Gold Jewellery Types | Metal Guide | Learn
Solid gold
WeΒ exclusively offer solid gold for many reasons:
- Durability:Β Solid gold is highly durable and resistant to tarnish or corrosion.Β It required less frequent maintenance and is resistant to tarnishing and corrosion, meaning you can wear it everyday.
- Timeless Value:Β It retains its value over time, can be recycled, and can be passed downΒ from generation to generation.
- Hypoallergenic:Β Gold is considered a hypoallergenic precious metal.Β Solid gold has the highest amount of gold content and most suitable for those with sensitive skin.
SolidΒ gold jewellery offers excellentΒ durability, value retention and hypoallergenic properties especially when compared to gold plated and gold filled options. Investing in solid gold ensures that you are acquiring a piece of jewellery that is not only beautiful and enduring but also holds its value as a cherished heirloom for years to come.
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Gold filled
Gold-filled jewellery has a thick layer of gold (at least 5% of the total weight) bonded to a base metal like brass or copper, giving it the appearance of gold.Β
The base metal core of gold filled jewellery can tarnish or corrode over time, especially with frequent wear or exposure to moisture, leading to a shorter lifespan compared to solid gold. This also creates a moderate risk for those with sensitive skin when the gold wears off and the base metal is exposed.
Gold plated / Gold vermeil
Gold-plated jewellery has a very thin gold layer (a minimum of 0.5microns thick) electroplated onto a base metal. Vermeil, which is a specific type of gold-plated jewellery, features a sterling silver base with a thin layer of gold (at least 2.5 microns). The actual gold content of these pieces are very small.
On average, gold plated or vermeil pieces last about a year, even with limited wear and exposure to moistureΒ and need periodic re-plating to keep their gold look intact.Β These pieces have the highest risk for allergenic considerations, as the gold layer is so thin any slight tarnishing will expose the base metal.
Taels jewelleryΒ was born to fill the gap for high-quality yet affordable fine pieces, standing out in a market crowded with fast-fashion and out-of-reach luxury.
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We offer the 3 most popular shades of gold to select from to suite your own individuality, fashion sense, and style.
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Yellow Gold
Classic Gold is made from a blend of 24-carat pure gold and selected alloys. It's timeless, radiating a warm and rich glow that lasts. This is tradition with enduring elegance.
White gold
Taels' White Gold is crafted gold with an of white metals like palladium and silverΒ to create a silver shade. To create a shiny exterior, the process of rhodium plating has to take place. Overtime, it may start to lose its shine, and due to its gold content, may have a slight tinge of yellow in appearance. If this occurs to your piece, we offer cleaning and polishing.
Rose Gold
Taels' Rose Gold is a blend of pure gold and copper, giving it a subtle pink hue. It's a modern expression of love and sophistication.
These different shades can also vary depending on the purity of gold.Β Learn more aboutΒ why we only offer 18ct gold and how this affects the overall colour of your jewellery in the Purity of Gold section.
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Here at TaelsΒ weΒ exclusively offer 18ct (carat) gold jewellery.
What are Carats?
Carats, or 'ct', measure gold purity when mixed with other metals. In Australia, we typically see 9ct gold or 18ct gold. In other countries like America, their gold is generally 14ct.
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So what are the differences between all the carats in gold jewellery?
24ctΒ gold is gold in its most pure form. It has a bright and rich yellow appearance. However, it is very soft and prone to scratching and isnβt generally recommended for jewellery pieces.
18ctΒ gold consists of 75% gold alloyed with 25% of other metals, usually silver, copper and palladium. It is the perfect blend of quality and durability, with a warm and rich yellow colour. 18ct solid gold is the best option for sensitive skin, due to the lower amount of other alloys. Perfect for everyday wear! Due to its high gold content it retains its value over time.
14ctΒ gold consists of 58.3% gold alloyed with 41.7% of other metals. It has a slightly higher durability than 18ct solid gold but compromises its quality. It has a chance to cause skin irritation, as it comprises higher amounts of other metals.
Due to the lower gold content it 14ct gold is a paler shade of yellow compared to 18ct gold.
10ctΒ gold consists of 41.7% gold with 58.3% of other metals, it has higher durability than 18ct and 14ct but compromises on the quality of gold, being made up of less than 50% gold. It has a high chance of causing allergic reactions due to the large amount of other metals. It is a very budget friendly option for jewellery, but will not retain its value over time.
9ctΒ gold consists of 37.5% gold, with 62.5% of other alloyed metals. In some countries it isn't even considered gold, due to its low amount of actual gold content. It usually has a slight reddish appearance due to the higher amount of copper used. It has a very high chance of causing skin irritation.
Why would you settle for something that isn't even considered as gold in other parts of the world?
How can you tell if your gold jewellery is actually solid gold?
You can spot if a piece of jewellery is solid gold by identifying the hallmarks on your pieces. Gold plated or filled jewellery will not have these hallmarks.
Jewellery hallmarks are markings stamped on precious metals to indicate certain information about the piece, particularly regarding the metal's purity. It commonly conveys details like the karat or gold content, serving as a quality assurance measure.Β
The hallmarks display the gold content in the jewellery piece.
18 carat solid gold jewellery will display a 750 stamp, stating that it contains 75% gold content, 14 carat displaying a 585 (58.5% gold content) and 9ct a 375 (37.5 gold content).
Below is an example of a hallmark stamp on our Calla diamond ring.
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