Vermeil, plated, filled & solid gold jewelry, what’s the difference?

When shopping for jewelry, you’ll often see terms like gold plated, vermeil, gold filled, and solid gold. At first, they may sound similar, but each type refers to a very different manufacturing process, durability level, and price point. Knowing the difference is important to avoid disappointment and to choose jewelry that truly matches your lifestyle.

What is gold plated jewelry?

Gold plated jewelry is made by dipping a base metal—often brass or copper—into a thin bath of gold. The gold content is usually less than 1%, which explains the low price.

While gold plated pieces may look shiny at first, the layer is so thin that it wears off quickly when exposed to water, friction, or everyday use. Over time, this results in faded color and sometimes even skin discoloration.

Gold plated jewelry is common in fast-fashion collections, making it affordable but not designed for longevity.

What is gold vermeil?

Gold vermeil is a higher-quality form of gold plating. Instead of brass, the base metal is sterling silver, and the gold layer is typically thicker than in standard plating.

Because of its silver base, vermeil is more hypoallergenic and less likely to cause skin irritation. However, like all plated jewelry, the coating eventually wears off with scratches and repeated use.

Vermeil jewelry is a good compromise for people who want the look of gold at a mid-range price point, but it still won’t last a lifetime.

What is gold filled jewelry?

Unlike plated or vermeil jewelry, gold filled jewelry must legally contain at least 5% real gold. Instead of dipping, it is created through a mechanical bonding process that permanently fuses a thick gold layer onto the base metal.

This makes gold filled pieces more durable and resistant to fading. Many gold filled items are stamped with a karat mark (such as 14K), but it only refers to the outer gold layer, not the entire piece.

While gold filled jewelry can last longer than plated or vermeil, it will eventually tarnish and lose its original shine over time.

What is solid gold jewelry?

When jewelers refer to “gold jewelry,” they usually mean solid gold, which is the most durable and valuable option. However, even solid gold is rarely pure 24K, as pure gold is too soft to be practical.

To increase strength, jewelers mix gold with alloys like silver or copper, creating 14K or 18K solid gold.

• 14K solid gold → 14 parts pure gold, 10 parts alloys (≈ 58%).
  

• 18K solid gold → 18 parts pure gold, 6 parts alloys (≈ 75%).
  
  

The higher the karat, the richer the color and the more valuable the jewelry, but it also becomes slightly softer. At Diamind, we use 18K solid gold for every piece, combining luxury with durability.

Vermeil vs plated vs filled vs solid gold – comparison chart