Does Gold Vermeil Tarnish?

Gold jewelry is highly durable, elegant, and ostentatious, so it is no wonder it is so popular. However, gold is an expensive, rare metal and, therefore, often beyond most people’s budgets.

Gold vermeil, on the other hand, looks identical to gold, costs less, and is fairly durable. This makes gold vermeil jewelry a great, affordable alternative to pure gold jewelry. 

That said, gold vermeil is not pure gold. Jewelry lovers and sellers considering it, therefore, often contend with one key question: Does gold vermeil tarnish? And if so, is it safe for skin? Is it durable enough to offer value for money?

Read on as we answer these vital questions and offer helpful tips and solutions for anyone considering Gold vermeil jewelry.

Does Gold Vermeil Tarnish? The Short Answer

Yes, Gold vermeil tarnishes under certain conditions.

But, to understand the hows and whys of the tarnishing, let’s take a step back and start by understanding the basics of gold vermeil.

Gold Vermeil 101

Gold vermeil is made by plating 925 sterling silver with gold. The gold has to be at least 10 karats or more. The layer of gold must have a thickness of 2.5 microns, at a minimum. The Federal Trade Commission set these gold vermeil standards in the USA, but they now serve as a reliable quality measure across the jewelry industry.

The Tarnishing Process

925 Sterling silver is a high-quality base metal. It comprises 92.5% silver and about 7.5% of mostly copper and other metal elements. Plating it with such a thick layer of high-standard pure gold:

• Creates the highly sought-after gold finish
• Creates gold vermeil, which is more durable than ordinary gold-plated jewelry

Gold falls in a class of non-reactive metals known as noble metals. Therefore, it does not corrode or break down when it comes in contact with gases or commonly occurring chemicals. As such, the gold layer also serves as a protective cover for the silver, which can tarnish when exposed to some elements. So, tarnishing is not usually an event; it occurs as a process. 

The first step of tarnishing begins when the gold layer chips or wears thin over time. This ruins the jewelry’s even gold sheen and starts to expose the silver layer.

As more of the gold layer chips away, more of the jewelry’s silver layer becomes exposed. The silver, in turn, starts to directly come into contact with elements such as water, skin oils, sweat, and cosmetic chemicals more frequently. Consequently:

• Some of the chemicals in these substances react with the silver
• The chemical reaction turns the shiny metallic hue of silver into a dark, discolored shade, also known as tarnish

(The Science: As we have mentioned above, sterling silver contains some copper and other metal elements. Copper and these metal elements naturally react with hydrogen sulfide, which is present in the air due to pollution and other substances like oils, as we have indicated. The reaction between the metal elements and hydrogen sulfide produces silver sulfide, a dark substance that ends up coating the silver. This dark coating is what we refer to as tarnish. )

Factors That Influence Gold Vermeil Tarnishing

Gold vermeil is produced through electroplating, which strongly bonds the gold layer to the sterling silver. So, how or why does the gold layer start to chip away and cause jewelry to tarnish?

Normal Depreciation

Gold vermeil jewelry is prone to wear and tear with long-term or frequent use. This is due to factors like friction, falls, and dents. These factors can cause the gold layer to chip or gradually become thinner until it exposes the silver layer. 

Abrasive Polishing and Active Lifestyles

While electroplating firmly bonds the gold layer to the silver base metal, some activities can wear out the gold layer. They include:

• Aggressive polishing or using abrasive items to clean gold vermeil jewelry
• High friction or abrasive contact that can chip gold vermeil jewelry. For example, hikers, factory staff, or even people who keep their gold vermeil jewelry on while cleaning may encounter such challenges.

Manufacturing Defects

In some instances, the gold layer on gold vermeil may be uneven due to an error made during the electroplating process. Such errors result in sections with a thinner gold coating than others. They are more prone to chipping or thinning out enough to expose the silver.

The Quality of Gold Vermeil

Standard-quality gold vermeil is usually sterling silver plated with 10 to 14 karat gold at a thickness of 2.5 to 3 microns. However, there are higher qualities of gold vermeil in which the sterling silver is electroplated with a thicker layer of higher-quality gold (more than 14 karats). These two standards of vermeil offer fair to high durability.

In contrast, poor-quality vermeil manufactured using low-quality silver or a lower percentage of pure gold (below 10 karats) is likely to tarnish much sooner than quality vermeil.

How Soon Does Gold Vermeil Tarnish?

The durability of gold vermeil jewelry depends on:

• The quality of the vermeil
• The standard of care

Vermeil Quality 

The higher the quality of the vermeil, the longer it is likely to last without tarnishing. 

Standard quality gold vermeil jewelry, for example, can last 1 to 3 years before tarnishing. It is thus suitable for mid-price fashion jewelry that you can wear from time to time. Premium quality vermeil jewelry, in comparison, can last 2 to 5 years even with frequent use. Its thicker layer of over 3 microns of 14+ karat gold makes it more resilient against wear and tear. 

On the flip side, substandard gold vermeil jewelry with a thinner, lower-quality layer of gold (below 2.5 microns and less than 10 karats) is highly prone to tarnish. It may last for about 6 months to a year with average use or slightly longer with occasional wear.

Standard of Care

Gold vermeil jewelry typically lasts longer if you store it correctly, wear it sparingly, and keep it away from substances or environments that can damage the gold layer (more on care below).

How to Protect Gold Vermeil Jewelry From Tarnishing

Keeping your gold vermeil jewelry untarnished for longer enables you to enjoy your favorite pieces for longer. Untarnished jewelry is also generally safer for your skin and wellness. With this in mind, here are some tips on keeping your gold vermeil jewelry pristine for longer.

Take It Off for Tasks

Taking off gold vermeil jewelry before chores, swims, or showers protects it from elements that can cause tarnishing. It also keeps your jewelry from accumulating dirt, which may compel you to clean your pieces more often than necessary.

Avoid Hard Impact

Strive to handle gold vermeil jewelry carefully and avoid wearing it during vigorous activities like sports or tough tasks. This will protect it from incidents like hard falls or rubbing off on other jewelry pieces, which can damage the gold layer and lead to tarnishing.

Keep It Away From Corrosive or Abrasive Chemicals

While gold is non-reactive, abrasive agents like scouring powders can damage gold vermeil jewelry. Other chemicals like bleach, soaps, and perfumes can also accelerate tarnishing, even in instances when there is only a small chip in the protective gold layer. 

Store Gold Vermeil Correctly

When putting away gold vermeil jewelry, choose a cool, dry storage area, as heat and moisture prime vermeil for tarnishing. We also recommend wrapping it in a soft cloth or a jewelry pouch to protect the jewelry from scratches.

Clean Gently

Despite the risk of tarnishing, it is still important to gently clean gold vermeil jewelry. The key word here is gentle, so be sure to use a soft cloth or toothbrush and gentle cleaning agents. Try to keep the exposure to water to a minimum. Pat the jewelry dry after cleaning, and set it on a dry cloth to ensure it dries off completely before storage. 

Consider Environmental Factors

Factors such as high humidity, air pollutants, and salty water significantly accelerate the tarnishing of gold vermeil. It is thus advisable to avoid wearing gold vermeil jewelry in such environments too frequently.

Factors to Consider When Selecting Gold Vermeil Jewelry

Now that you understand all the basics of gold vermeil, the tarnishing process, its causes, and how to mitigate them, you can source gold vermeil jewelry with a more discerning eye. Nevertheless, here are some quick pointers on key factors to look out for.

Quality Specifications

Ask gold vermeil jewelry manufacturers to share the quality specifications for all the pieces you plan to order. This should include details like the thickness of the gold layer and verifiable documents, such as quality certificates for the gold and sterling silver. 

Aim for quality gold vermeil that either meets or exceeds the recommended industry standard of 10 karat gold with a minimum thickness of 2.5 microns.

Further, carefully examine gold vermeil jewelry for manufacturing flaws that may quickly lead to tarnishing. Examples include:

• Gaps, splits, or holes in the gold coating
• Uneven color or dark marks inconsistent with a gold finish
• Uneven thickness when you or experts examine the thickness of the plated gold

These are fairly technical details that may be elusive to an untrained eye or hard to pick up on pictures and videos. As such, it may be worthwhile to hire a certified quality inspector to perform the necessary checks on your behalf.

Value vs. Price

While the design of jewelry may attract buyers, the quality and price often influence their choice to buy. Therefore, when sourcing gold vermeil jewelry, strive to balance design, value, and cost.

Prioritize well-designed pieces made of quality vermeil that can serve your customers for a reasonable time. Price the pieces at fair margins that reflect their true value in terms of quality and durability. Sourcing directly from a reputable jewelry manufacturer at factory prices can enable you to offer such fair prices and still turn a profit.

An Honest Marketing Strategy

Marketing gold vermeil jewelry as a beautiful, affordable alternative to gold jewelry enables buyers to make an informed decision. It equally fosters trust between your brand and your customer base compared to unscrupulous moves like trying to pass off gold vermeil as gold.

Conclusion

Understanding how and why gold vermeil tarnishes benefits everyone in the jewelry supply chain. It helps jewelry suppliers source gold vermeil jewelry more discerningly and enables jewelry buyers to make more informed purchases. It additionally assists jewelry lovers in getting the best value out of their gold vermeil jewelry by choosing the right quality and caring for it correctly. Wherever you fall in this spectrum, we hope this blog has provided the answers you need.

Ready to order quality gold vermeil jewelry? Contact us at S&J Jewellery. We are certified custom jewelry manufacturers with decades of experience in crafting gold vermeil pieces. Our scope of projects ranges from one-of-a-kind statement pieces to bulk, diverse orders for brands, and much more.