What is the difference between gold filled and vermeil?
Vermeil is gold (usually 18k or 22k) electroplated onto sterling silver with a minimum thickness of 2.5 microns. (Regular plating is less than 2.5 microns.) Gold Filled has a much thicker layer, between 15 and 45 microns, that is mechanically bonded to the basemetal with heat and pressure. The thickness depends on the gauge of wire. It is thinner on 24 gauge than 14 gauge, but it always equals at least 5% of the total weight. The very best explanation that I have seen is this one: http://www.artisanplating.com/articles/goldfilled.
