What Is 14k Gold Filled Jewelry
14k Gold filled jewelry is made by bonding 14k gold over a cheaper base metal like brass or copper. This bonded layer is far thicker than gold plated or gold vermeil which provides more durability and gold like properties to the jewelry item. The total weight of gold used is almost 5% of the total weight of the jewelry item.
It is a relatively newer type of gold jewelry which was introduced as an affordable replacement of solid gold jewelry. It provides similar looks to the solid gold but at a very lower price than it.
Gold Filled vs Solid Gold
Before getting into this, we have to understand how solid gold jewelry is made. Pure gold, also known as 24k gold cannot be used for jewelry purpose as it is very soft and malleable. Jewelers use other metals such as copper to mix it with gold and make it more hard and durable. This mixture of gold and other metals is called as gold alloy. That’s why you see gold jewelry in different purities like 14k, 18k and 20k all measured out of 24 parts. For example, 14k gold means that 14 parts of this particular alloy is gold and 10 parts is other metal like copper. Similar goes for 18k where 18 parts out of 24 are of gold.
Gold filled is different from solid gold. If a jewelry piece is made of solid gold, then it will be all gold alloy. However, same thing is not for gold filled. If a gold filled jewelry is made of 14k, it means that 14k gold is bonded over a cheap base metal like brass.
Gold Filled vs Gold Plated vs Gold Vermeil
Main difference among all of these is the thickness of gold layer over the base metal. Gold plated has the thinnest layer of gold in all of these. This layer is of less than a millimeter and will be eroded away if jewelry is fallen on a rough surface. It can also wear off with time pretty quickly. That’s why it is often recommended to re-plate it every 3 to 6 months.
Gold vermeil has a thicker layer of gold which can be around 2.5 millimeters. This layer is little more resistant to scratches and damages but will eventually erode away with time exposing the base metal.
Gold filled jewelry has a much thicker layer of gold compared to the two mentioned above. This never exposes the base metal to atmospheric conditions eliminating the risk of tarnishing. Total weight of the gold should be at least 5% of the total weight of the jewelry. For example, if you buy a gold filled necklace of 20 grams, it should have at least 1 gram of gold as a top layer to be called as gold filled.
Why Use 14k Gold Filled Jewelry
More people can be complaining about gold plating or gold vermeil wearing off too quickly. But on the same time, they dont have the budget of solid gold which can be expensive. This is where gold filled jewelry comes in. It falls in between solid gold and gold plated/gold vermeil. It can be much cheaper than solid gold but much more durable than gold plated or gold vermeil.
Advantages of 14k Gold Filled
14 gold filled jewelry offers many advantages even over 22k gold plated jewelry quality.
1. Affordable
Biggest advantage of gold filled is its affordability. Buyers want looks and properties of solid gold at a much lower price point. This is where gold filled fills the gap. On an average, a solid gold ring can cost up to $300 or more. Same ring made in gold filled can be around $60 to $80.
2. Same Looks as Solid Gold
When it comes to looks, gold filled replicates solid gold. Appearance of a gold filled jewelry item will be much similar to a solid gold which gives you the premium looks of gold at an affordable price.
3. Durable than Gold Plated
Durability of gold plated jewelry can be an issue as it can wear off on any minor damages like scratching or falling on a rough surface. This exposes the base metal and it seems obvious that your jewelry was gold plated but not solid gold.
Gold filled does not expose the base metal on these damages due to greater thickness of gold layer. This does not mean that it will not be scratched or get damaged. It simply means that it will take more damages to expose its base metal. So, you dont have to re-plate it from time to time.
4. Hypoallergenic
Gold filled is completely hypoallergenic. It can be worn can by people with sensitive skins. Gold plated on the other hand, can be
Disadvantages of 14k Gold Filled
14k gold filled also offers some disadvantages which you must be aware of before buying.
1. Low Resale Value
Resale value of a gold filled jewelry compared to solid gold can be a big disadvantage. As it is not made up of all gold alloy, you can expect it to have resale value than solid gold.
But this does not mean that it has a low resale value than gold plated or gold vermeil.
2. Low Availability
Gold filled jewelry does not have a big market size as solid gold jewelry. Due to this, you can expect low number of jewelers dealing in it. Yes, the number can be low but it is enough to create some competition among sellers.
3. Limited Repair Options
As gold filled jewelry is less available in the market, limited repair options can be a problem. And those are dealing in it can charge more than required as competition is far less due to low market size. That’s why it is better to check with your jeweler for repair prices before buying gold filled jewelry.
4. Misleading Scams
Some online as well as offline jewelers might market their gold filled jewelry items as solid gold and trick customers. That’s why it is better to ensure that what are you actually buying and what are you paying for it.
How to Identify Gold Filled Jewelry
Gold filled jewelry comes with its own hallmarks showing that a jewelry item is made of gold filled. Hallmarks or stamps like “14k Gold-Filled” or “14k GF” can be identified on the inner side or back of the jewelry. Here is an example of hallmark of 10k Gold Filled Jewelry.
Should You Buy 14k Gold Filled Jewelry
Buying gold filled jewelry or not is on a buyer’s preferences. If you love to have gold like looks with a low resale value at a much lower cost than solid gold, then gold filled jewelry can be a good choice. Contrary, if you are interested in high resale value easy repairs and maintenance, then solid gold can be the best option.