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% เงินบริสุทธิ์และ 7.5% other materials, and is a standard material used in high quality jewelry (versus, เช่น, ทองเหลืองหรือทองแดง).
2. Be plated in gold that is at least 10k (10 karats). That means the gold is at least 41.7% เนื้อหาทองคำ.
3. Have gold plating that is at least 2.5 ไมครอนหนา. A micron is 1/1000th of a millimeter.
Put another way, vermeil pieces are made with precious materials กับ การชุบหนัก to ensure long-lasting wear.