There are many types of gold jewelry, such as solid gold, gold filled, gold plated, and gold vermeil jewelry. These different types of gold all have different properties and require different caring methods. But how long does gold jewelry last, you may wonder?
Solid gold jewelry lasts the longest and can last many years without wearing or tarnishing. On the contrary, gold-plated, gold-filled, and gold vermeil jewelry will tarnish, and the gold layer comes off with frequent wear. How you care for your gold jewelry determines how long it lasts.
Not all gold jewelry is the same. For example, there is a significant difference between solid gold, gold-filled, gold vermeil, and gold-plated jewelry. We will discuss each type of gold jewelry and how long it lasts. We’ll also consider how to care for it to get the best wear from your gold jewelry.
How Long Do Different Kinds Of Gold Jewelry Last?
There’s a big difference between solid gold jewelry and other kinds of gold. Knowing this difference is crucial before buying gold jewelry because you need to know what to expect regarding durability and care. So first, let’s consider the different types of gold jewelry.
Solid gold jewelry refers to jewelry that is made entirely of gold. As pure gold is incredibly soft and difficult to work with, alloys are often added to the gold to make it more durable and pliable. However, even with these added alloys, the jewelry is still made from gold and is therefore considered solid gold jewelry.
Solid gold jewelry often comes in 9k, 14k, and 18k. These values indicate the amount of pure gold in the jewelry.
Next, we have gold-filled jewelry. Gold-filled jewelry has a layer of gold bonded to a base metal or alloy. This bonding process gives the jewelry a gold appearance. However, it’s only the surface that looks gold. Eventually, if the surface layer flakes off, the base metal is revealed.
With gold-plated jewelry, you can expect to find a thin layer of gold (much thinner than gold-filled jewelry) bonded to a base metal through an electrically charged process called plating. The result is a good-looking piece of jewelry. However, if the gold flakes off, the base metal will show.
Gold vermeil jewelry is similar to gold-plated jewelry. However, where gold-plated jewelry has a copper or alloy base, gold vermeil specifically has a sterling silver base. The gold is plated onto the silver through the same electrically charged process.
These different types of jewelry come at different prices. Gold plated jewelry is the cheapest, followed by gold vermeil and gold-filled jewelry. Solid gold jewelry is the most expensive and is far more valuable than any of the other kinds of gold jewelry. Now you might be curious to know how the durability of these types of gold jewelry compares to each other.
How Long Does Solid Gold Jewelry Last?
Solid gold jewelry is exceptionally durable. It is tarnish-proof, and the color doesn’t fade over time. You can also wear solid gold jewelry in the shower or get it wet without having concerns about the jewelry’s longevity.
If you notice your solid gold jewelry begins to fade, you can easily clean it with a soft rag and dish soap to reveal the shiny gold again. In addition, solid gold jewelry can be melted down and reused for other pieces or purposes. You can therefore reuse a piece of solid gold jewelry for many years.
How Long Does Gold Filled Jewelry Last?
Because gold-filled jewelry isn’t made of solid gold throughout, it isn’t as durable as solid gold jewelry. It is more tarnish-proof than gold-plated jewelry. However, as time passes, the gold layer will come off the jewelry, and the base metal will be exposed. You also cannot polish gold-filled jewelry without tarnishing it.
Gold-filled jewelry is waterproof. Unfortunately, it cannot be melted and reused. If the gold layer wears off, you can have it fixed. However, in this case, a jeweler will often use plating instead of bonding to attach a new layer of gold.
How Long Does Gold Vermeil Jewelry Last?
Because gold vermeil has a thinner layer of pure gold than gold-filled jewelry, it is even less durable. While the silver layer underneath is more durable than other metals, the gold plating will easily wear off. You cannot polish gold vermeil jewelry, and the golden color will fade with time, revealing the silver underneath.
Gold vermeil jewelry cannot be melted down and reused. In addition, this type of gold jewelry is not waterproof. If you wish to have gold vermeil jewelry repaired, it must be replaced with a new layer of gold. Gold vermeil jewelry isn’t nearly as durable as solid gold or gold-filled jewelry.
How Long Does Gold Plated Jewelry Last?
Gold plated jewelry has the same durability as gold vermeil. The only difference is that gold-plated jewelry has a different base metal than gold vermeil jewelry. You can expect the gold to fade and tarnish with time with gold-plated jewelry. The base metal will show when the gold flakes off, and the only way to repair gold-plated jewelry is by having a new layer of gold plated onto it.
Gold-plated jewelry cannot be polished or cleaned. It also cannot be melted down or reused. In addition, gold-plated jewelry isn’t waterproof. Gold-plated jewelry is also not hypoallergenic, as some people may react to the base metal. Therefore, gold-plated jewelry is far less durable than solid gold jewelry.
How Affordable Is Gold Jewelry?
You might be curious to know why there are so many kinds of gold jewelry if solid gold is clearly the most durable and the best. Well, that’s because solid gold jewelry is also expensive. Many people like the look of gold jewelry but cannot afford to pay for solid gold jewelry. In this case, gold-filled jewelry or gold-plated jewelry is a good alternative.
When buying gold jewelry, always ask what type it is. Gold-plated jewelry tends to be very affordable because it isn’t valuable. Therefore, you shouldn’t pay more than it’s worth for gold-plated or gold-filled jewelry.
Gold plated jewelry is marked with GP or GEP, while solid gold jewelry will indicate if it’s 9k, 14k, or 18k gold. Gold-filled jewelry is marked with the sign GF and will tell you how much of the jewelry’s weight is solid gold.
The type of gold jewelry you choose depends mainly on your budget. However, suppose you can manage to pay for solid gold jewelry. In that case, you will have a much more durable and valuable piece of jewelry that can last for many years.
Conclusion
Solid gold jewelry is the most expensive. However, it is also the most durable. You can polish solid gold, and it is waterproof and tarnish-proof. You can also melt solid gold jewelry to make something else. The other types of jewelry aren’t nearly as valuable.
They also don’t last as long. The gold plating or filling will wear off, exposing the base metal. You cannot reuse gold-plated or filled jewelry to make any other pieces.
