What does gold filled mean? Does gold filled tarnish?

Camille is the jewelry and lifestyle editor of the Joué.…
Nowadays it is common to use jewels as a way of enhancing our looks. Generally, jewels vary in material and price. One of the highly ranked jewel materials is gold. However, most people are unable to afford pure gold due to its high price.
It is also possible to gold coat jewels by adding a thin layer over base metal surfaces. However, the gold coating is not much durable.
Other options like gold plating have proved to be more durable than gold coating.
Today, the most popular method is known as gold filled, as it is better than gold coating and gold plating in quality and durability.
Gold-filled jewels have an actual gold layer bonded to the base metal using high pressure and temperature. The method is valuable and an excellent economical replica of solid gold. This article will discuss gold filled definition, advantages, comparisons with any other form of gold alternatives.
What does gold filled mean?
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What is gold filled? And is gold-filled jewelry real gold? In fact, a gold-filled jewel composes of a solid gold layer bonded to a base metal.
How much real gold is in gold fill? Typically, the solid gold layer contributes to 5% of the jewel’s weight. If the gold layer is less than 5% of the jewel’s weight, it is a rolled gold plate or a gold overlay.
A gold-filled jewel has a lifespan of 10 to 30 years before the gold wears off completely to expose the base metal. The layer of the gold filling is approximately 10 times thicker than gold plating and 25 times thicker than a gold electroplate.
What is 10k gold filled? 14k gold filled? 18k gold filled?
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The standard of gold is measured in karats. The most common gold standards are 10k, 14k, and 18k. A 100% pure gold usually has 24 karats.
A 10k gold-filled has 41.7% pure gold and 58.3% alloy. A 14k gold filled consists of 58.5% of pure gold. An 18 karats gold-filled jewel contains 75% of pure gold.
Generally, an 18k gold is more expensive than 14k gold, which is also costly than 10k gold. However, a 14k gold-filled jewel will take more time to have visible wear and tear marks than an 18k gold filled.
To conclude, 14k gold filled is much recommended for people who want an ideal balance in price, look, and durability.
Rose gold filled
Rose gold filled is also a gold filled technique, except that it consists of 24k pure gold mixed with copper as an alloy to give it a rosy hue. The amount of copper added to the gold determines its karat rating as well as its final color.
Since copper is very sturdy, rose gold is much durable. However, copper is not hypoallergenic; thus, some people might have allergic reactions to rose gold.
What does white gold filled mean?
White gold filled is manufactured from gold and white-colored base metals alloys. These white-colored metals like palladium, silver, zinc, and nickel are mixed with solid gold to provide a distinctive white color. White gold filled exists in many variations depending on the alloys’ percentages used in the manufacturing.
Advantages of gold filled
Gold filled jewelry has numerous advantages over other real gold replicas. They are less expensive than solid gold, more durable than gold plated or gold vermeil, and gold-filled jewelry is okay for people with sensitive skin.
High gold content
Gold filled jewels have more gold content in them than any other gold alternatives. Typically, the solid gold layer contributes to 5% of the jewel’s weight. If the gold layer is less than 5% of the jewel’s weight, it is a rolled gold plate or a gold overlay.
Gold filled jewelry don’t cost as much as solid gold, and they tend to retain some values even after purchasing, unlike gold-plated jewels.
Hypoallergenic
Is gold-filled jewelry okay for people with sensitive skin? Yes. Generally, a gold-filled jewel over a sterling silver base metal is hypoallergenic, as the outside of the jewelry is solid gold. Jewels that are gold-filled using these metals are safe to wear, even for people with sensitive skins.
Durable
Typically, a well-maintained gold-filled jewel will last 10 to 30 years. Low-quality gold-filled jewelry also tend to have extended durability than gold-plated jewels. Mostly, gold-filled jewels last over ten years before they begin flaking.
Cheaper
Despite having a high content of pure gold, a gold-filled jewel is much cheaper than that made of pure gold. Going for a gold-filled jewel will look like a pure gold jewel, but it costs less.
Gold filled vs gold plated
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What’s the difference between gold filled and gold plated? Which is better gold filled or gold plated? In fact, gold filled is more durable than gold plated as it is much thicker. A gold-filled jewel has one hundred times more gold than a gold-plated one.
A gold-filled jewel is manufactured by sandwiching a core metal between two layers of gold. The sandwich is then passed through heat and roller multiple times to bond the metals together.
A well-maintained gold-filled jewel can last for 10 to 30 years. However, the jewel can still tarnish in exceptional circumstances.
A gold-plated jewel contains a thin layer of gold that is barely noticeable. Gold plating involves using an electric current to charge the base metal negatively. A solution with gold ions is also charged positively to attract the core metal’s negative charges. This forms a thin gold coating over the core metal.
The plating is not durable and cannot withstand much heat, wear, or water. Gold plated wears off and tarnishes quickly to expose the core metal.
Gold filled vs solid gold
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Solid gold is also known as pure gold. It is the most valuable existing form of gold. The purity of solid gold is measured in karats, denoted by K. The purest form of solid gold is 24k which is soft and yellow. Due to its soft texture, it is mixed with other metals to make durable jewels.
Solid gold usually lasts longer than any other form of gold alternatives. It is very expensive and does not wear off quickly as gold-filled, and it can be melted and recycled countless times to make new jewels.
Gold vermeil vs gold filled
Gold vermeil is less durable than gold filled but more durable than gold plated. It is a gold plating over a sterling silver base metal. However, the resultant is more hypoallergenic than a gold plate because of the sterling silver layer. Gold vermeil does not tarnish or wear off quickly than gold plate since it is much heavier.
However, its durability depends on its thickness of the gold coating. The thicker the layer, the more durable the jewel will be.
Does gold filled tarnish?
How long does gold filled jewelry last? Just like other forms of gold alternatives, a gold-filled jewel will also tarnish over time. When used under ideal maintenance, a gold-filled jewel will last from 10 to 30 years or even a lifetime.
This duration depends on how frequently the jewelry is worn, skin nature, climate, among others.
However, how you care for your gold-filled jewel determines how long it will take to tear off. For example, if the jewel is exposed to water for long periods, it is likely to tarnish more quickly. Some skincare and cosmetic products will also catalyst the tarnishing.
It is advisable to take off a gold-filled jewel before bathing or applying lotion and take it back after the skin is dehydrated.
The trend of gold filled jewelry
Gold filled jewelry has been gaining increasing popularity due to its advantages over other types of gold alternatives. It resembles solid gold jewelry but costs much less. It lasts longer than gold plated and gold vermeil. It is also hypoallergenic and can even be worn by skin-sensitive people.
How to clean gold filled jewelry?
The following procedure can be used to clean a gold-filled jewel more effectively. Put warm water and a few dish soap droplets in a small bowl. Swish the water gently until it looks sudsy from the soap. The warm water will help in breaking down grime and dirt.
If the jewel is very dirty and the dish soap is ineffective, mix equal amounts of warm water and ammonia. Soak the jewel for at least a minute, scrub it, and rinse it off. A soft toothbrush should be used to scrub the jewel. Wear the jewel after it is scorched.
Caring for 14K gold-filled jewelry
The following tips can be used to give extensive care to a 14k gold-filled jewel. These tips are essential to give the jewel a long lifespan. They include:
- Cleaning the jewel regularly using warm water and soft clothing. Rubbing it may result in discoloring.
- Do not wear the jewel when swimming or showering. Salty and chlorine water may damage it. Similarly, the jewel should be removed when cleaning since detergents may cause it to tarnish.
- Touching and rubbing the jewel more frequently can lead to discoloring due to friction. Clean it with a non-scratch cloth to maintain its color. Ensure you remove it before sleeping or when sporting.
Conclusion
Gold filled is far more valuable than other gold alternatives. It resembles solid gold jewelry but costs much less. It lasts longer than gold plated and gold vermeil. It is also hypoallergenic and can even be worn by skin-sensitive people. If you are planning to build up your jewelry collection, we strongly recommend gold filled.
We hope this article has given you the insight you need. Feel to share your thoughts below or check other articles on jewelry that we have published.