Precious Metals Part Two: Gold Vermeil

Did you know there was a difference in your gold covered jewellery? I’ve got a few interesting secrets to tell you.

Generally gold covered jewellery pieces will fall into two categories, standard flash-plating or ‘Vermeil’ which is French and pronounced “ver-MAY”.

Most large retail jewellers use a thin plating method. It’s cheap to produce and the profit margins are high. They use electroplating which essentially is quickly dipping the jewellery piece in a bath of dissolved gold ions. An electrical current causes the gold to chemically bond to the jewellery which is often constructed of a base metal like brass. copper, or zinc. Skyrocketing gold prices, fast-fashion, and cheap Internet ‘buy anything’ stores favour a standard flash-plating method.

Plating is measured in microns. Under 0.5 microns is standard flash plating.

Over 2.5 microns is known as VERMEIL. It can be 5-15 times THICKER and 3-5 times more expensive to manufacture. It gives your jewellery a vastly longer lifespan. It also MUST use .925 sterling silver as its core which is not only more valuable but also renders the piece hypoallergenic.

It’s legally mandated by trade standards that it can’t be called vermeil unless it’s thicker than 2.5 microns.

Ashlocks ® Keepsake Jewellery is ALL minimum 3 microns!

We are a fine jewellery brand and believe our pendants should reflect the love and respect required for a memorial to your loved one.

Feel free to contact us anytime if you have questions regarding our memorial jewellery. We are here for you.