The four categories, side by side
| Type | Typical mark | Gold layer / content | Sellable for gold? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solid gold | 375 / 585 / 750 / 916 / 999 | The whole piece is gold alloy | Yes, by weight |
| Rolled gold | RG / Rolled Gold Plate / R.G.P. | Thin gold sheet bonded to a base metal | Usually not, layer too thin to refine economically |
| Gold-filled | GF / 1/10 12K GF / 1/20 14K GF | A bonded layer making up 1/10 or 1/20 of the total weight | Sometimes, on larger pieces with good quality marks. Ask first |
| Gold-plated | GP / GEP / HGE | A very thin electroplated layer, often a few microns | No, the layer is too thin to recover |
Why plating cannot be sold for scrap
Electroplating deposits a microscopically thin gold layer onto a base metal, typically brass, copper or silver. Even on a heavy chain, the actual gold content is often a fraction of a gram, and the cost of refining it exceeds its value. That is why a reputable buyer will tell you honestly when a piece is plated and decline rather than offer a token figure.
How "1/20 14K GF" decodes
A mark like 1/20 14K GF means the piece is gold-filled to 1/20 of its total weight (5%) using 14-carat gold. On a 50 g item that is 2.5 g of 14ct gold bonded to a base core. 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. We will tell you which yours is before you send it.
Vermeil, sterling silver with a heavy gold plate
Vermeil is sterling silver electroplated with a thicker layer of gold (UK regulations require a minimum thickness). The base metal under the plate is silver, not brass, so the piece has genuine silver scrap value even where the gold layer is too thin to recover. If a piece is marked 925 with a gold finish, it is almost certainly vermeil, sell it as silver.
Why this honesty matters
Some buyers will weigh a plated chain as if it were solid and pay an artificially low "gold" rate on the gross weight; the seller never realises they were paid nothing for the plating and a discount on the base. We would rather tell you the piece is not worth posting and have you keep it. That is the test of a buyer: what they say when the answer is "no".
Common questions
How can I tell if jewellery is plated?
Look for marks like GP, GEP, HGE or RGP, a stamp that is silver-coloured under wear, a magnetic core, or a weight that feels light for the size. A clear photo of the marks is usually enough for us to tell you.
Is rolled gold the same as gold-filled?
Similar. Both bond a layer of gold to a base, but gold-filled in the US-sense often refers to a thicker layer than rolled gold. Either way, the layer is usually too thin to refine economically on small items.
Can I sell gold-plated jewellery anywhere?
Costume buyers sometimes take it for aesthetic resale, but no scrap-gold buyer can pay a meaningful figure for it. We will tell you honestly and decline if that is the case.
What does the 1/20 in a hallmark mean?
It refers to the proportion of gold by weight in a gold-filled piece. 1/20 means the gold layer makes up 1/20 (5%) of the total weight; 1/10 means 10%.