FAQs
What is gold filled?
You may have noticed I use gold filled chain and findings in my work, as opposed to solid gold or gold plated.
But what is gold filled? It’s an item that has a thick sheet of gold mechanically bonded to a base metal, 50 to 100,000 times thicker than gold plating. Since the gold is bonded to the base rather than plated, it can’t rub off and it’s great for people who are allergic to metals, as the material will not cause an allergic reaction.
In order for something to be considered Gold Filled, it must have a gold content of at least 1/20th the total weight of the item, which is why it’s sometimes referred to as 14/20 - for the karats, 20 for the total weight.
I can tell you from personal experience that gold fill does not tarnish or fade. I have been working with it and still have some early pieces from the 90s, and own some gold fill jewelry from the Victorian era!
- Gold Filled: Solid gold is rolled out into a sheet and then applied to a base metal through heat – applying a thick plate of gold.
- Electroplated Gold: A thin layer of solid gold added to a base metal through the use of electricity, slightly thicker than gold plate.
- Gold Plate: A thin layer of solid gold added to jewelry, usually in 12K.
- Gold Vermeil: A thick layer of gold on a piece of jewelry, usually done with yellow gold on sterling silver.