What is gold vermeil and how to look after it

If you’re looking for a brand new piece of gold jewellery, you have several options.

As well as solid gold jewellery, you can buy gold vermeil jewellery. On first impressions, you may think solid gold jewellery is the best option. However, gold vermeil can be a fantastic way to get a hard-wearing piece of jewellery at an affordable price.

All the plated jewellery we sell at Wild Horse Club is vermeil. This means you’re guaranteed exceptional quality and a beautiful piece of jewellery that is bound to turn heads.

What is gold vermeil jewellery?

Gold vermeil (pronounced ‘vermay’) consists of a silver piece of jewellery with a layer of gold bonded on top.

At Wild Horse Club, we use solid 925 sterling silver as a base for all our gold vermeil jewellery. This is because it’s hypoallergenic, durable and can be replated time and time again.

Vermeil is the next best thing to a solid gold piece. When you put our solid gold necklace and gold vermeil necklace together, you’ll be hard-pushed to identify which is which.

Is gold-plated jewellery the same as gold vermeil?

Many people think gold-plated jewellery and gold vermeil are interchangeable terms for the same thing. However, this is not the case.

While gold vermeil jewellery uses silver as a base, gold plated jewellery can use any metal. For example, many cheaper gold plated necklaces use brass or copper, meaning you get that green stain on your skin.

To be legally called gold vermeil, the gold layer has to have a minimum thickness of 2.5 microns. To compare and contrast, gold-plated jewellery has a minimum thickness of 0.5 microns.

While all plated jewellery will wear over time, gold vermeil takes longer to do so, meaning your jewellery will look stunning for longer.

How to look after gold vermeil jewellery

Gold vermeil will wear over time. While it lasts longer than standard gold-plated jewellery, it will eventually tarnish.

This is because the molecules in the silver base metal eventually migrate into the gold layer and react with moisture in the air. This means your vermeil jewellery darkens and loses its shine.

This isn’t a sign of poor quality – it’s a natural occurrence.

Vermeil jewellery can be replated. This is when a fresh layer of gold is applied to the silver, giving the jewellery a new lease of life. The good news is because sterling silver is so durable, it can be replated several times.

At Wild Horse Club, we’d be happy to replate your gold vermeil for you. Just tell us about your jewellery, and we can provide you with a quote.

There are also several things you can do to extend the life of your gold vermeil jewellery. 

• Store your jewellery in a cool, dry place, away from other jewellery that might rub against it
• Clean your jewellery with a soft microfibre cloth. If you need to wash it, use lukewarm water and liquid soap
• Never use an ultrasonic cleaner on your jewellery as the currents could damage the bond between the gold and silver
• Take your jewellery off before swimming, bathing, and showering, as well as washing your hands
• Wipe down your jewellery with a soft cloth after wearing it – this will keep it clean
• Minimise contact with perfume, makeup, and moisturiser
• Don’t wear your jewellery to the gym

If you want to know more or have any questions about how we use gold vermeil, please get in touch.