Solid Gold vs Gold Plated Jewelry

‘Solid Gold vs Gold Plated Jewelry’ posted by: American Coins & Gold | 4/18/18

 

Gold is the king of precious metals and for good reason.

 

Solid gold jewelry is that which consists of pure gold or a very high percentage of pure gold. This is measured through the use of “karats”, with 24k being the most pure and highest value on the entire scale. 

 

Solid Gold vs Gold Plated Jewelry

 

Pure gold doesn’t tarnish and has the most vibrant golden glow of all other purities of gold. When comparing 24k gold side by side with lower purities such as 14k and 10k you can spot the difference immediately. The 24k gold draws your attention and demands your acknowledgement, and quite frankly your respect. However, f 24k pure gold does have an achilles heal. It’s softness ends up being its ultimate downside because damage can occur easily.

 

To combat this softness solid gold is often mixed with other gold alloys which brings the purity of the gold down but the durability up. The lower the karat the less expensive and less valuable the jewelry is. 14k gold is often referred to as an agreed upon standard in the industry and is a nice blend of purity and durability so you can wear it daily without worrying of damage.

 

 

Since solid gold is too expensive for most peoples expendable budgets, people also resort to gold plated jewelry which can resemble solid gold jewelry at a fraction of the price. Gold plated jewelry is created by lining a cheaper base metal such as brass with a thin layer of gold. The layer of gold can be of any karat which impacts the color, glow, and overall impression of the jewelry.

 

However, even 24k gold plated jewelry is not of any significant value because the layer of gold is so thin. In addition, these pieces don’t have the properties of pure gold because the base metal inside tarnishes and the gold on the outside will fade over time. With that being said, for people who want to enjoy the look of gold jewelry and are not interested in it holding value, this inexpensive choice lets almost every budget experience a taste of gold.

 

Balance Of The Two = Gold Filled Jewelry

 

Another type of jewelry which combines the benefits of solid gold vs gold plated jewelry, is ‘Gold Filled’ jewelry. This type of gold jewelry is made of a cheaper metal base covered in a thick layer of gold.

 

This process is completed by melting the actual solid gold to the metal base which creates a more durable and higher percentage gold jewelry item than gold plated. In addition, since it is a thicker layer of gold actually bonded to the metal base it can be more difficult to determine the actual purity.

 

This option is a nice blend between all 3 of the main determining factors in value which include: purity of gold, durability, and price. But even though this type of gold contains a higher percentage than gold plated jewelry, it is nowhere near as valuable as solid gold. If you are every in the market to buy or sell jewelry we always recommend working with professionals and getting a free appraisal before you buy or sell to ensure you get the best price or payout possible.

 

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