The Gilded Guide to Gold Finishes: In Plain English!!!

Darling All

At Baroque Rocks, we thought it high time for a little “Knowledge Drop!”  As Gold prices have risen enormously the quest to get the ‘Gold fix’ without the steep investment of buying actual GOLD means the market will see a sharp rise in alternatives in the form of: Silver Gilt, Gold Vermeil, Gold Plate, and Gold Tone - with renewed interest in Rolled Gold to boot!  And the question we keep being asked is what does this jewelled jargon actually mean?  

Whilst we adore bedecking you marvellous Magpies in treasure, we’re equally obsessed with adding a little shimmer to your IQ.  After all, knowledge is the ultimate accessory darlings!  We want you to know exactly what you’re slipping onto that jewel-stacked finger, dangling from those perfectly curated lobes, or draping across your décolletage.  Because unless its Gold Glorious Gold when it comes to ‘Gold Finishes’ not all that glitters is created equal.  So herewith our golden guide decoded and demystified! 

1. Silver Gilt (also known as Gilded Silver or Gold Plated Silver)

Silver Gilt is the elegant cousin so to speak of solid Gold in that it’s solid Sterling Silver (also known as 925) at heart topped with a layer of Gold - typically with a finesse of 375 (9K) and if stated 750 (18K).  The Gold layer does not usually exceed 2 microns in thickness.  Effectively you are getting real Silver beneath the Gold and not some mystery metal.  

And here’s the clever bit Magpies: because Silver is a Precious Metal*, it’s essentially asset-backed — just like Gold.  It holds real value and it can be “smelted” (melted down) or sold as Bullion**, depending on the current scrap Silver price.  The plus sides of buying Silver Gilt treasures are various: you get the golden look for a fraction of the price of solid Gold and its relatively robust together with holding intrinsic value!! Affordable, fabulous, and smart!  

*Precious Metals: Gold, Silver, Platinum, Palladium, Rhodium, Ruthenium, Iridium, and Osmium

**Bullion: refers to precious metals in their raw, uncoined form—a physical asset valued solely for its purity and weight. It holds intrinsic worth and is a preferred choice for investors.

2. Gold Vermeil 

Gold Vermeil (pronounced ver-may) is similar to Silver Gilt, in that the piece must be Sterling Silver at its core and has a layer of Gold on top!! Essentially, it’s a “Frenchism,” and interestingly the term ‘Gold Vermeil’ is not actually sanctioned under the UK Hallmarking Act of 1973.  According to some sources, though there are no actual regulations on this, Gold Vermeil uses a thicker layer of Gold at 2.5 microns than with Silver Gilt which uses 2 microns.  Advantages are the same as above, durability and beautifully asset backed.  But let’s face it the word ‘Vermeil’ does add a soupçon of sartorial je ne sais quoi!

What are Microns?

Gold plating is measured in microns, which tells you how much Gold is actually layered on.  A micron is one-millionth of a metre (tiny, we know — but Gold dust Magpies is actually big business in the Bullion world).

• Gold Plated usually ranges from 0.5 to 1 micron — thin and prone to fading if over-loved.
• Silver Gilt must be legally 2 microns under the UK Hallmarking Act and is durable
• Gold Vermeil apparently at least 2.5 microns, and again provides a durable finish
• Heavy Gold Plated or Luxury Plated might hit 3+ microns — a more luxe feel without crossing into solid gold territory.

So yes, more microns equals more longevity. But as always, how you wear, store, and care for your jewels matters just as much as what they’re made of.

3. Gold Plated 

Gold Plate is the high street’s literal hero.  It’s created by applying a thin layer of Gold (we are talking mere microns) over a base metal — usually Brass or Copper.  It looks fabulous and often is marvellously priced, but here’s the catch: because the Gold content is minimal and the base metal isn’t a precious one (unlike Gold or Silver), it doesn’t hold much long-term value.  Added to which as the layer of Gold is so thin, it can rub off with sweat, water and overuse rendering the piece almost unwearable. 

4. Rolled Gold or Gold Filled

Rolled Gold is old-school glamour in that it became popular in Victorian times and continued to be produced into the 1970s.  It’s made by pressure-bonding a thick layer of Gold to a base metal, usually brass. Thicker than plating, thinner than solid gold — but known for durability.

5. Gold Tone: 

Gold tone describes jewellery that captures the shimmer of gold without containing an ounce of it.  Normally fashioned from base metals like Brass or Copper and are finished with a golden-coloured coating which is applied through painting or chemical treatment.  Though they shine with the glamour of Gold, they carry none of its intrinsic worth or lasting strength. Think beauty without bullion. NB: No real Gold is used!

6. Snapshot of Gold Finishes: 

So, whether it’s gilded, vermeil-ed, rolled, plated, or toned you now have the golden “Know How!” Some finishes shine purely for fashion’s sake, while others—like Silver Gilt, Gold Vermeil and even Rolled Gold offer a blend of beauty and lasting value. And as we like to proffer: be you, be unique, be Baroque Rocks!

Stay sparkling!

With love from Emma and the Baroque Rocks Team

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