Gold-filled and gold-plated jewelry both have a form of gold coating but are not real gold. Telling the two apart can be a challenge, especially if you have no experience with gold. The two are metal jewelry, but the values differ due to the different base metals.
Understanding their differences is essential, especially if you are a gold dealer. The significant variation comes in the gold content in each and their manufacturing processes. Suppose you want to buy a set of gold jewelry for a special event; you might want to research the two beforehand to avoid mistakes. However, you may encounter confusing and false myths on the subject. Experts from Sell Your Gold can help you know factual differences between gold-plated and gold-filled jewelry.
Gold Content in Gold-Filled and Gold-Plated
Gold-filled jewelry contains about five percent of real gold, almost a hundred times the amount in gold-plated. The metal base is a gold alloy, followed by the core metal, then another alloy of gold. The metal sandwich is then heated and rolled thinning the core metal. In addition, gold-filled has more gold layers than the latter.
On the contrary, gold-plated jewelry contains 0.5% of gold. The core metal is coated with electroplated gold pieces. The total percentage of gold is much less, thanks to the bright yellow color that gives gold-plated jewelry the shining effect. Gold buyers must be keen not to confuse the two from their golden color.
The Value and Pricing
Primarily, real gold is valuable and expensive. Therefore, the higher the gold content, the higher the value, and the higher the price; a concept that explains why gold-filled jewelry is more expensive than gold-plated.
Gold-plated jewelry has less gold content hence low value. However, some dealers will take advantage of gold buyers’ ignorance and manipulate the prices. Therefore, it would help to use the online appraisal kit to distinguish the two. Also, if you have gold jewelry you want to sell, it is good to identify a reputable online gold buyer to get the correct value for your item.
Which One Is Common
Someone might think that because gold-plated jewelry is less valuable, it is useless. But, unfortunately, that is not the case, as gold-plated jewelry can look magnificent if you style it correctly. Besides, the jewelry is all-occasion and all-day. Therefore, it is possible to get beautiful and personalized gold-plated jewelry in the market.
In addition, the prices of gold-plated jewelry allow them to be more common in the market than the latter. You can buy a gold-plated necklace at $50 at the higher end. The price of gold-filled jewelry is not much lower than that of actual gold, and that is why they are just as rare.
The Difference in Durability
Gold-filled jewelry is more durable than gold-plated due to the thick layers of gold alloys. If you take good care of the former, it can last as long as you want. On the other hand, gold-plated jewelry is delicate. The coating easily succumbs to excess heat, water, or wear. However, both durability depends on the environment, wear, and the quality of the piece.
Time To Go Shopping
Now that you know a few differences between gold-filled and gold-plated jewelry, you do not have fear of mistakes. Instead, consider the event at hand to decide which jewelry fits you. You have slim chances of buying the wrong set when you have the information. If you search online stores, you should pay attention to the quality of photography. It is a significant indicator of a trustworthy jeweler. You can check this guide to find out how to make neat jewelry photos.