| Gold has been sought, utilized and glorified | | | | -Gold-filled: In order for a piece of jewelry to be |
| throughout ancient times, and has found | | | | designated as gold-filled, gold must constitute at |
| innumerable uses in our society today. Highly | | | | least 1/20th of the weight of the piece. Gold-filled |
| valued for purposes ranging from the crafting of | | | | jewelry is comprised of a base metal coated with |
| fine jewelry to circuitry, gold continues to play an | | | | one or more layers of gold that have been |
| integral role in both the culture and advancement | | | | mechanically bonded to the outer surface. |
| of the world today. Alongside the ever increasing | | | | Jewelry that is gold-filled strikes a middle ground |
| uses for gold have evolved varying methods of | | | | between gold plated and solid gold jewelry. |
| crafting this precious metal into gleaming art and | | | | Gold-filled jewelry is enveloped in a significantly |
| jewelry. Some of the methods that have evolved | | | | thicker layer of gold, giving it less tendency to |
| as people have strived to craft durable, affordable | | | | wear over time than its lightly plated counterpart. |
| gold jewelry have spurred the terminology you | | | | For many jewelry consumers, gold-filled jewelry is |
| will undoubtedly encounter when shopping for | | | | a desirable alternative to solid gold jewelry due to |
| jewelry such as gold charms, earrings or eternity | | | | its strength, resistance to tarnish, cost |
| rings. Let us take a look at some of the most | | | | effectiveness and resemblance to solid gold. |
| frequent terms you may encounter when | | | | -Solid Gold: Any jewelry or other article claiming to |
| shopping for gold jewelry—gold plated, | | | | be “solid gold” or “pure gold” must |
| gold-filled and solid gold: | | | | be comprised of 24 karat gold throughout. Solid |
| -Gold Plated: Gold plated jewelry is comprised of a | | | | gold’s resistance to corrosion and enduring |
| metal base with a coating of at least 10 karat | | | | brilliance have made it a desirable metal for |
| gold applied to the outer surface. Gold plated | | | | jewelry and art throughout ancient history. |
| jewelry may be indistinguishable from solid gold | | | | However, the softness of pure gold makes it |
| jewelry to the untrained eye, but gold plated | | | | practical in many situations to mix pure gold with |
| jewelry is only protected by a thin sheet of gold, | | | | other metals, increasing its strength for intricate |
| which has a tendency to wear away with use | | | | jewelry designs and lowering its cost to end |
| over time. Thus, gold plated is not typically the | | | | consumers. Today, gold jewelry usually includes a |
| most desired option for heavily worn jewelry | | | | mark designating its karat weight, with 24 K |
| such as wedding bands and eternity rings. | | | | representing solid gold. |