14K vs Gold plated, gold vermeil and gold filled

Jewelry should be worn everyday and for every occasion, but what happens when your finger starts turning green under that cute ring? We are all guilty of making that purchase that we only got to wear once because after a little water, or a long day our finger didn’t look so cute.

Durability should be something that comes with all jewelry we invest in.  A jewelry piece can quickly become a heirloom with sometimes more sentimental value than monetary value to us.  And for durability that lasts forever, 14k solid gold is the best option.  Though gold vermeil, gold plated and filled can be more budget friendly options, they usually won’t last as long as we’d wish they would. 

14k gold is the most durable but yet still accessible price point.  It can be worn all day and night and will not tarnish with repeated wear.  It is a perfect high standard of gold and therefore the most popular grade of gold, containing a mix of alloy and 58.5% gold.  With this grade of gold you get the best gold hue and perfect resistance making it long lasting after everyday wear.

Other forms of metals such as gold vermeil are made up of a silver jewelry piece with a thin layer of gold, causing it to not keep its color and to lose the gold layer over time.  Gold plated describes a piece made copper or brass layered with less than 1% of gold, a similar technique to gold vermeil, which also creates a product that won’t stand the test of time.  Lastly, gold filled contains a thicker layer of gold in comparison to gold vermeil or gold plated but still is put together with copper or brass and will tarnish over time.  

At Frava quality and durability go hand in hand, which is why we have always compromised to deliver only the best of materials when creating jewelry pieces for you that will last generations to come.