Different types of plated jewellery

While trends come and go and fashions change, you can be sure that the classic silver, yellow gold and rose gold trio of colours will always be around and will feature heavily in jewellery. Silver is most commonly seen in its “925 Sterling Silver” form, meaning 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other alloys, while gold jewellery comes in a variety of purity and styles. This is for a mix of reasons including the softness of gold and its higher price - less pure gold in your ring means a stronger and more affordable piece.

Another very common option is gold plated jewellery - as jewellery making procedures and technology advance, companies have been able to offer pieces that have the coveted gold appearance but with different base metals and materials to help create an affordable price for every budget. These techniques have a few different names, and here we have explained a few main styles to help you make informed decisions when buying your next piece of jewellery!

Gold Plated

The most common style of plating that you will find in our stores or on our website, this is used for pieces such as the Najo Mirage collection. Having a gold plating refers to a very light layer of gold (generally 0.05% actual gold or less) on top of a base metal. Most of our brands use sterling silver as their base, with the gold coating applied via an electroplating solution. It is important to not subject these jewellery pieces to excessive rubbing or to any chemicals that could effect their plating such as perfume.

Gold Vermeil

This particular type of gold plating (pronounced ver-may), is a heavier gold plating meaning better wear. The base metal used is sterling silver and the gold coating is at least 2.5microns thick. It is an affordable but still high-quality alternative to solid gold.

Gold Filled / Silver Filled

Both of these terms refer to the same style of jewellery. If an item is gold filled, it is not a plated layer of gold but rather a thick sheet or layer over a base material. In our case these items will usually be filled with a silver centre, hence the phrase silver filled. The layers of metal are bonded together under heat and pressure for a layer of gold that will not flake or peel with everyday use. Care should still be taken as you would with your other jewellery pieces.

Pandora Rose

Our Pandora jewellery range is super popular, and their Pandora Rose range is no exception! The rose gold colour of these pieces is created by a unique metal blend as a base, consisting mostly of silver and copper which itself has a rosy colour. They are then given a 14ct rose gold plating to complete the look.

Now that you know the difference between a few different gold plating processes and styles, you can make an informed decision when choosing your next piece of jewellery! Want to know more? Drop us a comment below with any questions you have.