What is Vermeil?

Typically, vermeil is a type of gold-finished material that is composed of a thick layer of gold over solid sterling silver. Industry standards dictate that the gold portion must be 10 karats or above for a piece to be considered vermeil in the U.S., but most high-quality pieces are 14, 18, or 24 karats depending on the thickness of the jewelry.

The thickness of the gold portion is what really sets vermeil jewelry apart from simple gold plated pieces. The thickness of the gold portion must be a hefty 2 microns.

If you want to build a collection of high-quality jewelry without the pure gold price tag, gold vermeil is a fantastic option.

Vermeil usually looks like gold to the naked eye, making it a great alternative for those who can’t afford pure gold jewelry. You can also shine it up to give it a beautiful gloss, or leave it to tarnish for a vintage look.

Unlike other gold jewelry, vermeil is usually thinner, and the gold layer is achieved by using gold leaf or powder instead of a sheet of gold.

Another key factor here is that a vermeil piece must have a sterling silver base (instead of brass or cheaper metals).