When a material is “gold-filled,” it is not an alloy. Instead, it’s a layered substance with two or three distinct layers. Jewelers’ brass is the main component of gold-filled beads and findings, while sterling silver was sometimes used in the past.
One side of the single-clad gold-filled is completely covered in gold. When using double-clad material, the gold is distributed across the surface layers of both halves. One or both sides of the brass core are fused with the gold alloy using heat and pressure. Sheets or wires of the bonded raw material are sold to jewelry producers for use in final products.
To be considered “gold-filled,” jewelry components must contain at least 5% or 1/20th gold by weight.
The karatage of the alloyed gold on the surface describes this extra 5%. Most stuff is gold-filled with a 12kt or 14kt standard. To properly reflect this structure, the karatage, the “/” symbol, and the number 20 are the most appropriate labels. Products can be labeled as 14/20 Gold-Filled or 12/20 Gold-Filled; any abbreviation is permissible so long as the whole phrase is used. 14/20 GF and 12/20 are quality stamp abbreviations.
The gold alloy layer on the surface of the gold-filled will cause skin reactions in those who are allergic to gold alloys. In addition, some people’s skin may turn black or develop a rash if they meet specific metals due to their chemistry.
Some people have fingers that blacken slightly around a 14-karat wedding band on certain days. Sometimes a person’s biochemistry can discolor the metal, too.
Because of variations in manufacturing procedures, gold-filled products will have varying shades.
While many of the items are close to the “Hamilton” color standard, some may be more yellow, tawny, or darker. In addition, more companies are using the material, and tastes are shifting, both of which have contributed to greater variety.
Do You Plan to Work with Gold-Filled Beads and Findings?
Gold-filled materials are a fantastic substitute for solid gold since they still look and feel like gold but are far more affordable. On the other hand, gold-filled jewelry is more long-lasting and preserves its worth better than gold-plated. This article will help you understand the differences between utilizing solid gold and gold-filled metals and the findings to make the most of this popular and affordable metal.
A thin layer of carat gold is bonded to a brass (or other base metal) core using heat and pressure to create gold-filled. Gold-filled goods are more expensive than gold-plated ones because they contain a natural layer of carat gold rather than a thin film. In addition, the tarnish resistance of the underlying metal is greatly improved by the karat gold coating. However, please be aware that there is no such thing as gold-filled casting grain and that gold-filled materials cannot be cast.
The “14/20” or “12/20” notation is jargon used in the business to describe the final product. The first number indicates the karat purity of the gold, and the second indicates the percentage (in weight) of gold utilized. For example, gold-filled “14/20” material is made of 14-karat gold, with the gold making up 1/20th of the material’s weight (or 5%). Other notations may appear on rare occasions; these, too, will shed light on the composition of the material.
A Comparison of Single and Double-Clad Sheets
Single- and double-clad gold-filled sheet and disc options are also on the market. With single-clad, only one side of a sheet of brass (or another base metal) is coated in gold. The gold plating in double-clad is applied to both sides of the brass (or other base metal) sheet. Most double-clad finds are made by punching or coining gold-filled sheet stock; in other cases, the findings may require extra gold plating in areas where the underlying base metal is visible.
The gold’s relative density to the substrate will be the same in both single- and double-clad. This is because all the gold on a single-clad sheet is bonded to one side, while on a double-clad sheet, half of the gold is bound to one side, and the other half is bonded to the other. That’s because the gold layer on both sides of a double-clad sheet is only half as thick as it would be on a single-clad sheet.
How to Best Manage Gold-Plated Materials
Fabrication metals and findings that are “gold-filled” are higher quality than gold-plated items and allow you to design with the rich hue of gold at a fraction of the expense of actual gold. Working with gold-filled, however, necessitates extra caution to avoid scratching or otherwise damaging the gold layer instead of working with solid gold throughout the metal. When working with gold-filled material, keep these things in mind.
Safekeeping of Gold-Filled Objects
Use tissue paper to prevent scratches on your gold-filled stock during storage. Removing scratches without going through to the base metal underneath can be challenging.
To avoid scratching the gold surface layer with your bench pin or the harsh edges of your work area, cover them with a clean flannel cloth when working with gold-filled material. Use a clean flannel cloth when working with gold-filled materials.
Due to the karat gold coating, this item will not tarnish as quickly as sterling silver. However, the gold-filled stock should be kept away from moisture at all times, and the same goes for gold-filled jewelry; they shouldn’t be worn in the shower, pool, or ocean. In the absence of moisture, tarnishing elements have a very sluggish rate of action.
How to Cut Gold-Filled?
It’s crucial to keep your equipment in good working order. For example, bending tools should be smooth and non-marring, and cutters should be sharp.
If your design calls for cutting gold-filled material, be extremely cautious not to scratch or damage the gold layer.
Be sure to plan for covering the brass center if your design requires exposed sheet or wire cuts. The substrate layer may tarnish more rapidly if the brass is left exposed. Pen or bath plating is an easy method for concealing sharp corners.
Using Gold-Filled Solder
Soldering gold-filled items requires particular caution. Overheating the metal could cause irreparable harm to the substance. “restain” refers to a subsurface rescale that forms when gold is heated to high temperatures and can extend throughout the material’s thickness. In addition, careful sanding is required to remove fire stains, flaws, and scratches without revealing the brass core.
Yellow gold-filled material can be easily matched with 14-karat plumb yellow gold easy solder.
Remove firescale without resorting to extensive finishing work. Any soldering job requires a firescale retardant, but soldering gold-filled material is especially hazardous because of the metal’s high melting point.
Gold-Plated Polishing
Gold-filled items should need a good buff and some polishing if cared for properly.
Gold-filled material can also be tumble finished if desired. However, we advise using steel shot when tumbling because it is nonabrasive and will not scratch the gold coating. (Remember that steel shot tumbling will not remove scratches.)
We suggest using a jewelry cloth to clean and polish the surface of your gold-filled jewelry.
Shopping Tips for Gold Jewelry
It is buying gold jewelry, whether as a gift or for oneself, may be a pleasurable experience. Gold is a valuable commodity because of its durability. It’s long-lasting, and with appropriate maintenance, it will last forever. Gold jewelry, on the other hand, can be rather pricey. Gold’s price ranges widely based on the ounce, the carat, and the market. Therefore, research your jewelry and buy intelligently to identify and retain exceptional items that will deliver years of happiness since this special purchase is an investment that can last a lifetime.
Check Out Gold Purity
Purity, also known as fineness, is the primary factor in establishing the market price of gold. To quantify this, we use karats. The karat scale quantifies gold’s purity on a scale from 0 to 24. For instance, 24-karat gold is entirely pure, while 12-karat gold is just 50% pure.
Find the level of purity that suits you best. While more pure gold fetches a higher price, you or the gift recipient might feel more comfortable with lower purity. Because of its softness, 24-carat gold is easily damaged. Naturally, pure gold is also significantly more costly than gold alloys.
Jewelry worn frequently should be no more than 18 karats (or 75% pure) to prevent wear and tear.
Think about how frequently your jewelry will be knocking against rough surfaces. For instance, rings and bracelets of highly pure gold are vulnerable to wear and tear if used regularly.
Pick Between Gold-Filled, Vermeil, or Gold-Plated
When other metals are dipped into molten gold, the process is called plating or vermeil. This jewelry will be cheaper but will crack and wear more quickly than more authentic pieces.
To plate something, you first dip it into an electroplating solution that contains a chunk of pure gold. When an electric current is applied, the gold will form a thin coating around the metal. Very thin plating that quickly wears off is the norm.
Vermeil is a similar plating procedure applied exclusively to sterling silver jewelry. However, people allergic to precious metals often prefer sterling silver. As a result, very thin plating that quickly wears off is the norm.
Understand that Gold Comes In Different Colors
Colors common to gold include yellow, pink, and white. Another more unusual color option is green. Gold is combined with other metals to make the pink, white, and green variants. Generally, the non-yellow variations are no more than 18 karats in purity.
Although yellow gold is the mineral’s natural color, not all yellow gold jewelry is genuine. Therefore, check the purity indications before assuming any yellow gold piece is genuine.
When palladium or nickel is added to yellow gold, white gold results, so it looks like silver but is a shade or two brighter.
By adding copper, yellow gold can be transformed into rose gold.
When silver is added to gold, the result is green gold. Green gold is more expensive than traditional gold because of the silver it contains.
Find a Reliable Gold Vendor
Large national have the best reputations for quality, but individual dealers can often beat their prices by a wide margin.
If you decide to use an independent dealer, do your homework to ensure they are trustworthy.
You should feel comfortable asking prospective jewelers for their certifications and licensing.
Choose a jeweler who can alter the size of an item or create something entirely new for you.
Don’t make a significant purchase at the first store you check out. Instead, find comparable items at different retailers to enable a price comparison.
Make sure you’re getting a good deal by researching the price of gold per ounce.
Check Guarantees
Most reputable jewelry stores have return policies and warranty their products. Warranties will increase the price, but they may be worthwhile if the item is treasured or made of exceptionally pure gold and prone to harm. Before making a purchase, be sure to inquire about this.
Verify Hallmarks and Related Information
The quality and authenticity of gold jewelry can be determined by looking for a hallmark. The inside of a ring or the back of an earring are familiar places to find such a mark, as they are less likely to draw attention to themselves. If you’re having problems locating the hallmarks, have the jeweler help you.
Two possible indications will indicate purity. First, some add a ‘K’ after the carat weight to indicate that it is a karat gemstone. ’24K’, for instance, denotes gold purity of 24 carats.
The purity percentage is expressed to the tenth decimal place on other gold coins as a three-digit figure. For example, 585 on 14 carat gold indicates that it is 58.5 percent pure, while 333 on 8-karat gold indicates that it is 33 percent pure.
Markings for impure alloyed gold should provide more than just purity. An item is either gold-filled (GF) or gold-plated (GP). ‘Pd’ stands for Palladium, ‘PT’ or ‘PLAT’ for platinum, and ‘SS’ or ‘STEEL’ stands for stainless steel when referring to the underlying metal.
If it’s a ring, the size may be indicated by a single number or two.