Is Gold Plated Real Gold? | Why Solid Gold Jewelry Lasts

The terms used in the jewelry industry can be confusing. You just want to buy a piece of quality jewelry that will look great and last for many years, but you are confronted with too much jargon and marketing-speak to make sense of what you should purchase.

One term you’ve surely seen is “gold plated jewelry”. What does that mean? Is it the same as gold jewelry? Is this type of jewelry worth your money, and how well will it hold up over time?

There are more questions than answers. But don’t worry! Everything you need to know about gold plated jewelry is below, so give us just a couple minutes of your time and this topic will suddenly be crystal clear.

What is Gold Plated Jewelry?

Gold plated jewelry is a term used to describe pieces that are made from another base metal – such as brass or sterling silver – and then coated with a thin layer of real gold.

A technique called electroplating is used to attach this outer layer to the piece and make it look like gold (at least for a while). The plating is often just 2 microns thick, or even thinner. For comparison, a single human hair is roughly 70 microns thick, on average. This means the gold plated layer on top of the jewelry, is very, very thin. 

Is Gold Plated Considered Real Gold?

At this point, we get into a bit of semantics. Is gold plated real gold? Is a gold plated chain the same as a real gold chain? That depends on your definition of “real” in this context.

Yes, the gold that is used for the gold plating is real. But most people would agree that a piece of gold plated jewelry shouldn’t be called gold jewelry. It’s not the same thing. Most of the piece is made up of a different, cheaper material, with only an extremely thin layer on the exterior, causing the piece to appear gold in color.

It’s important to pay attention to the terms you see attached to various pieces of jewelry, as they can indicate exactly what you are dealing with on a potential purchase.

Even if an item is called “gold jewelry”, that could still mean that it is only gold plated. In some cases, you might see the words “gold-tone”, which typically means there isn’t any real gold used at all, even on the exterior.

If you want the real thing, look for the word “solid” or a term like “14k gold” as a starting point. These terms can’t legally be used unless the piece of jewelry is legitimately made from gold all the way through. For example, when you look at our 14K gold bracelets, you can know exactly what you are getting, and you can be sure the quality will be exceptional.

How Gold Plated Jewelry Compares to Solid Gold

As you can probably guess by this point, gold plated jewelry doesn’t really hold a candle to the real thing. Sure, it looks similar when brand new, but the curtain will soon be pulled back and you’ll start to see these pieces for what they are. Let’s look at three important ways that gold plated jewelry comes up far short of solid gold.

Durability and Wear Over Time

This is a big one. It may take just a few wears for a piece of gold plated jewelry to start to fade. The super-thin coating of gold on the outside will wear off, or even chip, and it will quickly look like a cheap imitation of the real thing.

By contrast, solid gold will look good for decades with only minimal maintenance. That’s because it’s the same thing all the way through, so there is no outer layer to wear off and expose what’s beneath.

Skin Sensitivity and Allergies

The metal that is hiding beneath the gold veneer on a plated piece of jewelry is more likely to cause skin irritation or allergic reactions than the gold itself. So, when the gold layer wears off to reveal something like copper or nickel, you my start to experience issues like a rash or green discoloration on your skin.

This is another potential problem you get to avoid with the use of real gold jewelry instead. It’s hypoallergenic and a safe choice to come into contact with your skin. You can feel good about wearing our solid 14k gold chains, gold link chains, or anything else we offer.

Cost vs. Long-Term Value

We can’t deny that gold plated jewelry costs less than real solid gold jewelry to purchase. If you are looking for the lowest possible purchase price for something that looks like gold, you might be tempted to go in that direction.

But think twice before actually spending your money. That piece of gold plated jewelry that you might purchase could only last a few wears before you are no longer happy with how it looks. Then what? You’ll be right back out buying another new piece.

By the time you replace your cheaper gold plated pieces a few times over the years, you would have been better off just buying the real thing in the first place. Solid gold doesn’t wear out, will hold its value over time, and can even be passed down through generations. It’s easily the better choice when it comes to value.

How to Tell If Jewelry is Gold Plated, Gold Filled, or Solid Gold

When buying new jewelry, look carefully at the information provided with each piece and only buy from respected dealers. That will ensure you get exactly what you pay for on the purchase.

But what if you already own some jewelry and want to know if it is gold plated or solid gold? Start by looking for any stamps on the pieces. If you see “GP”, that means it’s gold plated. On the other hand, a marking like “14K” or “24K” will speak to the use of solid gold.

You can also just evaluate the piece and figure out if it is real all the way through. Real gold jewelry feels heavier in your hand than gold plated items. It also has a consistent tone to the color, even as it wears over time.

Why Goldmania Only Sells Solid Gold Jewelry

So, with so many options for gold plated pieces out there that could technically be added to our collection, why do we limit our business to selling just real solid gold jewelry?

It all comes down to quality. Our mission is to serve our customers with quality pieces that are going to deliver value and stand the test of time. And we just don’t think the gold plated jewelry aligns with that mission. Solid gold jewelry represents the kind of lasting value that we want our customers to enjoy on every purchase.

Shop Solid Gold Jewelry That Lasts

When you add it all up, solid gold jewelry is the only way to go. Of course, that’s all you’ll find here at Goldmania, so you are already in the right spot to expand your jewelry collection with pieces that will last a lifetime.

Whether it’s a beautiful new necklace, a stunning pair of earrings, or anything else you find on our site, the value you receive will never be in question. Spend your money with confidence and Goldmania and grow your selection of solid gold pieces one investment at a time. We look forward to your order!