Is Your Jewelry Good As Gold? A Guide to Gold-Plated vs Gold-Filled Materials
Here at Go Rings, we’re obsessed with making excellent jewelry in an excellent way.
A lot of brands are committed to selling ethically-made products, but don’t necessarily focus on the quality of the materials they’re using. We’re passionate about both how it’s made and what it’s made of.
Our collection was made to be your everyday, never-take-it-off, lasts-for-years kind of jewelry. This starts with our choice of materials.
We choose 14k Gold-Filled materials for just about everything we make. We love Gold-Filled jewelry because it’s reasonably priced, keeps its integrity for years, is easy to care for, and doesn’t mess with your skin.
Some FAQ's about Gold-Filled Jewelry:
What does 14k Gold-Filled mean?
It means that there’s a certain amount of pure gold in the jewelry. Legally, pure gold has to make up at least 5% of the alloy by weight. This thick outer layer of gold surrounds a brass core, making the metal super durable and safe for people with allergies or sensitive skin.
So how is that different from gold-plated jewelry?
There’s a lotttt more pure gold in Gold-Filled jewelry. Gold-Plated jewelry typically contains about .05% pure gold, making it more of a thin film than a substantial component of the metal - it will wear off over a short amount of time.
What’s the best way to care for Gold-Filled jewelry?
This is one reason why we love it! Gold-filled jewelry doesn’t really take much maintenance. You can use a mild soap and water mixture with a soft toothbrush or rag to clean gold-filled jewelry, restoring its shine.
Can Gold-Filled jewelry tarnish?
Technically, yes. Does it? Rarely - it takes a pretty wild set of circumstances to tarnish. Because of the thick outer layer of gold, gold-filled jewelry will usually last many years, if not a lifetime, while keeping its integrity.
Will it react with my skin?
Long story short: Probably not. It is possible, though! We have only seen it happen a few times in 6 years of business.
Short Story Long: If the thick gold outer layer wears off, your skin could be exposed to metals that you react with. Everyone’s body chemistry is different! If your skin reacts to metals, it usually doesn’t hurt – it just turns black or green.
The alloys in gold-filled jewelry that can corrode are silver and copper based, which can form dark chemical compounds under moist conditions… aka sweaty hands and humidity. When you sweat, fats and fatty acids are released which can cause corrosion on your gold-filled ring. Chlorine can also play a role in discoloration, eating away at gold and the alloys under some circumstances.
