what is gold filled jewellery?

It’s really important to me that my jewellery is well-made and durable and made from high quality materials. I also want to keep my jewellery as affordable as possible - which is why all of the metal components that I use are sterling silver or gold filled.

What does ‘gold filled’ mean?

Gold filled = gold + brass; gold mechanically bonded onto a core of solid brass. You could think of it as shorthand for ‘gold filled with brass’!

By law, gold filled components must contain at least 5% gold by weight. Gold filled jewellery is usually made with 12K or 14K gold - the chains, hoops, and jump rings that I use are all 14K gold.

What does 14K mean?

K = carat. The higher the carat, the purer the gold: 24K is the highest and means the gold is entirely pure, and not mixed with any other metals. 24K gold is very soft (and expensive!) and not usually used for everyday jewellery as it can be bent out of shape and easily scratched.

All other carats - 18K, 14K, 12K, etc - are gold mixed with other metals.

What’s the difference between gold filled and gold plated jewellery?

The difference between gold filled and gold plated jewellery basically comes down to the amount of gold used: gold filled jewellery must contain at least 5% gold, while gold plated uses only a very very small amount of gold - often less than 0.05%.

This means that gold plated jewellery can tarnish, peel, and flake quite quickly, as the microscopic gold layer wears down and exposes the brass underneath.

Since gold filled jewellery has a much thicker layer of gold, it is much more durable and, with a little bit of care, will last you for years and years.

Does gold filled jewellery tarnish?

The only gold jewellery that doesn’t tarnish is jewellery made from 24K gold, which is the only type of jewellery that is pure gold and unmixed with other metals.

All other carats of gold are mixed and susceptible to tarnishing. You can prevent tarnishing by keeping your gold filled jewellery away from cosmetics (including hairspray, perfume, and sun tan lotion) and storing it safely when you’re not wearing it.

How can I clean gold filled jewellery?

You don’t need any special equipment or tools to clean gold filled jewellery: a clean, soft cotton or microfibre cloth is perfect for regular wiping to get rid of any buildup of grease or grime. For a more intensive clean, you can use a soft toothbrush and mild, soapy water - and make sure you dry your jewellery thoroughly afterwards.