Gold jewellery is sold in several quite different forms, and the labels are not always used carefully. Understanding the three main categories makes it much easier to work out what you are actually paying for — and which one suits the way you wear jewellery.
Solid Gold
Solid gold is gold all the way through, alloyed for hardness and described in karats: 9k, 14k, 18k. It does not wear off, because there is no surface layer to wear off. It holds its value, it can be repaired and resized indefinitely, and it will outlive you.
The catch is price. A solid gold chain costs several hundred euros at minimum, and often a great deal more. For many people that means owning one or two pieces rather than a collection — which is a perfectly good choice, just a different one.
Gold Vermeil
Vermeil is a regulated term in some markets: gold plating of a specified thickness over sterling silver. It is a genuine step up from ordinary plating because the base is a precious metal, and because the plating layer is thicker than standard.
Its weakness is the silver underneath. Sterling silver is soft, so vermeil rings and bracelets — the pieces that take the most knocks — can wear through faster than you would expect. Vermeil earrings and pendants tend to do better.
Gold-Plated
Gold plating is a thin gold layer over a base metal. The quality of plated jewellery varies enormously, and almost all of that variation comes down to two things: how thick the plating is, and what it is plated onto.
Plating over brass or a soft alloy is the bottom of the market. Plating over stainless steel or titanium steel is a much better proposition, because the base is hard and corrosion-resistant, so the finish is supported and what shows through as it thins is a stable metal.
Which Should You Buy?
It depends entirely on what the piece is for.
- An heirloom, an engagement piece, something for a milestone — solid gold. Nothing else does that job.
- A piece you love and will wear often, with a bit of a budget — vermeil, especially for earrings and pendants.
- Everyday jewellery you want to wear without worrying — well-made gold-plated pieces on a steel base. This is the category most of us actually live in.
Where Argesteel Sits
We are firmly in the third category, and we would rather say so plainly than imply otherwise. Our jewellery is gold-plated or silver-plated fashion jewellery, built on stainless steel, titanium steel, S925 sterling silver, copper or a jewellery alloy depending on the piece. The material is on every product page, and every page states that our pieces are not solid gold.
That is not a hedge — it is the honest description of a category that does a specific job very well: good-looking jewellery, priced so you can build a collection, made to be worn rather than saved.
A note on care: Argesteel jewellery is gold-plated or silver-plated fashion jewellery. It is water-resistant and copes with everyday splashes, but to protect the finish we recommend removing it before swimming, showering or exercising, and keeping it away from perfume and cosmetics. Care guidance is listed on every product page.
