Gold Filled, Vermeil, Plated, PVD: What's The Difference?
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For jewelry lovers, these terms might seem interchangeable, but in fact they're very different in very important ways.
First, let’s go over the basic definitions of each, and then we’ll compare them and explore why Deja Vu Apothecary only carries very specific types of jewelry.
VERMEIL JEWELRY
Vermeil refers to high quality (pure or sterling) silver that is plated with a thin layer of gold. Most vermeil jewelry available now is created by electroplating the silver with gold, a chemical process that uses an electrical current to bind the two metals together.
GOLD PLATED JEWELRY
Traditionally, gold plated jewelry is a brass, copper, or low-end metal electroplated with a thin layer of gold. Usually the less expensive option, gold plated jewelry doesn’t require any minimum karat weight or thickness, and tends to wear very quickly. However, there is an exception we will explain in just a minute.
GOLD FILLED JEWELRY
Unlike vermeil and gold plated jewelry, gold filled jewelry has a much thicker layer of gold over the base metal. This makes a big difference in terms of the jewelry’s ability to resist wear and tear long term. It would be hard to tell the difference between “real” gold and a gold filled piece, as they are both high end.
GOLD PVD PLATED JEWELRY
PVD stands for Physical Vapor Deposition, and is a vacuum coating process of gold that produces a brilliant decorative and functional finish to the base metal. PVD utilizes a titanium nitride that provides an extremely durable coating. PVD coatings are more resistant to corrosion from sweat and regular wear than gold plating. It's a great choice for people who never take their jewellery off, as it is extremely vibrant and durable for many years. Even big, luxury brands use this process, like Rolex and Cartier. Seriously, Google it! If it's good enough for Rolex, it's good enough for Deja Vu Apothecary.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GOLD PLATED AND VERMEIL JEWELRY
As vermeil jewelry is composed of two precious metals (gold and silver), it’s usually thought of as being closer to fine jewelry and tends to fall under the category “demi-fine.” The higher the karat weight and thickness of the gold layer, the more expensive and valuable the piece will usually be.
Essentially, gold plated jewelry is the same thing as vermeil jewelry, only the base metal tends to be of a lower quality than silver, such as copper or brass. The gold can be of any quality, and the electroplated layer can be any thickness.
With other brands, unless specified otherwise, traditional gold plated jewelry is usually going to have lower quality gold and a thinner gold layer. Because of this, as a consumer, it’s important to pay close attention to the jewelry’s quality if it’s listed as gold plated. While it does have a layer of gold, this doesn’t necessarily mean the jewelry is high-quality and durable.
Our jewellery, however, is the exception to this rule due to the fact that the base metals we use are never low quality, and the gold is higher quality than traditional
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VERMEIL AND GOLD FILLED JEWELRY
While gold plated jewelry is usually not an ideal choice, gold filled jewelry can be a high-quality addition to your collection. Gold filled jewelry isn’t created through electroplating, but rather through bonding with heat. Since two or three thick layers of gold cover the base metal inside, the jewelry is protected from tarnishing and discoloration. Authentic gold filled jewelry should have a minimum of 5% gold weight, like ours here at Deja Vu.
Since vermeil pieces are usually created from electroplating and the minimum required gold is much lower, you’ll want to keep this in mind when trying to decide between vermeil and gold filled. Make sure to compare the quality of the base metal, how often you'll wear it, and keep your budget in mind.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GOLD PVD COATING AND GOLD PLATING
Gold plating occurs when a thin layer of real gold is plated onto another metal, such as stainless steel. Gold plating is often done to give the look of real gold at a fraction of the cost of having a piece of jewelry that is solid gold. One of the advantages of gold-plating is that it gives the product the look of real gold. On the other hand, gold plating doesn’t offer the durability of gold PVD coating and when scratched can reveal the base material.
Although the total amount of gold is less than the previously mentioned types of gold jewellery processing, the quality of the gold is still 14k or 18k. We use this process over a base of Stainless Steel, which is hypoallergenic, and durable. Its a great choice for 'never-take-off' jewellery wearers, and those with lower budgets who want vibrant looking gold jewellery that will last.
GOLD JEWELLERY AND ALLERGIES
If you've ever had an allergic reaction to some jewellery in the past, it's probably because it was made with lower base metals like brass, copper or nickel and sold as "24k gold plated". The gold layer on traditional plated jewelry is usually too thin to cover the lower quality metal, and when the gold begins to wear down, you're prone to an allergic reaction.
The good news for you is, quality is our highest priority and nothing we carry is made with these lower base metals. All of our jewelry at Deja Vu Apothecary is hypoallergenic, which means we never use any lower base metals that commonly cause allergic reactions or turn your skin green.
The base of all of our jewelllery is either 925 Sterling Silver or Stainless Steel, and is always mentioned in the product description, so you can rest assured that your sensitive skin is safe with DVA jewellery.
SO WHICH TYPE OF JEWELRY SHOULD I CHOOSE?
MOST VALUABLE
If you’re looking for the highest-quality, demi-fine jewelry, anything from our vermeil collection would be a good choice and contains the highest amount of 14k or 18k gold, over a 925 Sterling Silver base.
MOST DURABLE
If you don’t mind a lower-value base metal, PVD gold pieces are probably your best bet when it comes to long-lasting and durable jewelry. Although they contain the least amount of the precious metal (gold), they are a great alternative for the everyday pieces you never take off. Our Waterproof collection is made with a stainless steel base, coated with PVD 14 or 18k gold.
BEST VALUE
Gold filled pieces are a great alternative to pure 14k or 18k pieces for the budget-conscious fashionista, and last a long time when cared for properly. Although we don't recommend going too hard on these pieces, they are quite tough and do well with time. They also contain a higher amount of gold and are worth more, without the price tag of solid gold, which is typically too soft to wear as a piece of jewellery anyway.
The bottom line is that whatever you choose from our shop, you will be getting the best quality for your preference. High quality materials mean high quality jewellery--and that's our top priority. You can't go wrong with Deja Vu Apothecary.