FAQ - What's the difference between solid gold, gold filled, and gold vermeil?

Since I did so many in-person events in 2024 I thought it would be fun to answer some of the most commonly asked questions here on the blog this year. 

Over the past few years, I've seen so much jewelry marketed as waterproof and safe to wear in pools. I get asked about it all the time and my answer is layered and not as simple as some other marketing makes it seem.

Chlorine is not good for any jewelry! Can I shout it from the rooftops?

Yes, you can wear some high karat gold jewelry in the pool and not see the damage. I take my jewelry off in pools and hot tubs. I also like to add hot springs to this list.

Pure gold as in 24 Karat gold is chemically inactive and resistant to most external agents, including chlorine. However, most gold jewelry isn’t pure gold but is a mix of gold and other metals. These alloys, especially in lower karat gold pieces, can react with chlorine in swimming pools. This chlorine exposure can lead to discoloration, tarnishing, and even structural damage over time. So, while an occasional dip in your gold jewelry might not lead to immediate harm, frequent and prolonged exposure can have detrimental effects.

The best thing to do is to remove your jewelry before entering a pool, hot tub, or any chlorinated water source. If you do forget, rinse it immediately afterward with fresh, warm water. This can help remove residual chlorine before reacting with the alloyed metals. Of course, permanent jewelry can't be removed so I recommend getting it in 14K or 18K gold only. 

Let's chat about other golds. While 10K and 14K are my favorite for daily wear because I am not the most careful person with my jewelry, I understand it's not in everyone's budget. I like to encourage people to upgrade pieces in their jewelry collection as they can. They last forever and can be repaired easily.

A pair of my gold vermeil studs might cost $60 and the 14K Gold pair costs $300. That's a significant difference, but instead of rotating my earrings every day, I can wear the 14K gold pair for years and years. I just clean them every so often to keep them shiny and new-looking. 

The gold vermeil option is one of my most affordable gold options. I use a heavy gold plating over sterling silver and they are all tarnish resistant. However, gold vermeil does wear off. All of my gold vermeil pieces can be sent back for replating anytime. I will just give you a repair cost quote depending on the piece. I only recommend gold vermeil for earrings and necklaces. The finish wears off the fastest on rings. I used to offer my rings in vermeil but it varies so much from person to person how long the vermeil finish will last. Gold vermeil lasts much longer if you don't get it wet or expose it to lotions and perfumes.  

Lastly, let's talk about 14K Gold Filled. I love gold filled for an affordable alternative to 14K gold but you can't work with it the same way you can silver or solid gold. It is tarnish-free and hypoallergenic. A lot of jewelry in the market says it is gold-filled and it's actually gold-plating over stainless steel. This is such a bummer because it doesn't wear the same and the yellow gold color is different. For my designs gold filled is limited to chains and clasps. Some designers will solder and work with gold filled more. I've tested some pieces and they just don't wear as well for my designs. Once you heat gold filled wire or sheet you change the composition.

I've been making jewelry since 2001 so if you have any questions let me know! I'll try to do more blog posts like this answering some of the most common questions I've been asked over the years.