The Honest 411 On 14k Gold-Filled Jewelry Quality & Care ~ Insights News

Although the layer of gold in gold filled pieces varies depending on the manufacturer it is in all cases significantly thicker than regular gold plating (the next category of gold jewellery). Gold filled accessories can be worn even daily without fear of fading or rubbing off for many cases as long as 30 years.Gold-Filled generally lasts much longer than most electroplated jewelry when looking for a wallet-friendly alternative to sold 14k gold. What is Gold-Filled? Gold-filled is a United States layered gold product that is gaining popularity throughout the Americas, Asia and Europe. It is a quality material that is common in all types of jewelry.Gold-Filled vs. Gold-Plated. Sometimes you'll encounter a stamp that says 14KT GF, which means 14-karat gold-filled. Gold-filled jewelry is the term used when a layer of gold was mechanically bonded onto a base metal. Gold plating, however, is a very thin film of pure gold electroplated onto a base metal.Generally, this gold finish doesn't last; it will chip, fade, or tarnish.Most gold-filled jewelry, however, lasts between 3 and 8 years before the gold layer begins to wear through, depending on how often you put the piece on. Difference Between Gold-Filled and Gold-Plated JewelryYou can breathe new life into your jewelry by having it re-plated, or you can plate or re-plate jewelry and other products with an 18 or 24k gold plating kit. Gold plated jewelry will remain bright and shine for a longer period of time if you know how to clean and protect it from scratches or fading.

Gold Filled vs Plated Jewelry....What's the difference

Unlike vermeil and gold plated jewelry, gold filled jewelry 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.At Vrai, we only use solid gold so your design lasts as long as you'd like. This video explains why we stay away from using gold plating, filling and vermeil...We import gold plated jewelry from various different countries including, China, India. The gold plated jewelry usually doesn't last long and will tarnish within 12 months, Usually using 1 micron gold plating. We want our jewelry to last longer, for at least 3 years wearing it everyday.Vermeil is a specific kind of gold plating.The process of creating a vermeil piece of jewelry involves coating sterling silver with a thin layer of gold that is at least 10 karats and 2.5 microns thick.To be legally called "vermeil," the item must have a gold thickness of 2.5 microns and the coating must be over a sterling silver base.

How to Tell if Your Jewelry is Gold-Filled or Gold-Plated

Gold-filled Jewelry - Even small pins, bracelets, and chains can contain quantities of gold that are worth recycling. It is also worth remembering that as recently as only a few decades ago, relatively inexpensive watches often had gold-filled cases that contained quantities of gold that can be quite valuable today.Gold filled products consist of an actual layer of gold that is pressure bonded to another metal. Gold filling is one of the most valuable and tarnish resistant processes for creating gold jewelry and other items. If properly cared for, your gold filled product can last a lifetime and thanks to its durability, there's no need to worry about wear.If you take good care of gold, rose gold, or rhodium plated jewelry, it can last a long time. But there's no need to worry. If something does happen, re-plating is probably offered by your local jeweler. Looking for gold plated rose? Jewelers tried to plate real flowers with gold or silver centuries ago.The outer layer of gold filled jewelry consists entirely of pure gold. In this aspect gold filled metal is totally different from gold covered metal. Whereas gold covers tend to wear out with time, the outer layers can easily be scratched off and reveal the non-precious base metal, gold filled jewelry is very durable and has a thick layer thanThe gold content is legally required in the US to be at least 5% of the total weight. If it is less than 5%, the terms "rolled gold plate" and "gold overlay" may legally be used in some contexts, but not gold-filled. As the gold layer is thick, gold-filled jewelry won't tarnish, fade or flake and could last as long as 30 years.

Pools & Hot Tubs:

Just don't do it with jewelry on...it's like an unpleasant chemical bathtub that will perhaps party (in a nasty manner) together with your gold. The chemical substances used to kill micro organism in swimming pools create a harsh setting for jewelry, they usually're even more concentrated in sizzling tubs.

Tarnish Rating: XXXXX

Body Chemistry:

The dreaded "body chemistry" is a bit of of a wild card. The simple truth that folks's hormones are other and a variety of issues would possibly come out in their pores makes this a hard issue to nail down. But it's a real factor that may motive gold to tarnish extra quickly for some other folks.

Unfortunately, until you will have experience with 14k gold and know how it really works along with your pores and skin, the only option to know is to try it. For 90% of other people, it's a love match. For the opposite 10%, items will not be relatively as sparkly after a couple of months.

Tarnish Rating: XXXXX to XXXXX…it's very particular person.

Getting Sweaty:

There are numerous chemical substances to your sweat, and relying on your private frame chemistry (or drugs you may be taking), it might be arduous on your items, so it's best to take jewelry off to work out.

Tarnish Rating: XXXXX to XXXXX…relying on body chemistry.

Product:

Perfume, hairspray, lotions...and worst of all, sunscreen! Try to reduce some of these issues ending up on your jewelry by means of striking your jewelry on last or taking it off for positive activities. Here are a listing of a few commonplace products and their tarnish rankings:

Sunscreen: XXXXXPerfume: XXXXXUnscented Lotion: XXXXXPerfumed Lotion: XXXXXCleaning Products with Bleach: XXXXXMild Dish Soap (if rinsed off): XXXXXNail Polish Remover: XXXXXHairspray: XXXXX

Personal Experience:

I have been dressed in some of my 14k gold-filled necklaces for over two years now and they are still gold and beautiful. A few chains are not as sparkly as once they have been new, however it isn't as noticeable towards my pores and skin (vs on white paper, as an example).

Truthfully, I'm now not the best at taking good care of such things as this, even if I'm pretty good at taking my pieces off to sleep (more often than not) and am careful not to get product on them like perfume, sunscreen and hairspray. I do shower with them on as a result of I feel it is helping clean them, however I do know my shampoo and soaps are delicate enough (so watch out about that detail)!

Overall, to present an idea of how smartly the necklaces have lasted after a 12 months (with reasonable care), I'd say they are at about 80% awesomeness vs. 100% when they were new.

Notes: I wore one of my bar necklaces for every week instantly in Maui without taking it off to swim, and it looks dangerous now. I'm certain sunscreen ended up on it as neatly. The chain is lovely dark (even supposing the bar part still appears great). I think this type of surroundings has were given to be the toughest—humid & sweaty, sunscreen, salt water—the one thing worse would be if I wore it within the sizzling bath!