Vermeil (pronounced vehr-may; it’s French!) is a legally regulated term that refers to a certain kind of quality jewelry. To be legally called “vermeil” internationally, the jewelry piece must meet ALL of these conditions:
1. Have sterling silver as its base material. Sterling silver is an alloy made of 92.5% argent pur et 7.5% other materials, and is a standard material used in high quality jewelry (contre, Par exemple, brass or copper).
2. Be plated in gold that is at least 10k (10 carats). That means the gold is at least 41.7% teneur en or.
3. Have gold plating that is at least 2.5 microns d'épaisseur. A micron is 1/1000th of a millimeter.
Put another way, vermeil pieces are made with precious materials avec placage lourd to ensure long-lasting wear.