Everyone knows what gold is (expensive!) and many know what gold plated is (rubs off!), but gold filled? Until I entered the jewelry making world, I had never heard of it.
According to Wikipedia,
“Gold-filled jewelry is composed of a solid layer of gold, which must constitute at least 5% of the item's total weight, mechanically bonded to sterling silver or a base metal. … Gold-filled items are 50 to 100,000 times thicker than regular gold plating.”
According to the article, “Gold-filled items, even with daily wear, can last 5 to 30 years”.
You know what the greatest thing about gold filled jewelry is? It looks the same as gold jewelry, but costs a fraction of the price.
So here’s the breakdown of the things you need to know about gold filled jewelry:
- It contains at least 5% actual gold, a LOT more than gold plated jewelry.
- It costs a lot less than gold jewelry.
- It looks like gold for a long, long time before starting to rub off. Depending on how often it’s worn and in what conditions, it might not rub off in your lifetime.
If you like gold but are hesitant to buy real gold jewelry, don’t ever get the gold plated version; get gold filled! You’ll be happier in the long run :)
Read the Wikipedia article on gold filled here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold-filled_jewelry
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