Two necklaces can look identical in a photo and cost wildly different amounts. The difference is almost always in the words you have to squint to read: solid gold, gold vermeil, gold plated. They are not interchangeable, and the gap between them shows up the moment you wear the piece for a year.
Solid gold
Solid gold is gold all the way through, alloyed with other metals for strength and measured in karats. Our 14k and 18k pieces will not fade, flake, or turn your skin green, because there is no coating to wear off. They cost more up front and they outlast everything else in the drawer.
Vermeil and plating
Gold vermeil is a thick layer of solid gold over sterling silver or brass. Done properly, with a heavy deposit of gold, it holds up for years of regular wear. We use it for a few accessories where solid gold would be impractical, and we are clear about it every time.
Standard gold plating is a whisper-thin coating over cheap base metal. It looks the part on day one and rubs away on day thirty. We do not sell it. If a piece is going to live on your body every day, it should be made of something that lasts.
So when you compare two pieces, read the material first and the price second. The cheaper one is usually telling you exactly why it is cheaper, if you know where to look.
