Gold-plated jewellery, gold-filled jewellery, and solid gold jewellery… It's like choosing between gold, gold, and more gold! Seems as if it's a golden puzzle, and it is indeed. But you need not worry; you are in good company to sort out this confusion in a jiffy.
Before heading into the gold-plated vs. solid gold vs. gold-filled debate, how about we take a moment to realise how precious this metal is and is forever going to be? It's precious because there’s something in gold that has fascinated humans for thousands of years. The relative scarcity, difficult extraction, lustrous appeal, and non-corrosive nature are just a few characteristics of gold that justify its fondness among people since history. And its durability is such that gold articles by ancient artisans and their beauty haven’t dimmed even after thousands of years. One breathtaking example is the Gold Death Mask of Tutankhamun, displayed at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo — a 22.5-karat wonder that still glows with the same brilliance it did over 3,000 years ago. Another treasure, the Oxus Treasure at the British Museum, holds exquisite gold bracelets and necklaces from ancient Persia—timeless pieces that remind us of gold’s eternal charm and significance.
Over time, gold’s use in jewellery has evolved into many forms. Now we get to see it in three main forms — solid gold, gold-filled, and gold-plated. Let’s break down the difference between them one by one.
Solid Gold Jewellery
The term “solid gold” already suggests that the jewellery is made entirely from gold, but in reality, it is made from a gold alloy.
Pure gold is extremely soft, so jewellery made solely from it could bend or get scratched easily. That’s why jewellers prefer gold alloy, which is a mix of pure gold with a small proportion of other metals like copper, silver, palladium, or zinc to amplify the durability and strength of the pure gold.
What we are passed on as family heirlooms (still prevalent in many families of India) is generally solid gold jewellery.
Gold Purity in Karats
When we buy gold jewellery online or offline, we are asked about karat options. Basically gold purity is measured in karats (KT). So karat would mention how much percentage of gold is used in making that jewellery, and the remaining portion is any other metal.
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24 Karat: Nearly 100% gold, and it is very soft.
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22 Karat: About 92% gold, slightly stronger than pure gold
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18 Karat: 75% gold, generally balances strength and richness
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14 Karat: 58% gold, is highly durable as gold content is reduced profusely.
Why Invest in Solid Gold Jewellery?
Good reasons why people invested in or still invest in solid gold are:
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Value Only Appreciates: No need to prove it, as we have all observed the solid gold’s value only increases with time. Some treat it as an investment due to this reason.
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Not Impacted, Stays Intact: As mentioned earlier, some gold jewellery pieces from ancient times are living to date in exact form – that states that solid gold does not tarnish, fade or wear off over time. That makes it so precious.
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Is Gentle on Skin: Real gold never irritates your skin nor causes any allergies. Our mothers used to wear it all day long, and many still do because it’s simply comfortable, safe and elegant to wear in routine.
Gold-Filled Jewellery
Gold-filled jewellery may look like solid gold, but the key difference in gold-filled vs. solid gold lies in the making process. Gold-filled jewellery is crafted by mechanically bonding a thick layer of gold on base metal (usually brass or copper), whereas solid gold jewellery is pure gold mixed with a slight proportion of any other metal.
For gold-filled jewellery to be called gold-filled, there’s a condition: the gold layer must make up at least 5% of the total weight of the item. And gold-filled jewellery articles come stamped as “GF”, “1/20 14K GF”, or “12K GF”. “GF” stands for gold-filled, and the numbers indicate the portion of gold used as well as the karat. Most of the time, it is 14K or 12K gold bonded to the base metal in gold-filled jewellery.
Benefits of Choosing Gold-Filled Jewellery
People mainly choose gold-filled jewellery because of the following reasons:
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Luxury Becomes Affordable: The elegance of gold-filled jewellery is almost indistinguishable from solid gold, so it’s like having a treasure without the treasure price.
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Makes Everyday Articles Last Long: The bonding is of a thick layer of real gold, not thin, so the gold-filled jewellery articles can last decades even if you compel them to become part of your everyday.
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Are Hypoallergenic Alternatives: Provided the layers are of the highest quality gold and quite thick, the gold-filled jewellery articles too become suitable for sensitive skin, just like solid gold jewellery.
Gold-Plated Jewellery
Gold-plated jewellery has been trending for a long time, continuing a trend that started in the late 19th century when people desired the look of gold at an accessible price.
What “gold-plated jewellery” means, you can guess from the “gold-plated” word, which implies “gold plating done on a base”. The base is commonly brass, copper, or silver. Via electroplating (a process that uses electric current to deposit a thin layer of metal onto a base), the base metal is coated with gold.
An important thing to note is that gold used in it doesn’t have a fixed standard for gold karat. It can be 10k, 12k, 14k, 18k or 22k gold – it usually depends upon the manufacturer and price. And due to this variation, gold-plated jewellery durability is never the same across all brands.
Note: In gold-plated jewellery, some brands skimp with thin layers or gold paint, but La Vita Jewels guarantees real 22K gold plating over 925 sterling silver or premium brass. That provides you with long-lasting shine and a truly luxurious feel in every piece.
Gold-Filled Jewellery vs Gold-Plated
People often confuse these two, but there's a difference between gold-plated and gold-filled jewellery. Gold-plated jewellery has a very thin gold coating over a base metal, while gold-filled jewellery has a much thicker layer. But they both are quite durable.
What Makes Gold-Plated Jewellery So Popular?
The reasons why people are obsessed with gold-plated jewellery are:
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The Cost is Not Heavy - The top reason why gold-plated jewellery gathers love, especially from Gen-Z, is for the gold-like appeal it offers at a price that is extremely easy on the pocket. It’s almost like walking away with gold for pennies.
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Designs Seem Custom-made - Solid gold jewellery can never match the intricacy and versatility of designs in the gold-plated jewellery range. The gold-plated articles look so detailed and gorgeous that it feels like they were made just for you.
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Feels Light like a Feather – While solid gold jewellery is as heavy as its price, the gold-plated pieces are extremely light. Even the bold and statement-making designs do not feel heavy, letting you flaunt your style and vibe all day long comfortably.
Gold-Plated vs Solid Gold vs Gold-Filled Jewellery – Which One to Choose?
Next time you hear the terms 'solid gold', 'gold plated' or 'gold filled' – you must not feel confused. Now it’s clear what solid gold vs gold-filled vs gold-plated jewellery means. And when it comes to deciding which one to buy, you must make a decision based on what you want, what your pocket allows and what your goals are.
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If you want something in gold for your big day, say your wedding, then go for solid gold jewellery. Also, it is great for investment purposes.
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Choose gold-filled jewellery if you want something durable, gold-like, and perfect for regular use.
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Gold-plated jewellery is another best option for everyday use; in fact, it is the best choice because it's lightweight, trendy, features custom-made designs and provides a gold-like look at a very budget-friendly price.
Explore La Vita’s collection of gold-plated earrings, necklaces, rings and bangles featuring authentic 22K gold plating over high-quality sterling silver or premium brass. We also have many of our articles embedded with semi-precious gemstones that make them even more luxurious, meaningful and statement-making.
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