What is 18k Vermeil Plated Jewellery?
18k refers to a layer of 18- karat gold/rose gold applied to the surface of a base metal- in our case it is 925 sterling silver. 925 sterling silver refers to a type of silver alloy that contains 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals, usually copper.
We use 18k gold/ rose gold to give our jewellery items its distinct gold and rose gold colour. The decision to use 18k to plate our jewellery is due to 18-karats having a higher content of pure gold (75%) compared to lower karats- e.g 14k which only contains 58.3%.
What is the difference between Gold Vermeil Plating and Normal Gold Plating?
When comparing vermeil plating to normal plating, there are many differences that make the two gold types distinct.
- Base metal - whilst gold plating usually takes place on any metal, from copper to brass, gold vermeil has to be on sterling silver.
- Gold thickness - another key difference is in the thickness of the metal layer. Whilst gold plated has a minimum thickness of 0.5 microns, vermeil has to be a thickness of at least 2.5 microns meaning gold vermeil is at a minimum 5 times thicker than gold plating.
- Durability - due to its added thickness gold vermeil is far more durable than gold plating. Combining both affordability and quality.
18k Gold Plated Vermeil:
This type of plating involves a layer of 18-karat gold applied to the surface of sterling silver. This means our items have a brighter, intense gold colour and is more durable than items plated with 14k gold.
18k Rose Gold Vermeil Plated:
Rose gold is created by mixing pure gold with copper and sometimes a small amount of silver. The copper content gives rose gold its distinct reddish or pinkish hue.
How to look after Gold Vermeil Jewellery:
Gold vermeil jewellery may show tarnish over time. Although this finish has a heavy gold plating, the tarnish from the silver underneath the plating can still leech through to the surface. The gold surfaces will wear over time, so treat them with care to protect them and clean them carefully.
Avoid polishing them too vigorously or using harsh cleansers.