Without an legally compulsory hallmark, gold vermeil jewelry is often mistaken for other types of gold pieces, especially gold-plated jewelry.
Continue reading to learn how to identify gold vermeil jewelry and highlight its unique features.
Is Gold Vermeil Worth Anything?
Yes, gold vermeil holds high value. Gold vermeil jewelry is made of sterling silver base metal and a thick layer of gold, which are both precious metals.
Also, the gold layer must be at least 2.5 microns thick, which is at least 5 times thicker than most gold plating(it means much more real gold is used). This makes gold vermeil pieces retain their color and luster for 12-24 months efficiently. Gold vermeil jewelry is highly water resistant.
Does Gold Vermeil Have a Hallmark?
Gold vermeil does not have a compulsive hallmark, but legally it has to be made of a sterling silver base + gold plating on the outside. But many manufacturers will put “95,” “Sterling Silver,” or “S925” on the jewelry pieces, which is a hallmark for sterling silver (92.5% pure silver and 7.5% alloyed metals).
How Can You Tell If Gold is Vermeil?
To check if a gold color piece is vermeil or not, these are the 2 major things to look out for:
Longevity
Vermeil means that the gold jewelry will last for at least 1 year with full-color retention, even if in contact with water sometimes in daily life. The thick layer of gold applied on the sterling silver base must not fade or tarnish regardless of daily wear.
Lab Testing
Conduct a thorough lab test on the gold vermeil jewelry is the most direct way.
In the standard testing process, there will be 3 spots chosen randomly on the jewelry piece for testing thickness of the applied gold layer. And the average of the 3 readings must be a minimum of 2.5 microns . Highly uneven thickness or readings below this specification indicate that it’s not gold vermeil.
Some irresponsible manufcturers/suppliers might define the 2.5 microns as the total sums of all plating layer including silver, palladium, e-coating…. hence the real gold layer might be much thinner than imagined.
Finally, beware of the gold karat, which should be at least 10K. If the gold purity is lower than this, the jewelry does not qualify as vermeil. The most common karats are 14k, 18k, and 24k.
Key Takeaway
Knowing which jewelry is gold vermeil is very important, as this will help you make an informed decision in choosing the best jewelry for your needs. To get the best piece, it’s advisable you contact a professional gold vermeil jewelry manufacturer with years of experience.
