What Is 14k Gold Filled Jewelry
14k Gold filled meaning is jewelry that is made by coating 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.
In this article we’ll cover what does gold filled mean, what does 14 gf mean, how is it different from other forms of gold and should you buy it?
What does Gold Filled mean?
So, what does gold filled jewelry mean? Gold filled is a relatively newer type of gold jewelry which was introduced as an affordable replacement of solid gold jewelry. It has gold coating over a base metal like sterling silver or copper. This gold coating is about 25 to 30 micrometers which protects base metal from tarnishing. Whole purpose of this type of jewelry is to have gold alike looks at a very low cost.
Gold filled is also called as gold bonded. Gold bonded meaning is same as gold filled. Other names of 14k gold filled are 14 gf, 14kgf and 14k gold gf.
Is 14k Gold Real?
Yes, 14k gold is real. It is an alloy of gold being extensively used in jewelry. It provides the optimum balance between hardness and gold’s shine.
How much Gold is in 14k Gold?
14K gold means that 14 out of 24 parts of the alloy are made of pure gold. In other words, 58.5 percent of 14k jewelry is made of gold and remaining 41.5 percent is any other metal like silver or copper.
Does Gold Filled Tarnish?
No, gold filled does not tarnish. Main cause of tarnishing is copper part of sterling silver, which is protected by gold coating. This gold coating never allows base metal to react with atmospheric gases, so no chances of tarnishing.
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 Jewelry 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.
Is Gold Plated Real Gold?
Yes, gold plated is real gold. However, it is just a very thin layer of gold and is worthless.
Is 14k Gold Plated Real?
Yes, 14k gold plated is real. All it means is that a jewelry is plated with 14 karat gold.
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 don’t 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.
Common FAQ’s about 14K Gold Filled Jewelry
Here are some common FAQ’s about 14k gold filled jewelry.
1. Is Yellow gold real Gold?
Yes, yellow gold is real and is one of the alloy of gold. It is made by combining pure with copper. Other alloys are white gold and rose gold.
2. What gold Jewelry does not tarnish?
Jewelry made with 14 karat or above does not tarnish.
3. 18k Gold Filled vs 14k Gold filled – Which is better?
18 karat gold filled is better as it is pure and will shine more than 14 karat gold filled.