It can be confusing trying to decipher the different terms used in jewelry metals. Terms like sterling silver, silver plated, gold filled, vermeil can seem liked you’ve joined a game of Magic the Gathering and players are slinging around terms that you have no real idea what they mean. Let’s take a closer look at these terms and what they actually mean.
Pure Silver
Pure silver, also referred to as fine silver, has actual silver content of 99.9%. However, because of its high purity, fine silver is too soft to use in jewelry crafting, and hence is often mixed with other metals to make it harder.
Sterling Silver (925 Silver)
Sterling silver, also known as 925 silver, is an alloy that is 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals (usually copper, aluminium or zinc) to make pure silver more durable . Sterling silver is usually marked .925. Sterling silver can tarnish when the other metals in the alloy react to the air. See how to polish sterling silver jewelry here.
Silver Filled
Silver filled is another metal that is overlaid by a mechanical process with a layer of silver. No longer common in jewelry. Items I have seen marked silver filled are usually vintage charms and pendants.
Silver Plated
Silver plated jewelry has a layer of pure silver (measured in microns) covering a base metal, such as copper, brass, white metal, or nickel. This layer is usually thin and will wear off with use. Commonly used in costume jewelry, silver plating gives a shiny silver appearance without the cost of sterling silver.
14k, 18k, 24k Gold
Gold is measured by purity, or karats. The scale’s general spectrum is between 10 karats and 24 karats. The higher the karats, the more pure gold is included in the mixture. Gold, like pure silver, is too soft a metal to create jewelry pieces. An alloy is created with a mix of another metal (usually copper, silver, zinc, or nickle).
Rose Gold
Rose gold is an alloy of pure 24 karat yellow gold, copper and silver. The depth of color in the rose gold depends on the ratio of yellow gold to copper. Pure 24 karat yellow gold is the base for all gold colors and qualities, but is too soft to be used in a pure state for jewelry. It needs to be blended, or alloyed with other metals to strengthen it enough to wear.
Vermeil
Vermeil is silver that has a thick coating or plating of 14k gold over top. Unlike silver plated jewelry, it is a worthy investment as the silver is easily recoverable. Vermeil is perfect for the budget-conscious who are looking for a less expensive alternative to a solid gold piece without compromising on the look, weight and value of precious metals.
Gold Filled
Gold filled is another metal that is overlaid by a mechanical process with a layer of gold. The gold layer must constitute at least 1/20th of the weight of the metal in the entire article. Also called: “Rolled Gold Plate,” or “Gold Overlay.”
Gold Plated
Gold plated jewelry has a layer of gold (measured in microns) covering a base metal, such as copper, brass, white metal, or nickel. This layer is usually thin and will wear off with use. Commonly used in costume jewelry, gold plating gives a shiny golden appearance without the cost of a finer grade of gold.
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