One question that is often asked is what is the difference between gold-filled and gold-plated? 

Well I will start by saying that not all “gold” is created equal.

THE MAIN DIFFERENCE is that GOLD-FILLED contains more GOLD 

& can get wet.

Before I started C.Dahl Jewelry I would look online on the top big retail stores and always come across gold-plated or solid gold jewelry. It didn't seem that too many of them carried gold-filled jewelry, so it’s easy to assume that gold-plated is the second best option to solid gold, which is actually not true. 

Gold-plating or sometimes confused with gold overlay has a significantly lower amount of gold compared to gold filled. During the process of gold-plating, a base metal is coated with a thin layer of gold (or gold-colored alloy) film by electroplating. The amount of actual gold is minuscule and usually around .5 micron which is why gold-plated jewelry does not hold up long in heat, water, etc. Gold-plated jewelry is more prone to tarnishing and flaking off.  Although some pieces/parts of jewelry such as select pendants and gold dipped stones and certain chains may only have the option of gold plating due to the nature of the material that the gold is bonded to. When we create jewelry with gold-plating, we always make sure that it is priced fairly.

Here at C.Dahl Jewelry the majority of our jewelry is made from Gold Filled chains and components for their incredible quality & durability. 

Gold Filled Jewelry has at least 100 times more amount of gold than gold-plated jewelry.

 

The process of making gold-filled jewelry is by taking a layer of actual gold and bonding it to a base metal with intense heat and pressure. Gold filled jewelry is legally required to contain at least 5% or 1/20 gold by weight. It also has a very similar appearance to solid 14K gold jewelry and is a fraction of the price.

Gold filled jewelry is very durable and will not flake, peel or wear off. Gold filled jewelry can tarnish from the oils in your skin but can easily be cleaned up by simply washing with warm water and a gentle dish soap and then finishing off by gently wiping with a polishing cloth (we recommend ‘Sunshine Brand’)

So, next time you are looking to buy a piece of jewelry, you may want to find out just what you are buying. Be careful of sellers/shops that offer “gold-filled” jewelry at a very low price, because more often than not - you may actually be getting gold-plated jewelry instead.

 We have also seen quite a few jewelry brands sell a gold-plated version of a similar piece we offer in gold-filled at a much higher price. 

Bottom line - always do your research if you want long lasting jewelry and don’t be afraid to reach out to a shop directly with any questions prior to purchasing.

Thanks for reading!

- Cami