Gold Filled Jewelry: Things you May not Know About
June 11, 2021
Did you know that most of the jewelry marketed as "pure gold" is, in truth, gold filled jewelry? This article will break down and help you understand what gold-filled jewelry is and why it is cheaper than solid gold jewelry. We will also address some of the most commonly asked FAQs related to jewelry, like How long does a gold-filled jewelry last. Which is better, gold plated, or gold filled? Can you wear gold-filled every day? And is gold filled jewelry worth anything?
What Is Gold Filled Jewelry?
We use the term 'Gold-filled' to describe any jewelry primarily made of non-gold metals (called the base metal), which is then covered with a thick layer of gold.
You may hear of 'rolled gold jewelry,' 'jewelry with gold overlays,' or even 'rolled gold plating' in many places. All of these phrases refer to the same kind of jewelry - i.e., gold filled jewelry.
Since the primary metal in this jewelry is something other than actual gold, and gold is just used to coat the jewelry, it is cheaper. So, it costs less than solid gold jewelry made of gold with the same karat value.
How much gold is used in gold plated jewelry?
Generally, gold plated or gold filled jewelry features a thick, solid layer of gold on top of the base metal. Most often, this base metal is either sterling silver. The gold coating bonds mechanically to this base metal to give the jewelry its final appearance. Since gold filled jewelry uses a thick and uniform coating of real gold, it constitutes close to 5% of the jewelry's total weight.
You may also notice that jewelry items that are gold filled have more gold than jewelry that has a gold overlay or rolled gold plate. Yes, we had already discussed that all these terms carry the same meaning legally, but this slight variation does occur. We understand that the gold in jewelry items with gold overlay is usually less than 5% of the total weight.
How long does a piece of jewelry last?
It depends primarily upon how much gold has been used in the process. For jewelry that has a substantially thick gold layer, it may last anywhere between 10 to 25 years. Moreover, some of these jewelry items appear to be so well made that you may think they are better quality than actual gold pieces. One of the main objectives why people use gold filled jewelry is because of its durability. So if the gold plated is of high quality, it can last for a good number of years.
Karats and Gold-Filled Jewelry
The karat number of a gold-filled jewelry piece refers to the purity of the gold sheet wrapped around the base metal. Thus, if a gold-filled pendant is ten karats, for example, the item has an outer layer made of 41.7% gold. Below that top layer, there is another metal or alloy. Most gold-filled jewelry sold is between 10 and 20 karats.
Markings of Gold-Filled Jewelry
Gold-Filled Jewelry and Durability
The durability of a gold-filled item depends on the thickness of its gold layer and its karat value. It means that lower karats tend to be more durable as they contain less gold, which is soft.
Some pieces can last as long as 20-30 years. However, most gold-filled jewelry lasts between 3 and 8 years before the gold layer begins to wear through, depending on how often you put the piece on.
How is it made?
By now, you have understood the fundamental aspect of this jewelry - it is not made of pure or solid gold entirely. The gold is coated on the base metal, either sterling silver, brass, or any other metal. Now, the question remains: How is gold fused with these base metals?
Gold is fused to the base metal through the mechanical process of bonding. The gold sits on the surface of the jewelry after the heat has been applied to fuse it with the base metal. The fusion process is generally done using 10K, 12K, or even 14K gold. Depending on the quantity of gold used, it may constitute around 5% of the jewelry's total weight.
Is Gold-filled real gold?
Yes, the gold used in the plating process is pure or real gold. Generally, you will find that gold having a karat value higher than 10K is preferred for this purpose. The most common is the 14K jewelry. This genuine gold is just present on the surface layer of the jewelry. The rest of the jewelry is made of any base metal that forms the main bulk of the jewelry item.
So even though the gold used is real, this does not mean that this jewelry is solid gold. Instead, it merely has a pure gold coating on baser metals that form the solid core.
Is it of good quality?
When we talk of good quality jewelry, then this jewelry is undoubtedly a popular choice. It owes its popularity to its durable, resistant, and highly dependable nature. Many people prefer gold filled jewelry because it lasts for quite a long time. In addition, the base metal provides a strong core that external forces cannot damage easily. On top of this, if the gold plating is done well, then it has the appearance of high-quality gold. As a result, gold filled jewelry with thick coatings hold considerable value.
The most straightforward reason why a thicker layer ensures a better quality of this jewelry is that it will last longer. Keep in mind that this gold layer will slowly start to wear out. If your jewelry is sparsely gold filled, it will lose its gold-like appearance very quickly. On the other hand, gold-filled jewelry items with a substantially generous gold filling wear out slower and last longer.
Will gold filled pass the acid test?
You can understand gold filled jewelry's quality by its GF stamp, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC),. Overall, this is a reliable method to ascertain the value of gold filled. But there is another way to test your gold filled jewelry's authenticity reliably. It is done using the acid test.
We can understand the results of the acid test quite easily. If the gold filled has a thick layer, it will pass the nitric acid test comfortably. So, it passes the acid test. But be careful while performing this test, and do not make a deep cut into the jewelry because it may cause extensive damage to it.
Difference Between Gold-Filled and Gold-Plated Jewelry
Gold-plated jewelry is created through a technology that is different from the one used to make its pieces. The elemental difference between the two is that plated items are covered with a much thinner layer of gold. For this reason, gold-plated pieces tend to be less durable, and their gold coating wears down faster than that of gold-filled jewelry. Understandably, gold-plated items are also cheaper.
FAQs
How long does gold filled jewelry last?
High-quality jewelry can last anywhere between 10-30 years, and sometimes even longer with good care.
Which is better gold plated or gold filled?
The real gold in filled jewelry constitutes about 5% of its total weight. On the other hand, gold plated jewelry uses a lesser quantity of gold, and so it contains less than 5% gold of its total weight. Therefore, It is better because it has a thicker gold layer and lasts longer than gold plated jewelry.
Can you wear gold filled jewelry everyday?
Yes, many people wear gold-filled jewelry regularly because it is highly durable and great for everyday use.
Is gold filled jewelry worth anything?
Your gold-filled jewelry can be quite valuable depending on the thickness and karat value of gold used.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, we can say that this jewelry has strong popularity owing to its durability and appearance. It is also of higher quality and price than regular gold plated jewelry due to the larger quantity of gold used in gold filled jewelry. Moreover, the base metal provides a solid and dependable core, and such jewelry lasts for a long time.
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Ever wondered if your gold jewelry is made of real gold or not? Very often, people mistake gold filled jewelry for real solid gold. If you have seen gold filled jewelry, you will know that it can be tricky to differentiate between them. This article will clear the most common doubts people face regarding gold filled jewelry and find out which is better for your jewelry - gold filled vs solid gold.
What Is Gold-Filled Jewelry? Is Gold Filled Real Gold?
Between gold filled vs solid gold, those looking for longevity and durability go for gold filled jewelry. And since gold filled jewelry has very little gold content in it, it is more price-sensitive and affordable for many people.
Gold filled jewelry is made by bonding real gold to a base metal via fusion. This gives it the appearance of genuine gold. The fusion process involves a high amount of heat and pressure applied to the jewelry so that the gold sits on the surface of the base metal. The resultant gold-filled piece is typically more durable than a gold plated piece.
You will find that the gold filled jewelry comes with some markings or stamps. The most common of these are 1/20 12kt GF and 1/20 14kt GF, and it signifies the karat value of gold used and the overall quality of the gold filled jewelry.
One difference between gold filled and gold plated jewelry is based on the quantity of actual gold used. In gold filled jewelry, real gold constitutes around 5% of the jewelry's total weight. The gold layer on such jewelry is also 5 to 10 times thicker than gold plated jewelry.
Is gold filled jewelry a good option?
You will find that between gold filled vs solid gold jewelry, the former lasts longer. The reason for this is simple. Gold filled jewelry uses a strong core metal like sterling silver or brass as the base metal. The real gold is fused to the top surface. Since the core is strong, the overall jewelry is stronger and more durable than solid gold jewelry.
Usually, we find that solid gold jewelry is prone to dents and scratches due to its soft nature. This does not happen with gold filled jewelry. Moreover, some people show signs of skin allergy and discomfort when they wear pure gold jewelry. This can also help you differentiate between gold filled vs solid gold jewelry.
What is Solid Gold Jewelry?
Did you know that the gold used to make solid gold jewelry isn't actually pure gold? Instead, it is almost always a mix of gold and other metals. In its pure form, gold is incredibly soft and malleable, which would not be ideal for a piece of jewelry with intricate designs. Pure gold can also be effortlessly scratched, dented, or damaged.
Also, did you know that pure gold isn't golden colored? It has a bright orange color which looks too bright and isn't associated with fine jewelry. Adding some other metals to it makes the gold stronger. It gives it the different shades of golden color that we usually come to associate with gold jewelry.
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How do we measure gold's purity?
The purity of gold is expressed in karats. We can measure the ratio of pure gold to secondary metals used in the alloying process by this system.
There are different types of gold comes, with varying values of karat. You must have heard of 10K, 14K, 18K, and 24K gold. The 'K' in these values stand for karat, which expresses the purity of the gold.
The numbers 10, 14, 18, and 24 represent how many parts of gold to other metals present in the mixture. So, gold jewelry bears the stamp of its purity for anyone to know its karat value.
The higher the amount of gold, the more expensive your piece will be. Counter intuitively, it will also be the least durable since it's made from a larger amount of pure gold and a smaller amount of more durable alloy metals.
How to differentiate between Gold Filled vs Solid Gold?
Just look at the gold markings present on the jewelry and the difference between gold filled vs solid gold will become crystal clear. You will find that solid gold jewelry has stamps like "10K", "14K," or "22K" on its surface. This is because the karat value of gold is essential in the case of pure gold jewelry. In some countries, especially in Europe, you may come across values like "0.75", "750," or "75%" stamped on the jewelry. Don't get confused. These values, too, represent the gold content in the jewelry. So, "0.75" is actually an 18K gold piece.
On the other hand, you will see that gold filled markings must have 2 values: One is the karat value which is the same as authentic gold jewelry like "14K", "18K," etc. The other mark that needs to be present on every gold-filled jewelry is the letter "GF". So, you can understand that a piece of jewelry is gold filled if it bears a stamp-like "14K GF".
Sometimes you may find "RGP" on jewelry instead of "GF." This code signifies "Rolled Gold Plate," which is similar to gold filled jewelry but has a lesser real gold content in the jewelry.
What if there are no markings or the markings are unclear?
Beware of fraudsters and some jewelers who may try to trick you. Sometimes they omit the "GF" or "RGP" marking on the jewelry and market the piece as real gold.
Sometimes, a piece of gold jewelry may not have any stamps or markings. Avoid dealing with such jewelry if you can.
However, you can still determine whether such jewelry is made of solid gold or is gold filled.
To find out the difference between gold filled vs solid gold, you can perform the acid test.
To do an acid test, you need to make a small scratch on the item's surface. If the gold filled jewelry has a thick gold layer, it will easily pass the nitric acid test.
But be careful while performing the acid test because a deep cut into the jewelry may cause extensive damage to it.
Suppose there is any indication that the vendor guarantees that the piece's gold surface will be suitable for a limited number of years, likely. In that case, the piece is not solid gold (although this is also not a perfect sign).
You can also read Gold Filled Jewelry: Things you May not Know About.
Where to Sell Gold Jewelry?
If you are looking for ways to sell your gold jewelry at the best price, you can visit us at Sell Your Jewelry. Our experts will give you a FREE evaluation of your jewelry and will offer you the best price in Singapore for your jewelry. Fill the form below and we will contact you back to schedule a meeting.
