Accessorizing jewelry has been coming for centuries. The style has transitioned a lot through the centuries. It is a symbol of religion and culture for many people. Not only that, jewelry shows a person’s status and rank. Jewellery is to express oneself and give a finishing touch to the attire whether it is a small earring a bracelet or a necklace jewelry always has a special place among humans.
Gold-plated Jewellery and solid gold are two options that you can invest in. But you need to know about them. Choosing between two is a personal preference, budget, and usage. Gold jewelry is versatile and they sparkle with your outfit. They are best for timeless and better investment. In this article, we will explain the difference between gold-plated jewelry and gold-filled jewelry.
Introduction to Gold-Plated Jewelry
Gold-plated jewelry is those pieces where a thin layer is applied onto the surface of another metal another metal can be silver or copper the thin layer is either 18-carat or 14-carat which depends on the manufacturers or the retailer.
Introduction to Solid Gold
Solid gold is the most used product between people. They are quite blingy. They are precious metals and are symbols of luxury, wealth, and prosperity. solid gold is valuable and is loaded with beauty, durability, and rarity. Gold is not mixed with any other metals; it is the purest form that you can find. A solid gold is 24 carats, below that a slight mixture of copper is done with 22-carat gold. As they are most pure, they are expensive too.
How to Spot the Differences Between Gold Plated vs Solid Gold Jewelery?
Before investing in solid gold jewellery or gold-plated jewellery it's necessary to understand their difference. Firstly, solid gold jewellery is of higher quality and expensive too. Solid gold jewelry can be determined by looking at the Hallmark or carrot stamp upon the solid gold jewelry. The stamp shows the percentage of purity of gold in that piece.
However, the gold-plated jewelry is not as pure as solid gold. They have a base metal where a layer of gold is given. It is comparatively less expensive and can wear off over time. Here also you can check the authenticity of the piece by looking at the base metal. If it is tarnished or discolored then it has a gold plating.
Magnetism is another way to spot the differences between solid gold and gold-plated jewelry. As we all pure gold is nonmagnetic whereas gold in gold jewelry has some magnetic properties due to the plating underneath.
The acid test is yet another method to know the originality of both. A small amount of nitric acid if applied to the jewelry, its gold content will be determined. And finally, we have a scratch test where you need to scratch the jewelry on a porcelain wall. If it wears off then it is not pure gold, whereas in gold-plated jewelry discoloration may happen. There are various other methods to check the purity of the gold.
Conclusion
In conclusion, selecting the correct type of gold jewelry can be your personal choice, budget and style. The jewelry which has pure gold may be expensive but it is undoubtedly a better option to invest in as you will retain its value over time. For daily wear, one can go for a gold-plated accessory which also adds bling to your attire. Whatever the choice is, choose it wisely.