When it comes to jewellery, there's often a lot of confusion about what materials truly offer long-lasting quality.This blog post will clarify a common misconception about gold-plated jewellery.

You’ve probably come across terms like "high-quality gold-plated" or "gold-plated over sterling silver." At first glance, these descriptions might sound impressive, hinting at premium craftsmanship and long-lasting wear. But don’t be fooled—gold-plated jewellery is not the luxurious, durable option it’s often made out to be. Let’s look into why that is.

Understanding Gold-Plated Jewellery

Gold-plated jewellery is created through a process called electroplating. In simple terms, this means the base metal—typically a cheaper alloy—is dipped into a solution containing gold salts. An electric current is passed through the solution, causing a thin layer of gold to adhere to the surface of the base metal.

While this process is effective in creating a gold appearance, there are several drawbacks. Many brands choose this method because it's affordable. However, this affordability comes at a cost—the gold layer is often incredibly thin, sometimes as thin as a strand of hair. Even if the layer is slightly thicker, gold-plated pieces are still prone to wearing off quickly, leading to tarnishing and fading over time.

What’s worse, if the base metal underneath is low-quality, it can react with your skin, causing it to turn green or become irritated. In some cases, this can even lead to infections, which is a risk you definitely don’t want to take with your jewellery.

The Gold-Filled Solution: A Better Alternative

Alright, I hear you—you want gold jewellery, but solid gold isn’t exactly in your budget. So, what’s the alternative? Let me introduce you to the world of gold-filled jewellery.

Gold-filled jewellery is often regarded as the affordable equivalent to solid gold. It offers all the aesthetic appeal and many of the benefits of solid gold but at a fraction of the price. Here’s why: gold-filled jewellery has a much thicker layer of gold—up to 100 times thicker than gold-plated pieces. The gold layer is bonded to the base metal through a process that uses heat and pressure, resulting in a much stronger and longer-lasting bond.

At Atelier Akina, we use jeweller's brass as the base metal for our gold-filled pieces. Jeweller’s brass is a high-quality alloy that is far more durable and corrosion-resistant than common alternatives like sterling silver, which can tarnish over time. This ensures that our gold-filled jewellery maintains its lustre and doesn’t irritate the skin, making it a perfect option for those with sensitive skin.

Why Gold-Filled Jewellery is the Best Choice

If you’re in the market for affordable gold jewellery, gold-filled pieces are undoubtedly your best option. Not only do they last longer and resist tarnishing, but they are also much less likely to cause skin irritation, making them an ideal choice for everyday wear.

At Atelier Akina, we take pride in creating gold-filled jewellery that combines beauty with durability. We believe that everyone deserves access to high-quality, affordable jewellery that stands the test of time. That’s why we’ve chosen to specialise in gold-filled pieces over gold-plated alternatives.

Beware of "Gold Vermeil"

Gold vermeil is often marketed as a more luxurious option in the gold-plated jewellery category, but there are a few important details to understand before choosing this type of jewellery. For a piece to be classified as gold vermeil, the base metal must be sterling silver, and the gold layer must be at least 2.5 microns thick. This thickness does make it a more durable option than standard gold-plating, which can have a much thinner layer of gold.

However, despite the thicker gold layer, gold vermeil is still produced through the same electroplating process as gold-plated jewellery. Over time, the gold layer will wear off, revealing the sterling silver underneath. While sterling silver is a higher-quality base metal than many others, this doesn't solve the core issue—the gold is not permanent. Eventually, the piece will need to be re-plated to maintain its appearance.

In contrast, gold-filled jewellery uses a mechanical bonding process that permanently fuses a thick layer of gold to the base metal, typically jeweler’s brass. The key difference is that this bond is so strong that the gold layer will not wear off, even with daily wear. The gold layer in gold-filled jewellery is up to 100 times thicker than gold-plating, making it a much more durable option.
Some might argue that sterling silver as a base in gold vermeil is better than brass in gold-filled jewelry. However, the mechanical bonding process used in gold-filled jewelry ensures that your skin will never come into contact with the base metal. The layer of gold is effectively permanent, which gives gold-filled jewellery superior longevity and resistance to wear.

Final Thoughts

Next time you’re shopping for gold jewellery, make sure to double-check the materials. Gold-filled jewellery offers the perfect balance between affordability and quality, making it the smart choice for those who want the look and feel of solid gold without breaking the bank.

At Atelier Akina, we stand by our gold-filled creations, ensuring you receive jewellery that not only looks stunning but is also built to last. Don’t settle for less—choose gold-filled, and enjoy jewellery that will remain beautiful for years to come.