Four things that can look like gold
| Type | How it is made | Gold content | Scrap value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solid gold (10K, 14K, 18K…) | Gold alloyed with other metals all the way through | Same percentage throughout the piece | Melt value based on weight and karat |
| Gold-filled (GF) | A layer of gold bonded to a base metal core under heat and pressure | Commonly at least 1/20 (5%) of total weight | Small, and often not worth recovering |
| Gold-plated (GP, GEP, HGE) | A very thin layer applied over base metal, usually electroplated | A tiny fraction of a percent | Little to none |
| Vermeil | A layer of gold over sterling silver | Thin layer on a silver core | Mostly the value of the silver |
The thickness requirements for each term are set by trade rules and differ between countries, so check the current rules where you live if it matters. What is common to all of them is that the gold is a coating, not the whole piece.
Reading the marks
| Mark | Means |
|---|---|
| GF, 1/20 14K GF, 1/10 12K GF | Gold-filled. The fraction is the share of the total weight that is gold, and the karat is the purity of that gold layer. |
| GP | Gold plated |
| GEP | Gold electroplate |
| HGE, HGP | Heavy gold electroplate or plate, a thicker plating than basic GP |
| RGP | Rolled gold plate, a gold layer rolled onto a base metal |
| 925 with a gold colour | Gold over sterling silver. Vermeil if it is sold as such, otherwise gold-plated silver. |
A mark such as 14K GF uses the same karat number as solid gold, which is why the letters after it matter. The hallmarks and stamps guide covers the rest of the marks you may find.
What is a filled piece actually worth?
Take a 20 g chain marked 1/20 14K GF. One twentieth of its weight, 1 g, is 14K gold, which contains 0.58 g of pure gold. At today’s spot price of $4,098.00 per troy ounce, that gold is worth about $76.86.
A solid 14K chain of the same 20 g would have a melt value of $1,537.13. The filled piece holds a twentieth of that, before any cost of separating the gold from the base metal, which is why buyers rarely pay for it.
Plated and vermeil jewelry
- Plated: the gold layer is thin enough that it contributes almost nothing to the value and wears off with use, showing the base metal beneath.
- Vermeil: the value is mainly the sterling silver core. It is still not gold jewelry, even though it looks like it.
- Gold-filled: hard-wearing and a step above plating, but still a coating over another metal.
How to tell solid gold from a coating
- Check every part for marks, including the clasp, which sometimes carries a different stamp from the body.
- Look for wear on edges, high points and hinges where a different colour shows through.
- Weigh the piece. A solid gold piece is dense for its size.
- Test anything of value. Our guide, is my gold real?, covers magnet, streak, density and acid tests, and when to use a professional.
If you are valuing or selling
Separate any solid pieces from the plated and filled ones before you weigh anything. Value the solid gold with the gold calculator, and read the melt value guide for the method. Be honest with any buyer about what is plated, and see where to sell gold for how buyers price scrap.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between gold-filled and gold-plated?
Gold-filled jewelry has a thick layer of gold, at least 1/20 of the item's total weight, mechanically bonded to a base metal core. Gold-plated jewelry has a much thinner layer, usually applied by electroplating, that wears away much sooner.
Is gold-filled jewelry real gold?
It contains real gold, but only in the outer layer. It is not solid gold, and its scrap value is small compared with solid gold of the same weight.
What is vermeil?
Vermeil is sterling silver coated with a layer of gold. In the US, the gold layer is expected to be at least 10K and of a minimum thickness. The core is silver, so a vermeil piece is not gold jewelry.
Can I sell gold-plated or gold-filled jewelry for scrap?
You can, but buyers generally pay little or nothing for plated pieces, and the value of a filled piece is small because the gold is a small share of the weight and costly to recover. Do not sell plated items as if they were solid gold, and check the stamp before you value anything.
What do GP, GF, HGE and RGP mean?
GP is gold plated, GF is gold filled, HGE is heavy gold electroplate and RGP is rolled gold plate. All describe a layer of gold over base metal, not solid gold.
How can I tell if jewelry is solid gold or plated?
Look for marks such as GP, GF, HGE or RGP, check for wear at edges where base metal shows through, and test anything valuable. The stamp is a starting point, not proof.