When shopping for new gold jewelry, you may have stumbled upon some types of jewelry labeled as "Gold Vermeil.” Like many people, you might not have been familiar with the meaning of Gold Vermeil the first time you saw it. So…what is gold vermeil?

Well, Gold vermeil is a high quality type of gold plating that is at least 2.5 Microns thick and a minimum of 10 karats gold. This is on top of an authentic 925 sterling silver base. Most vermeil jewelry available now is created by electroplating the sterling silver with gold, a chemical process that uses an electrical current to bind the two metals together. You can spot authentic sterling silver because it will have a stamp or hallmark of 925 on it. This number, 925, can also be read 92.5, meaning 92.5%. It means that the main metal, the silver, is 92.5% pure silver and just 7.5% alloys. For Gold vermeil, the 2.5 microns of gold will then be plated on top of this base. 

Gold vermeil jewelry has become increasingly popular because of its durability, while still being affordable.

Differences Between Gold Vermeil And Gold Plating

While all gold vermeil involves gold plating, not all gold plating is gold vermeil. A lot of gold plated jewelry has a very thin layer of gold plating, which makes it low quality, hence the cheap price you pay for it. In addition, the base metal will usually be a non-precious metal like copper or nickel, which is what usually causes an allergic reaction for people who wear it or the “Green ring”. To make matters worse, thinly plated gold jewelry will tarnish very fast. In fact, regular gold plated jewelry can tarnish within 1 week of buying it.

This is why gold vermeil stands out as a fantastic type of jewelry, because it does not cause similar allergic reactions, and can last years without tarnishing. The quality is worth the higher price tag, yet it is still affordable compared to fine jewelry.

In summary, you can say it’s ‘legit’ Gold Vermeil if it has:

✨ At its base, it has 92.5% sterling silver.

✨ Plating is at least 2.5 microns thick. As a reference, some gold-plated jewelry has plating as low as 0.5 Microns. Thin plating won’t last long at all.

✨ Gold that is at least 10 karats, which means the gold has 41.7% or higher gold content. Anything lower than this amount of gold percentage is not considered gold.

How Long Does Gold Vermeil Last?

One thing that makes gold vermeil a fantastic choice is that it will last longer than other kinds of gold plating. In fact, with proper care and maintenance, it can last as long as 20 years. For tips on how to care for your gold vermeil jewelry, visit our Jewelry Care Guide.

Should I Buy Gold Vermeil?

Umm, how do we say this lightly….OF COURSE. Gold Vermeil is like the “Cadillac” of gold plating. Because of the required thickness, the fact that it has a higher percentage of gold whether it be 14k gold vermeil or 18k gold vermeil; and due to the durability of the base metal - 92.5% sterling silver, it makes it an excellent choice.

In the realm of gold jewelry, gold vermeil is the best quality jewelry you can get short of buying solid gold. For people who want a high quality alternative to solid gold, vermeil is your answer!

It’s not so much about what is gold vermeil worth as it is what it’s worth to you. 

You can shop for gold vermeil jewelry right here in our shop! View our Gold Vermeil jewelry: https://zamjewelry.com/collections/all