Gold-filled jewelry supply has been around for centuries. This type of jewelry has traditionally had many similar designs, but with modern innovations, has improved. Many times, this type of jewelry has been made with a metal such as sterling silver. Other times, it has been made with a metal such as gold. In either case, the gold filler is mixed with other metals such as copper, nickel, and sometimes gold.
Gold filled jewelry is jewelry made from a combination of different metal oxides, usually gold or platinum, and with a layer of gold plating. The gold plated layer may contain a variety of additives, including coloring agents, to make it appear more valuable. The associated legal terms “plated”, “semi-plated”, or “illusory gold plating” can legally be used if the gold plating actually constitutes less than 5 percent of the product.
In jewelry where the gold filled jewelry itself is made from a solid piece of metal, and not simply a layer on top of another metal, the more common method of making it involves placing thin layers of gold plating over a sturdy base metal such as steel, titanium, or brass. The thickness and luster of the resulting jewelry depends upon the thickness of the base material and how well the gold plating was applied. Gold plated jewelry will look very similar to solid gold jewelry. If you suspect that your gold jewelry has been wrongly made with a lower grade of gold, then the best thing you can do is return it to the jeweler. You can check with the American Gold Council website to determine the best course of action for returning your jewelry.
There are some specific rules regarding gold filled jewelry that must be followed when the jewelry is returned to the jeweler. Because most jewelry sold in the U.S. is created by a relatively small number of jewelry wholesalers, and because many of these jewelers do not disclose the exact composition of the final jewelry to their customers, it can be difficult to know exactly what the total weight of your gold filled jewelry should be. It is advised that you never buy any gold filled jewelry if you cannot estimate the weight by using an accurate formula.
If you do choose to return gold filled jewelry to a jewelry store, there are some precautions that you may want to take. The first thing to remember is that even though your items appear to be okay, you should still avoid wearing them. By not wearing the jewelry while it is healing, you are taking a proactive step towards reducing any potential tarnish that could eventually cause damage to your precious metal. It can take up to six months for any visible tarnish to appear on gold jewelry. Although you may not see any at first, over time a tarnished item will become noticeable.
Since so many people are eager to purchase this type of gold plated jewelry, the small amount of gold filled jewelry available has increased. Many gold plated items are machine crafted and sold as beautiful gifts. Because these pieces are sold in large quantity, there is no need to be careful about returning them for a refund. In addition to being able to quickly apply any polishing you wish to achieve a mirror like appearance, there is little risk involved with gold plating since the only way for the tarnishing to occur is if the piece of jewelry is exposed to a significant amount of moisture or is exposed to the elements.