GOLD FILLED JEWELLERY

What is Gold Filled Jewellery?

Gold filled is the closest alternative to solid gold. Gold filled jewellery has a thick layer of gold bonded to a base metal (commonly brass, sterling silver or copper). Gold filled pieces are more durable and tarnish resistant than gold plated jewellery and therefore will last longer. 

Gold plated jewellery is made through the process of electroplating. 0.03-0.05% of solid gold is plated onto the base metal. As the percentage of gold is very little and the gold is plated rather than binded to the base metal, it tarnishes quickly and doesn't last as long as gold filled or solid gold jewellery. 

Gold filled jewellery contains approximately 5% of solid gold. Due to the amount of solid gold in gold-filled pieces and the process of heat bonding, gold filled pieces are generally more expensive than gold plated and will last longer. 

I think I've just maxed out the number of times someone can use the world "gold".

Where is it made?

All my gold-filled findings are made in either Spain, USA or Australia. The jewellery pieces are then hand assembled by me in Melbourne, Australia. 

Gold filled jewellery and ethics

Due to the durability of gold-filled pieces, we as consumers can reduce our footprint by steering away from materials used in fast fashion such as gold plated and invest in higher quality jewellery that will last longer. This reduces our footprint as we are not contributing more waste on our planet in the same volume that fast fashion does. 

Our gold filled jewellery is also lead and nickel free as these materials can be harmful to our planet and jewellery makers!

Caring for Gold Filled Jewellery

With proper care your gold-filled jewellery will last a long time and won't tarnish as quickly.

The question "can I wear my gold-filled jewellery in water?" gets asked A LOT. While you technically can wear it in water, to really maximise your gold-filled jewellery piece's lifespan, it is not recommended.  It also depends on how you wear your jewellery pieces. If you're out surfing for a couple hours every day then that sort of prolonged exposure to water is not ideal. If you forget to take your gold filled necklace off when getting into the shower, a few minutes exposure shouldn't make much of a difference. However, when exposed to water it is always best to wipe the piece down with a soft cloth afterwards. 

Pleaseeeee, I beg of you!... Avoid toxins and harsh chemicals when wearing any jewellery pieces! Household chemicals such as bleach and cleaning chemicals can damage any type of jewellery. Also, try to avoid perfumes, sprays and chlorinated water. The metals in your jewellery can react with acids in the chemicals, which could cause your jewellery's colour to alter over time. 

Sweat can also dull your jewellery so it's best to remove jewellery when working out. I can also say firsthand, that I have banged my necklace on my tooth while running and let me tell you... it does not feel nice!

When not wearing your jewellery, it is recommended that you store it in a cloth pouch where it cannot be scratched and damaged. I also recommend that you do a routine clean with a soft cloth every few months to keep your jewellery nice and shiny.