What’s the difference between solid gold, gold plated and gold vermeil

Solid gold, gold plated, and gold vermeil are three different types of jewellery materials with different levels of gold content and durability:

1. Solid gold: Solid gold is made of pure gold alloyed with other metals like copper, silver, and zinc to make it stronger and more durable. Solid gold is measured in karats (k), with 24k being pure gold. The most common types of solid gold used in jewellery are 18k, 14k, and 10k, with the number indicating the percentage of pure gold in the alloy.

2. Gold plated: Gold plated jewellery is made of a base metal (such as brass or copper) that is covered with a thin layer of gold using an electroplating process. The layer of gold can vary in thickness, but it is typically much thinner than solid gold. Gold plating can wear off over time, exposing the base metal underneath.

3. Gold vermeil: Gold vermeil is a type of gold plating that uses a thicker layer of gold over a base metal. The gold layer must be at least 2.5 microns thick and is usually 18k or higher in purity. Vermeil jewellery is more durable than regular gold plated jewellery, but it can still wear off over time if not properly cared for.