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GOLD-FILLED OR GOLD-PLATED?
November 20, 2022
Below I am sharing some information on Gold-Filled Jewelry because you will find pieces that I have made with Gold-Filled material on my site:
Some may think that gold-filled and gold-plated are one and the same – they are not and below is an explanation on Gold-filled and why it has a higher quality than gold-plated.
Gold-Filled: What’s in a Name?
Despite how it sounds, gold-filled metal is not actually filled with gold. “Gold-filled” is simply an age-old term that became accepted in the jewelry industry. Today, gold-filled is a quality designation that’s regulated by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). To merit a “GF” stamp, the material must have a layer of gold that is at least 10-karat mechanically applied to a base metal; the karat gold layer must also be at least 1/20 (5%) of the item’s total weight. All of Rio Grande’s gold-filled products have a 12-karat or a 14-karat gold layer and meet the federal quality standards established by the FTC.
How Gold-Filled is Made and Labeled
Gold-filled is made by heat- and pressure-bonding a thin layer of karat gold to a brass (or other base metal) core. The value of gold-filled is greater than gold-plated because gold-filled has an actual layer of karat gold, not just a microscopic film, as is the case with gold-plated items. The karat gold covering also significantly increases the tarnish resistance of the base metal substrate.
The “14/20” or “12/20” notation refers to the industry shorthand describing the resulting material. The first number is the karat purity of the gold used; the second number is the amount, by weight, of gold to the substrate material. 14/20 gold-filled material is made with 14-karat gold, and the gold represents 1/20th (or 5%) of the total weight of the material. You may occasionally see other notations, too; each will inform you about the material’s make-up.
Working with Gold-Filled Metals
Gold-filled fabrication metals and findings allows a jewelry artist like myself to design with the rich color of gold at a fraction of the cost of solid gold, while offering higher quality than is available from gold-plated pieces.
Storing and Protecting Gold-Filled
When storing your gold-filled jewelry, use tissue paper between each piece to protect against scratches. Which will already be in your package for you when you order from me.
I hope this helps clarify any questions on beautiful gold-filled jewelry!
May I simply say what a relief to uncover somebody that really understands what theyre discussing over the internet. You certainly know how to bring a problem to light and make it important. More and more people really need to check this out and understand this side of the story. I was surprised that youre not more popular because you certainly have the gift.