Gold Filled vs Gold Plated: Is Either Worth Anything?

Gold filled jewelry has a thick layer of karat gold bonded to a base metal, and gold plated jewelry has a very thin layer applied by electroplating. Gold filled contains far more gold than plated, so it wears longer and has a small amount of recoverable gold value. Gold plated jewelry has almost no gold value at all. Neither one is solid gold, and neither is priced like it.

The difference is not a matter of opinion. The Federal Trade Commission's Jewelry Guides put numbers on it. To be called gold filled, the karat gold layer should make up at least one twentieth of the item's total metal weight. Terms like gold overlay and rolled gold plate call for at least one fortieth. Gold electroplate needs only a coating equal to 0.175 microns of fine gold, which is about seven millionths of an inch. The FTC kept those figures when it revised the Guides in 2018. Put side by side, they show why a gold filled locket from the 1940s can still look good and a plated chain can wear through in a year.

What Is Gold Filled Jewelry?

Gold filled is a layered material. A sheet of karat gold is bonded by heat and pressure to a core of brass or another base metal. It was widely used for watch cases, lockets, eyeglass frames and pens through much of the twentieth century. Common stamps:

• 1/20 14K GF or 14K GF: one twentieth of the weight is 14 karat gold

• 1/20 12K GF: the same ratio with 12 karat gold

• RGP or 1/40 14K RGP: rolled gold plate, a thinner bonded layer

What Is Gold Plated Jewelry?

Gold plating is a coating applied in a chemical bath with electric current. The layer is thin enough that it adds color without adding meaningful gold. Common stamps:

• GP: gold plated

• GEP: gold electroplated

• HGE: heavy gold electroplate

• 14K GP: plated with 14 karat gold, not made of it

Is Gold Filled Jewelry Worth Anything?

A little. Here is the math on a piece stamped 1/20 14K GF:

1. One twentieth of the weight is 14K gold. That is 5 percent.

2. 14K gold is 58.3 percent pure. Five percent times 58.3 percent is about 2.9 percent.

3. So a 20 gram gold filled item holds a little over half a gram of pure gold when new, and less after decades of wear.

That gold is real, but recovering it means refining, and refining small lots costs more than the gold returns. For that reason many buyers pass on gold filled or pay only for larger quantities. Policies vary, so call ahead and ask before you make the trip.

Is Gold Plated Jewelry Worth Anything?

As gold, no. The layer is too thin to recover. A plated piece can still have value for other reasons. Vintage costume jewelry from collectible makers sells for its design. Gold plating over sterling silver, marked 925, has silver value underneath. And a plated watch may be worth something for the watch itself.

How Can You Tell Plated or Filled From Solid Gold?

• Read the stamp. Solid gold carries a karat or fineness mark alone, such as 14K or 585. Any GP, GEP, HGE, GF or RGP after the karat means a surface layer.

• Check the wear points. Look at clasp ends, ring edges and the backs of pendants. A different color showing through means plating has worn off.

• Use a magnet. Gold is not magnetic. A piece that sticks has a steel or iron core.

• Have it tested. A buyer can test below the surface. Our post on how pawn shops test for real gold explains the methods.

What If You Are Not Sure What You Have?

Mixed jewelry boxes are common. An inherited box often holds solid gold, gold filled, plated and costume pieces together, and the valuable items are not always the ones that look the best. Do not sort by appearance and throw out the rest. Have the whole lot looked at, since a short visit to a buyer who tests each piece will tell you what is what. If the jewelry came from a relative, our guide to selling inherited jewelry without a receipt may help.

FAQ

Is gold filled better than gold plated?

Yes, for wear and for value. The gold layer is many times thicker.

Does 14K GF mean real gold?

The surface layer is real 14 karat gold. The core is base metal, so the piece is not solid gold.

Do pawn shops buy gold plated jewelry?

Most do not buy it for gold content because there is too little to recover. Some pieces sell for other reasons, so it is worth asking.

What does HGE mean on a ring?

Heavy gold electroplate. It is a plated ring, not a solid gold one.

Not Sure What Your Jewelry Is? Bring It In

The Pawn & Jewelry Exchange has served Greensburg since 2005. Bring your jewelry box and a valid ID to 206 E. Pittsburgh St., and we will test your pieces, give you a free verbal appraisal on what we can buy and explain how we got there. No appointment is needed. See our Sell Your Items page for what we purchase.

Visit The Pawn & Jewelry Exchange or call (724) 836-7296 today. Contact us for more information.