Handmade from recycled gold

Vermeil

Gold Vermeil Vermeil jewelry – silver plated with gold

Vermeil

Vermeil jewelry resembles pure gold jewelry in appearance, but is significantly less expensive. This is because it consists of a piece of silver jewelry coated with only a thin layer of gold.

Vermeil has specific standards for the materials used – it must be at least 10-karat gold and high-quality sterling silver. Furthermore, all visible surfaces must be gold-plated, with the coating having a thickness of at least 2.5 µm.

Vermeil is available in different shades and qualities depending on the gold alloy used. The most common colors are rose gold, white gold, and yellow gold. Common qualities are 10-karat, 14-karat, and 18-karat gold.

Vermeil jewelry should be cared for carefully to ensure it stays beautiful for a long time and to prevent the underlying sterling silver from becoming visible.

Vermeil and its History

The origins of the vermeil technique go back a long way. Originally, mercury was used to combine gold with silver - this method, which was very common in the past, has long since ceased to be common. An alternative name for this old technique is fire gilding, as the gold was heated and thus combined with the silver. For a long time, not only silver objects, but also copper or bronze were coated with gold in this way. To create the gentle shine that is so sought after with vermeil, a polish is still necessary.

Today, the most common way to produce vermeil is by electroplating.

A collection of Vermeil tableware can be admired in the Vermeil Room on the ground floor of the White House in Washington DC. Matching the warm glow of the Vermeil items, the walls of this room shine in a soft yellow tone.

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Gold Knowledge in the Lexicon

Jewelry Knowledge in the Lexicon