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The Pennyweight

Glossary · Fine Jewelry

Vermeil

Vermeil is sterling silver plated with gold. Under US Federal Trade Commission guidance the base must be sterling and the gold layer at least 2.5 microns thick and 10K or finer — a stricter standard than ordinary gold plating over brass. It wears considerably better than plate, and it can be replated. It is still a surface layer, not solid gold, and it will thin with daily wear.

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