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05
Aug
Gold jewellery – gold filled or gold plated?
We hear about gold jewellery – but what is the difference between gold, gold filled or gold plated?
There are so many types of gold jewellery out there, have you ever wondered what all the descriptions mean?
One that puzzles many is the difference between “gold filled” gold jewellery and “gold plated” gold jewellery.
What is “gold filled” gold jewellery?
“Gold filled” jewellery is real gold that has been “pressure bonded” onto a metal core (often copper or brass) using heat and pressure and complex technical processes.
How much gold?
A really thick layer of real gold is bonded onto a core which, by law, should contain at least 5% of solid gold by weight.
This is why you will often see gold filled jewellery stamped with 1/20 (i.e. 5%).
What carat gold is used?
The carat (k) (i.e. purity) of gold used in gold filled jewellery varies from 10k up to 24k (pure gold). However as 24k gold is extremely soft (and therefore less durable) it is most common to see the more durable 14k gold used in gold filled jewellery.
At FiorSó…
At FiorSó, our gold filled gold jewellery is made using 14k (14 carat or karat) gold.
This gives our gold jewellery a beautiful golden colour and a perfect balance of durability, affordability and appearance.
So you get all the beauty of pure gold and with more durability than solid gold. But best of all, it’s so much more friendly to your purse – we mean €100s and €100s kinder to your purse!
What is “gold plated” gold jewellery?
“Gold plated” jewellery is real gold that has been, most often, electroplated onto a metal core (often copper or brass) using electrical currents.
How much gold?
The thickness of gold plating can vary and can be up to 3 microns thick (0.003mm).
This is a thinner layer of gold than that used in gold filled jewellery, but equally it is a more cost-effective method of creating gold jewellery.
What carat gold is used?
The carat (k) (i.e. purity) of gold used in gold plated jewellery varies from 10k up to 24k (pure gold). However as 24k gold is extremely soft (and therefore less durable) it is most common to see the more durable 16k or 18k gold used in gold filled jewellery.
At FiorSó…
At FiorSó, our gold plated gold jewellery is made using 16k (16 carat or karat) gold. We find that this gives our gold plated jewellery a beautiful yellow golden colour, with more durability than 18k gold plate, but at a really affordable price.
So you get all the beauty of gold, without the crazy high price tag of pure gold, and an even more budget-friendly option than gold filled jewellery.
Does the difference between gold jewellery, gold filled jewellery and gold plated jewellery really matter? Which is better?
Well, it really depends on how much you are willing to spend, how durable you want your jewellery to be, and how you want your jewellery to look.
It is good to have options and at FiorSó we carry a range precisely for this reason!
Take a look at our stunning pieces of jewellery – earrings, necklaces, bracelets and rings.
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