Difference Between Vermeil, Gold Plated, and Gold Filled

You may think the terms vermeil, gold plated and gold filled are interchangeable, but these jewelry categories actually vary. Each type has a gold layer on the surface, so it’s easy to assume they are the same. 

We'll go over the basics of each type (vermeil, gold plated and gold filled) then  compare them to help you decide which type is best for your specific requirements.

First up is Vermeil, also known as “silver gilt”, refers to high quality (pure or sterling) silver that is plated with a thin layer of gold. Most vermeil jewelry is created by electroplating the silver with gold, a chemical process that uses an electrical current to bind the two metals together.

The piece of jewelry has to meet certain qualifications in order to be considered true vermeil jewelry in the US. For instance, the gold on the piece needs to be at least 2.5 microns thick, and at least 10k or higher.

Second is, gold plated jewelry, a brass, copper, or low-end metal electroplated with a layer of gold. It's typically less expensive than vermeil, as doesn’t require any minimum karat weight or thickness. That said, a gold plated piece can actually be more valuable than a vermeil piece if it has a high gold karat weight (20 or 22k) and a thick layer of gold. It's also important to note that gold color varies based on karat weight. A 14k piece will have a lighter yellow, while an 18k piece will have a stronger, darker yellow color.

Last, is gold filled jewelry that has a much thicker layer of gold over the base metal, sometimes as much as 100% thicker. This makes a big difference in terms of the jewelry’s ability to resist wear and tear long term. Although the base metal is usually brass or another low-end material, it would be hard to tell the difference between “real” gold and a gold filled piece.