This term means that multiple layers of solid, 14k gold have been securely pressure-bonded to a core of high quality jeweler’s brass. The US strictly regulates this industry standard, requiring 1/20th or 5% gold by weight in all pieces considered ‘gold fill’ or ‘gold filled”. Gold filled is the industry leader for affordable, high quality, heirloom jewelry.
It’s much better-- gold fill jewelry contains literally 100x more gold than plated pieces. Gold plating is paper thin and often chips or wears through after a few uses, revealing the fast-tarnishing base metal underneath. In contrast, the thick gold layer on gold filled pieces is securely bonded to its core, ensuring that your jewelry remains in pristine condition for many years of regular wear.
Nope! The term ‘gold filled’ means that a piece is 1/20th or 5% gold by volume, as opposed to 100% in a solid gold piece. And we'll let you in on a secret- even ‘solid gold’ pieces aren’t pure gold! Gold in its purest form is far too soft to make practical jewelry- it can very easily be bent and scratched. Instead, alloys that we know as 10k, 14k, 18k, etc are used to create real gold pieces that can stand up to daily wear.
Quality vs cost: In our experience, using solid gold instead of gold fill raises price more than it raises quality. With proper care and storage, your gold filled pieces will be with you through decades of love and wear.
Wearability: Unlike gold plated fashion accessories, gold filled jewelry will remain stunning and bright with minimal care. On the flip side, you don’t have to be afraid to wear it… unlike your grandma’s heirloom fine diamond brooch.
Sustainability: Gold filled scrap can be easily recycled… and we make sure that happens. Furthermore, we hope that by creating pieces that last, we can keep trendy fast fashion pieces from ending up in the landfill.
Almost definitely not. ALL of our jewelry is nickel free, and the thick layer of gold on gold filled pieces makes it safe for sensitive skin. However, everyone’s individual skin chemistry is different, and a small number (less than 1%) of wearers will experience slight skin discoloration or tarnishing.