While gold plated jewelry is usually not an ideal choice, gold filled jewelry can be a high-quality addition to your collection. Gold filled jewelry isn’t created through electroplating, but rather through bonding with heat. Since two or three thick layers of gold cover the base metal inside, the jewelry is protected from tarnishing and discoloration. Authentic gold filled jewelry should have a minimum of 5% gold weight, so make sure the outer gold layer is at least this thick.
Since vermeil pieces are usually created from electroplating and the minimum required gold is much lower, you’ll want to keep this in mind when trying to decide between vermeil and gold filled. Make sure to compare the gold’s karat weight, the thickness of the layer and the quality of the base metal. By looking at the individual qualities of the piece, you’ll be able to determine if it matches your standards. While certain vermeil pieces can tarnish easily, others with thick plating may last as long as a gold filled piece.