to at least 2.5 microns (about 0.0001 inch) of fine gold. We have pieces in gold-plated 925 sterling silver, but we don't describe them as vermeil because we don't publish the thickness of the plating on our pieces.

Side by side

• Gold plated: a thin gold layer over a base metal such as brass or silver. Wears faster, lower cost.
• Gold filled: a thick karat-gold layer bonded to a base metal, at least 1/20 of the weight of the metal in the piece, under the FTC Jewelry Guides. Wears slower than plating.
• Vermeil: gold over sterling silver, with a minimum gold purity and layer thickness in the US.
• Solid gold: gold all the way through. A different product, at a different price.

How to read a jewelry listing

• "Gold-tone" or "gold color" describes the look only. The page should say what the piece is made of underneath.
• "18K gold plated" or "14k gold plated" tells you the purity of the gold used in the layer. It does not mean the piece is solid 18K or 14K gold.
• Look at the base metal: brass, sterling silver (925 or S925) or stainless steel. It is what stays once the plating wears.
• Look for what is left out. If a page doesn't tell you the thickness of the layer, you can't compare two plated pieces by it. Ask the seller.

Does gold-plated jewelry tarnish, and how long does it last?

The layer wears with use, and how fast depends on how often you wear the piece, how much it rubs and how often it meets water, perfume and lotions. We don't give a number of months or years. For habits that slow wear, read our guide on whether you can shower with gold-plated jewelry.

Is gold-plated jewelry worth it?

That depends on what you want. Plated pieces let you try shapes, stack and change your look at a lower price, as long as you care for them and expect the finish to wear with daily use. If you want a single piece to wear for decades, solid gold is a different kind of purchase. Choose by how you will wear it.

Frequently asked questions

Is gold plated real gold?

The layer is real gold, but there is very little of it, and the piece is made mostly of another metal. It is not solid gold.

Can gold-plated jewelry turn your skin green?

It can, once the plating has worn through in a spot and the metal underneath meets sweat. If that happens, stop wearing the piece and wipe it with a soft cloth.

See what we have in earrings, bracelets, rings and necklaces. For hoops in particular, see gold hoop earrings: sizes and how to choose.