Gold-plated vs gold-filled vs solid gold

The four categories, side by side

Why plated weight is not gold weight

Electroplating puts a gold coating over another metal. The gold quantity depends on surface area and coating thickness, not just how heavy the item feels. A chunky chain can therefore have very little gold compared with a solid-gold chain of the same weight. GoldPaid does not buy ordinary gold-plated base-metal jewellery as gold. This is different from saying that gold recovery is physically impossible, or that a wearable plated piece can never have resale value.

How "1/20 14K GF" decodes

A mark like 1/20 14K GF describes a 14-carat gold layer accounting for 1/20 (5%) of the metal weight. If the metal parts weigh 50 g, the marked proportion represents 2.5 g of 14ct alloy, not 2.5 g of pure gold. Stones and other non-metal parts are not included in that example. A heavy gold-filled American watch case or chain can contain real recoverable gold; a thin gold-filled bracelet often does not justify the postage. Photographs can help identify the mark; a buyer may need to inspect or test the piece before confirming its contents.

Vermeil, sterling silver with a heavy gold plate

Vermeil describes gold-plated silver. The underlying silver matters when assessing metal value; the gold colour does not make the whole piece gold. UK assay-office guidance says a plated precious-metal item is hallmarked for the main alloy beneath the coating. A 925 mark on a gold-coloured piece therefore suggests a silver base, subject to authentication and testing. It does not establish a particular coating thickness. Stones, filler and other non-silver parts must also be considered before treating the gross weight as silver weight.

Why this honesty matters

The useful question is what the buyer has identified, what they accept and how their offer is calculated. A refusal from one service does not prove an item is worthless everywhere. Ask whether a piece has been assessed for its material, its resale appeal or both. GoldPaid will explain when an item falls outside our buying service so you can decide whether to keep it or seek a suitable specialist.

Reading an unclear mark without damaging the piece

Start with a photograph of the whole item, then take a close-up of the complete mark. Letters after a number matter: 14K GF describes a different construction from a plain 14K fineness mark. Keep the original photograph as well as a cropped copy, because a very tight crop can hide a nearby fraction, maker’s name or plating abbreviation. A worn character is a reason to leave the identification open, not to guess the most valuable reading.

Check which part carries the mark. A replacement clasp, a loose earring back or a pendant attached to a chain may be a different metal from the rest. Photograph each separately without taking the jewellery apart. On an old watch, use marks already visible on the case; do not force a closed back open just to find a stamp.

Neither a yellow colour nor a non-magnetic result proves solid gold. A base-metal item can pass a simple magnet check, while a small steel spring in a clasp can react even when other parts contain gold. Visible wear can suggest a coating, but scratching through a finish at home may damage a wearable or collectable piece. Our guide to checking suspected gold explains what preliminary checks can and cannot establish.

Three separate questions when a piece is not solid gold

What is it made from? Establish the underlying metal and any coating first. A gold-coloured finish over silver is a different proposition from the same finish over brass. A 925 stamp is a clue to a silver base; it is not a measurement of the gold coating and is not, by itself, proof that the stamp is genuine.

Does this buyer accept it? GoldPaid does not buy gold-filled or rolled-gold items as gold. That is our service boundary, not a statement that every specialist must refuse them. Before paying to post a filled watch case or a group of rolled-gold pieces elsewhere, ask that buyer about accepted marks, minimum quantities, fees and return arrangements. Keep their answer with the photographs so there is a clear record of what was discussed.

Could it be sold as jewellery? Metal recovery and resale are different decisions. A complete signed locket or an attractive wearable bracelet might interest a second-hand dealer even when a precious-metal buyer does not want it. This is a possibility to investigate, not a promise of value. Keep chains, pendants and any original packaging together until somebody has assessed the complete piece.

What to send us when the construction is uncertain

Please send us photos, and we will help: one showing the whole item, one showing every mark, and one showing any existing wear or damage. Include the wording from any original receipt if you have it. Say whether a clasp or other part has been replaced, and whether you have already had the item tested. There is no need to polish it or remove stones for the photographs.

A photo can help us read a mark and decide whether an item looks suitable for our service. It cannot measure a hidden core or confirm purity throughout the object. If the picture is inconclusive, the honest answer is that testing is needed. See how XRF testing works and its limits and the items outside our buying service before arranging postage.

For a mixed box, keep uncertain pieces separate from those already identified, but label them “unknown” rather than “fake”. Numbering the items on a simple photograph makes later questions easier: “item three, the small locket” is clearer than “the gold one”. Leave any family keepsakes out of the proposed sale until you have decided what you want to keep. A material identification should help that decision, not rush it.

Common questions