02 Oct What Is Gold Vermeil: Quality, Comparison, Care Tips , & More

We all know that gold is one of the most costly and luxurious metals, and everyone loves to buy and style it. However, its increasing cost and design issues brought different variants of it, which not only made gold a bit affordable but also unique and aesthetic in terms of appearance. One such variant is gold vermeil, which is very popular and offers a layer of high-quality gold over silver metal. So, to learn all about what is gold vermeil, its differences from gold plating, and its properties, read the full blog. 

What is gold vermeil?

So, before knowing what is gold vermeil, let’s first learn about its origin and existence. So, the suffix vermeil basically comes from the latin word “vermis”. The Latin term is used in the French language to represent “gilded silver.” In addition to this the right pronunciation for the word vermeil is “vehr-may” as it belongs to the french dictionary.

 

Artisans use a legally approved technique to apply a thick layer of high-quality gold over core silver metal, creating gold vermeil. However, the US government has established certain criteria that these pieces of jewelry must fulfill to receive the legal tag of ‘gold vermeil.’ It includes having “sterling silver” as its base metal, the plated gold should be of at least 10 karats, and must have the thickness of 2.5 microns. 

Besides this, the electrochemical process which is used to make gold vermeil is called “electroplating”. A manufacturer plates a thick layer of pure gold over a piece of metal that contains 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals such as copper and brass.

7 Benefits of buying gold vermeil

For sure, this kind of gold jewelry is trending in the market for a reason. Hence, to know about some of the most common benefits and advantages of buying gold vermeil, read the below-shared points:

1. Therefore, gold vermeil is affordable, which means every class can have it. 
2. They are long-lasting as compared to gold-plated jewelry. 
3. Their designs are unique and classic.
4. These are lightweight and allergy-free for those who are allergic to brass, copper, etc. 
5. You can easily re-plate gold vermeil because silver is the base metal.
6. It allows you to increase your gold jewelry collection. 
7. Its plating stays for a longer time and looks truly like pure gold jewelry. 

Difference between gold vermeil vs gold plated

A lot of us think that gold vermeil and gold plated are the same, as both of them have the same appearance and technique. However, it is not like that, as there are a lot of factors and elements which differ from each other. Hence, to get a comparative glimpse of the same, read the below-shared points: 

• Gold vermeil has silver as its base metal, whereas gold-plated vermeil usually has copper or brass as its core metal. 

• In addition to this, vermeil has gold plating of 2.5 microns thickness, whereas gold-plated ornaments have only 0.5 microns of gold thickness. 

• Gold-plated jewelry is less durable as compared to gold vermeil. 

• Furthermore, gold vermeil is a bit more expensive than gold-plated ornaments. 

• You can easily re-plate gold vermeil because silver is the base metal. 

How is 18k gold vermeil different from 14k gold vermeil?

Now, once you know what is gold vermeil, it’s high time to know about its sub two categories which are prominent in jewelry shops. Thus, it includes 18k gold vermeil and 14k gold vermeil. Hence, to know its brief description, read these below-mentioned points:

14k gold vermeil: Here, the 14k gold vermeil jewelry means a gold layer of 14k plated over the base of sterling silver metal. Thus, jewelers create 14k gold by combining 41.7% other materials and 58.3% pure gold. According to various jewelers, ornaments made of 14k gold vermeil are the best fit for daily use.

18k gold vermeil: On the other hand, the 18k gold vermeil jewelry means that the core sterling silver metal is layered with 18k of gold. Thus, in 18k gold there are 15% of other material and 75% of pure gold. Also, jewelries made up of 18k gold are only a bit less orangish as compared to 24k gold (100% pure gold). 

Can gold vermeil tarnish?

So, yes, gold vermeil can also tarnish as it is one of the most common changes that happens in any metals due to chemical reaction with moisture in the air. Thus, it results in black or brown colored layering over the metal. Apart from this, tarnishing can also take place due to the metal’s contact with humidity, lotions, perfumes, sweat, and whatnot. 

However, as gold vermeil has sterling silver in its base, it becomes less likely to get tarnish as compared to jewelries which have copper, nickel, or brass in the core. Over and above that, the best thing is that tarnishing can be eliminated by simply getting the jewelry polished by professionals. Therefore, they bring back the shine and appearance like the earlier. 

7 Tips to care gold vermeil

Now that you know everything about what is vermeil gold, its type, its properties, and so on, it’s high time to learn about its caring and management tips so that they never lose their value. Hence, to know that, read the below-shared points:

1. Clean the gold vermeil ornaments with a soft, lint-free, and non-abrasive microfiber piece of cloth. 
2. Once in a couple of weeks, wash the gold vermeil jewelry with a little warm water and brush it gently. Do not forget to pat dry it with a soft cloth after washing it off. 
3. Make sure not to avoid the use of any type of chemical over it. 
4. Remove the vermeil jewelry before going swimming, gyming, showering, etc.
5. Store such ornaments away from direct sunlight. Thus, keep them in a cool, dry, and air tight box. 

Conclusion 

In this blog post, we briefly answered the question, “What is gold vermeil?”. Hence, ranging from its history and meaning to benefits and type, we shared everything in detail. We highlighted the differences between gold jewelry types based on plating and karats to help you decide what you want. We also discussed its tarnishing and care properties, which will help maintain its shine and sparkle longer. I hope the page helped you a lot and answered all your queries in the simplest way possible.

FAQs

Are gold vermeil jewelry waterproof?

Gold vermeil jewelry is not waterproof moisture and chemicals can tarnish it and affect the gold layer. Keep it away from water, and if it gets wet, pat it dry with a soft cloth immediately. 

What is the best gold vermeil jewelry?

You can truly choose from endless options to get any ornament made of gold vermeil. It includes bracelets, earrings, pendants, statement chains, rings, bangles, cuffs, broches, and whatnot.

What is the base material of gold vermeil?

Therefore, the law approves only sterling silver as the core metal of gold vermeil. Thus, it is made up of 92.5 percent of pure silver and 7.5 percent of other materials.