What does 14k Gold Filled mean?

Gold-filled is a United States layered gold product that is gaining popularity throughout the Americas, Asia, and Europe. It is a quality material that is common in all types of jewelry. The product is easy to care for and will usually maintain its golden shine for a lifetime.

Here in Gem Delux, we choose to work with this particular base metal type, besides the sterling silver, in our piecesto give a safe, durable and high-quality gold filled jewelry for our customers.

Content:

1. What does 14k gf mean?
2. Difference Between Solid Gold, Gold Filled, and Gold Plated
3. 14k Gold Plated Features
4. Care and Cleaning
5. Frequency Asked Questions

What does 14k gf mean?

Have you ever been asked, What does 14k gold filled mean? Here is your answer. The gold-filled is a standard in the United States’s Industry, that require a 1/20th of pure gold content in the wight of the gold filled items. It’s a strictly regulated process that involves pressure bonding multiple layers of solid 14k gold with extreme heat over a core of high-quality jeweler’s brass resulting in a durable, quality real gold product.

This term “filled with gold” refers to a thick outer layer of durable, pressure-bonded, real, solid gold, it is nothing to do with being filled with gold.

Difference Between Solid Gold, Gold Filled, and Gold Plated

What is the difference between Gold Filled and Solid Gold? 

Pure gold is too soft for everyday wear, so it is a gold alloy with a mixture of metals like silver, copper, nickel, and zinc to give it strength and durability. Karatage (A karat is a unit of purity), denoted by a number followed by "k", each karat is 1/24th of the whole, indicate how much of the metal in a piece of jewelry is gold. Karatage is expressed in 24ths, making 24k gold, 100% gold. However, it is much too soft to hold its shape or wear well. Therefore, it is mixed or alloyed with other metals to make it harder and easier to work with. Karatage refers to the alloy’s purity. For example, 8 karat gold is 8/24 pure gold or 33.3% pure. Gold-filled is not the same as solid gold. It is a layered alternative product. The gold-filled karatage only refers to the gold layers that contain 5% of the product on the surface.

What is the difference between Gold Filled and Gold Plated? 

The big difference is the amount of gold, There’s a lot more gold in gold-filled than the Gold Plated Items,  and the gold is attached in a way that’s much more durable. Also, the standards for 14k gold-fill are strictly regulated, that I mention in the beginning, while the standards for "14k gold plated" encompass a broad range of thicknesses, so you can't be sure how much gold is in the plated layer. 

14k Gold Filled Features

It is made of the highest quality.

The gold plated we use in Gem Delux, has a high quality strictly regulated by the parameters of the United States, it does not flake off, tarnish, rust or turn your skin green, the Gold-Filled Jewelry can remains a beautiful aspect during its lifetime with very little need of care.

Very durable

14th k GF has long longevity, you can still find pieces of gold from the Victorian era that is more than 100 years old, virtually the lifetime of your gold jewel filled depends in the care and cleaning for your  14k Jewelry described below.

Does not contain Nickel

None of our pieces of gold filled contains nickel.

Care and Cleaning for 14K Gold Filled Jewel

Take it off to Shower.

It can actually be good for cleaning gold-fill jewelry to shower with it on.  BUT, MAKE SURE that your shampoos and mild soaps are gentle as certain chemicals can negatively impact the look of the gold.  We recommend to take your jewelry off to shower to avoid that happens.

Sleeping with my 14K GF

Sleeping with your jewelry won’t damage the gold-filled surfaces, but for delicate pieces such as stone bracelets or necklaces, snagging on the fabric of your sheets or nightclothes can be an issue. I recommend you to take your pieces off before bed. It's also nice if you can to give them a wipe down after a day's wear just to get body oils off the surface.

Taking Care of It

Gold-filled does not de-laminate or peel like plated gold products. Nor does it tarnish as readily as silver. Many owners find that they never have to clean gold-filled items at all. However, from time to time your jewelry may become dirty from everyday wear.

The best care you can give your pieces is to clean them gently with water, mild soap, and a soft cloth (eyeglass chamois work great!) and only polish them when they really need it. It also helps to avoid exposure to lotions or wash them off your jewelry immediately, especially the gold-fill chain, which can capture bits of lotion in all the nooks and crannies.

Frequency Asked Questions

What is Rose Gold-Filled?

The difference is just in the color, not in the quality or durability.  Both 14k yellow gold and 14k rose gold alloys contain the same amount of 14-karat solid gold.  It’s the combination of metals that are added to the pure 24k gold that changes the color - the pure gold part is constant.

What is Sterling Silver?

Sterling silver, in one form or another, has a place in just about every home in the United States. This precious metal alloy accents our dinner tables and adds shine to our everyday jewelry. 

Sterling silver is an alloy metal containing 92.5 percent silver and a 7.5 percent amalgam of other metals. Many countries producing commercial products made with sterling silver include hallmarks and other stamps to name the metal’s nation of origin and the metal’s purity.

Is Gold Filled the same as gold fill?

Yes, they are the same thing.  The terms are often used interchangeably, although "gold-filled" is officially preferred.  

How much Real Gold is in GF?

Gold-filled jewelry is required to have a minimum of 1/20th (5%) gold by weight.  The 5% gold in gold-filled jewelry may not sound like a lot, but it’s all on the outside and it's plenty to keep your jewelry looking great for many years.

What is better, gold filled or plated jewelry?

The layer of gold alloy on gold-plated jewelry is so minuscule. Gold-filled jewelry has 100x more gold alloy than gold plated and because that layer is so much thicker.  It would take is one small scratch on a gold-plated piece to expose the jeweler’s brass underneath, it means gold-filled jewelry lasts longer and stands up to wear and tear better than gold plated.

Have more questions about gold-filled jewelry? Feel free to ask them in the comments. We love to help!