Which Is Better for Your Jewelry:
 Gold Filled or Solid Gold?

 

Have you ever wondered if your gold jewelry is genuine gold? People frequently confuse gold filled jewelry with real solid gold. If you've ever seen gold-filled jewelry, you'll know how difficult it is to tell them apart. This article will answer the most common questions about gold filled jewelry and determine which is better for your jewelry: gold filled or solid gold.

 

What Exactly Is Gold-Filled Jewelry? Is Gold Filled Genuine Gold?

Those looking for longevity and durability prefer gold filled jewelry over solid gold. Because gold filled jewelry contains very little gold, it is less expensive and more accessible to a wider range of people.

Gold filled jewelry is created by fusing real gold to a base metal. This gives it the look of genuine gold. The fusion process involves applying a great deal of heat and pressure to the jewelry so that the gold sits on top of the base metal. A gold-filled piece is usually more durable than a gold-plated piece.

The gold filled jewelry will have some markings or stamps on it. The most common are 1/20 12kt GF and 1/20 14kt GF, and they represent the karat value of the gold used as well as the overall quality of the gold filled jewelry.

The amount of actual gold used is one distinction between gold filled and gold plated jewelry. Real gold accounts for approximately 5% of the total weight of gold filled jewelry. The gold layer on such jewelry is also 5 to 10 times thicker than the gold layer on gold plated jewelry.

 

Is gold-filled jewelry a good investment?

You will notice that gold filled jewelry outlasts solid gold jewelry. The reason for this is straightforward. As the base metal for gold filled jewelry, a strong core metal such as sterling silver or brass is used. The genuine gold has been fused to the top surface. The overall jewelry is stronger and more durable than solid gold jewelry because the core is strong.

Because of its soft nature, solid gold jewelry is prone to dents and scratches. This is not the case with gold-filled jewelry. Furthermore, some people experience skin allergies and discomfort when they wear pure gold jewelry. This can also help you tell the difference between gold-filled and solid-gold jewelry.

 

What exactly is solid gold jewelry?

Did you know that the gold used in solid gold jewelry is not pure gold? It is almost always a combination of gold and other metals. Gold in its purest form is extremely soft and malleable, making it unsuitable for intricately designed jewelry. Pure gold is also easily scratched, dented, or damaged.

Also, did you know that pure gold is not yellow? It has an overly bright orange color that isn't associated with fine jewelry. The addition of other metals strengthens the gold. It imparts the various shades of golden color that we have come to associate with gold jewelry.

 

How do we determine the purity of gold?

Gold purity is measured in karats. This system can measure the ratio of pure gold to secondary metals used in the alloying process.

There are various types of gold comes, each with a different karat value. You've probably heard of 10K, 14K, 18K, and 24K gold. The letter 'K' in these values stands for karat, which denotes the purity of the gold.

The numbers 10, 14, 18, and 24 indicate how many parts gold there are to other metals in the mixture. As a result, gold jewelry bears the purity stamp, allowing anyone to determine its karat value.

The more gold there is in your piece, the more expensive it will be. Contrary to popular belief, it will also be the least durable due to its higher proportion of pure gold and lower proportion of more durable alloy metals.

 

How do I tell the difference between Gold Filled and Solid Gold?

Simply looking at the gold markings on the jewelry will reveal the difference between gold filled and solid gold. Solid gold jewelry will have stamps such as "10K," "14K," or "22K" on the surface. This is due to the fact that the karat value of gold is critical in the case of pure gold jewelry. In some countries, particularly in Europe, values such as "0.75", "750," or "75%" may be stamped on jewelry. Don't be perplexed. These figures also represent the amount of gold in the jewelry. So "0.75" is a piece of 18K gold.

Gold filled markings, on the other hand, must have two values: The first is the karat value, which is the same as that of genuine gold jewelry, such as "14K," "18K," and so on. The letter "GF" is another mark that must be present on all gold filled jewelry. So, if a piece of jewelry bears the stamp-like "14K GF," you can assume it is gold filled.

On jewelry, you might see "RGP" instead of "GF." This code denotes "Rolled Gold Plate," which is similar to gold filled jewelry but contains less real gold.

 

What if there are no markings or if the markings are illegible?

Be wary of con artists and jewelers who may try to dupe you. They sometimes leave out the "GF" or "RGP" markings on the jewelry and sell it as real gold.

A piece of gold jewelry may or may not have any stamps or markings. If possible, avoid dealing with such jewelry.

However, you can still tell whether the jewelry is solid gold or gold filled.

The acid test can be used to distinguish between gold filled and solid gold.

To perform an acid test, make a small scratch on the item's surface. The nitric acid test will be easily passed if the gold filled jewelry has a thick gold layer.

However, use caution when performing the acid test because a deep cut into the jewelry may cause extensive damage.

Assume there is any indication that the vendor guarantees that the gold surface of the piece will be suitable for a limited number of years, which is likely. In that case, the piece is not made of pure gold.

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