Materials & Jewelry Care

Gold-Filled:

Gold-filled jewelry can be a higher-quality addition to your collection. Gold-filled jewelry is created by bonding with heat. Two or three layers of gold cover the base metal inside, which makes the jewelry protected by tarnishing and discoloration. Our gold-filled pieces have a minimum of 14k and up to 24k gold layered.

In other words, gold-filled jewelry is a little pricier than gold plated or vermeil, but it is still very affordable compared to solid gold jewelry. Gold-filled jewelry can last up to many years as well, so you will get “more bang for your buck” with our gold-filled jewelry pieces.

Vermeil:

Vermeil is known as the “silver gilt” which refers to high quality of sterling silver that is plated with a thin layer of gold. Most vermeil jewelry available now is created by electroplating the silver with gold, which is a chemical process that uses an electrical current to bind the two metals together. Our vermeil jewelry pieces are 24k gold layered so they are true vermeil pieces that meet US qualifications. Fun fact: since vermeil is composed of two metals (gold and silver), It is usually thought of as being closer to fine jewelry and tends to fall under the category “demi-fine.” The thicker the gold layer, the more expensive and valuable the piece will usually be.

Vermeil jewelry pieces are a bit more expensive than gold plated and a little less expensive than gold-filled. Therefore, for vermeil jewelry you can have best of both worlds. It is a good option that is in the middle for quality and for the price.

Gold Plated:

Gold plated jewelry is a brass or copper metal that is electroplated with a layer of gold and is usually less expensive than vermeil, Gold plated jewelry is the same thing as vermeil jewelry, the only difference is that the base metal is of a lower quality than silver, such as copper or brass. Gold plated jewelry is usually going to have lower quality gold and a thinner gold layer.

In other words, gold pated jewelry is more affordable but will most likely have a thinner gold layer, that can cause tarnishing and discoloration faster than gold-filled or vermeil. It is important in reading our product description to know which items are gold-filled, vermeil or gold plated.

Our Materials:

Now that you know the differences between gold-filled, gold plated and vermeil, you can now make a more confident purchase at Main Haiven Jewelry. At Main Haiven Jewelry we do offer all three types listed above: gold-filled, vermeil and gold plated. The base metals in our products include sterling silver, brass and copper. All products are lead and nickel free for sensitive skin. Thorough research has been made while selecting the best products and materials for our customers. We take serious measure to make sure the products with stand everyday wear. We test out each jewelry piece and wear it and see how it feels on the skin.

Jewelry Care:

To maintain the glow of your new jewelry pieces, avoid chlorine and saltwater. These chemicals can cause the jewelry pieces to fade more quickly. We also recommend removing your jewelry prices before spraying any perfume or applying any lotions. To keep jewelry clean wipe down your jewelry pieces with a soft cloth and for a deeper clean, soak with warm water for one minute. Dry pieces off completely and store jewelry in a jewelry box or in a zipable baggie.