There is no denying that gold has held a special allure and practicality for humans for millennia. Gold is still highly sought after because it can be used as an investment and is a colossal representation of financial security and success. A gold-filled chain sparkles in the sun, as everyone knows. Gold-filled pieces have continued to be in demand as a form of jewelry well into the modern era.
Earrings, bracelets, and necklaces, all made of gold-filled metal, are always appropriate, no matter the event or style. So it’s understandable if, as prospective purchasers of gold-filled jewelry-making supplies, you’re a little fuzzy on the distinctions between gold-plated and gold-filled products.
The Truth in Advertising About Gold-Filled and Gold-Plated Items
Some shops are selling gold-plated or electroplated items as gold-filled, which we are aware of. But, again, reading the FTC’s guidelines for each of these classifications would be instructive.
The Federal Trade Commission frowns upon false advertising of precious metals.
Legally, no one can market a product as “gold” unless they can prove it contains gold.
The FTC defines “gold-filled” as a coating of specific coverage and thickness that “assures durability” on an item. Gold-filled jewelry and jewelry-making supplies must also be accurately labeled by their manufacturers and sellers. The designation of the alloy must be “conspicuous and accurate,” meaning that the karat fineness (for instance, “14k rose gold-filled beads”) must precede or come right after the primary descriptor or name of the item.
The fineness or purity of gold in a product is expressed in terms of the karat. The letters k or K are frequently used to denote this unit. The ratio of the individual metal quantities defines the purity of a gold alloy.
A karat of gold equals 4.1667% (or 4.1667/100) of the entire quantity. So, 24-karat gold is entirely unaltered, while 16-karat gold contains 8 karats of alloying metal.
Gold plating is only a thin layer of gold, typically no thicker than a few microns. Gold electroplating and “gold-washing” add even less gold to the surface of an item.
Gold-Filled Jewelry Is Superior to Gold-Plated for These Reasons
I assume you are familiar with gold-filled jewelry, but what about gold-plated pieces? Do you still think it’s the same? Not. Half the typical weight of a piece of gold-filled jewelry can be achieved by using gold-filled jewelry that is only 1/40th as thick. Hence the name “rolled gold plate.” According to the Gem Society, quality is the main distinction between gold fill and gold plate. Gold platings are less expensive and thinner than gold overlays. Unfortunately, gold plating, which is only a few thousandths of an inch thick at most, quickly loses its luster and appearance under regular use.
Gold-plated jewelry is more affordable than both solid gold and gold fill. You probably already know why. The total amount of gold is lower, reducing the cost of production. To what extent does that affect you? Gold-plated jewelry is less expensive than gold-filled jewelry, but you should expect to replace it more often. The gold plating on jewelry is not a long-term solution.
Your gold-plated jewelry will tarnish, darken, and eventually rub off to the base metal layer as it is subjected to everyday elements like sweat, perfume, hair products, salt water, chlorine, and even UV rays.
When you find a beautiful piece of jewelry at a great price, it can be disheartening to discover that it has lost its luster after being stored for a year. The best efforts at cleaning and polishing won’t bring back its shine. Gold-plated jewelry may be a good option if you’re looking for affordable seasonal jewelry. However, gold-filled is the way to go if you’re looking to add pieces to your jewelry collection that will last a lifetime and beyond. You will avoid frequent cleaning and replacement in exchange for an increased initial investment.
Find Gold-Plated Jewelry Near You!
It is not always apparent that a piece of jewelry is gold-filled unless you are familiar with jewelry making or metals. Even if you know to look for it, you might be unable to tell the difference between brand-new and refurbished jewelry. The quality becomes obvious after some use. As a rule, it’s wise to think about the store and price range you’re making your jewelry purchase. You can also consider going the DIY route and creating gold-filled jewelry with gold-filled beads and findings.
Gold plating is more common on jewelry that costs less. Remember that even the thinnest gold plating is only a thin layer bonded to a cheaper metal. When there’s less gold involved, the price drops. If the shop you’re considering buying from also sells costume jewelry with high discounts, that should raise red flags.
Gold plating is a common technique used to give the appearance of higher quality to inexpensive costume jewelry. You’ll occasionally find a reference to it on the label, but you shouldn’t rely on it. On the other hand, you can expect to find gold-fill rather than gold-plated jewelry if you shop at a local jewelry store or from a local jewelry designer. This is because local jewelers often use higher-quality gold fill or other metals, like sterling silver, than are used in factory-produced gold-plated jewelry.