What is Gold-Fill?
Why Sand + Salt Uses Gold-Filled Jewelry

Imagine this: you're shopping for jewelry and spot the most stunning, shimmery gold necklace. Your heart skips a beat—you've instantly fallen in love, and you're already envisioning it as your new favorite accessory.

You excitedly pay for your new piece, believing that investing in quality jewelry is always worth it. But then, heartbreak strikes! After just a few wears, you notice the chain is turning silver. What happened to the gold?

It looks like you’ve bought a gold-plated piece, and Sand + Salt wants to save you from this disappointment. That’s why all of the jewelry from Sand + Salt is gold-filled.

The Gold-Filled Standard:
Understanding Gold-Fill Jewelry

When shopping for jewelry, you’ll encounter terms like gold-filled, gold-plated, gold vermeil, and sterling silver. It can certainly be confusing.

To make more informed purchases, it’s essential to understand what these terms really mean, so you know you're investing in pieces that will last years—not just weeks or months.

What is Gold-Filled Jewelry?

Gold-filled jewelry is made by bonding a thick layer of real gold to a base metal core, like brass or sterling silver. This process involves heat and pressure, creating a durable, long-lasting piece that mirrors the look and feel of solid gold. The gold layer in gold-filled jewelry is significantly thicker—up to 100 times thicker—than in gold-plated pieces, making it far more resistant to wear and tear.

By the FTC’s standards, gold-filled jewelry must contain at least 5% gold by weight, and it must be at least 10-karat gold.  Sand + Salt commonly uses 12-, 14-, and 18-karat gold, which gives you the rich, luxurious look of solid gold––without the price tag!

Gold-Filled vs. Gold-Plated vs. Gold Vermeil:
The Breakdown

It’s easy to get confused by all the different types of gold jewelry. Here's how gold-filled compares to other options:

• Gold-plated jewelry features a very thin layer of gold electroplated onto a base metal like brass or copper. While gold-plated pieces are budget-friendly, the thin gold layer can wear off quickly, revealing the base metal underneath. Depending on the quality, your gold-plated jewelry might last anywhere from a few weeks to a year before it starts to tarnish.

• Gold vermeil offers a thicker gold layer than gold-plated jewelry but still doesn’t compare to the thickness of gold-filled jewelry. Gold vermeil is still prone to tarnishing over time, making it less durable than gold-filled pieces.

source: Rio Grande

Why Choose Gold-Filled Jewelry?

Sand + Salt only uses gold-filled materials in the jewelry—never gold-plated. Here’s why:

1. 1. Durability: Gold-filled jewelry is made to last. With proper care, it can withstand daily wear without losing its shine or integrity. No more worrying about jewelry turning dull or tarnished after a few wears.

   2. Longevity: Unlike gold-plated jewelry, which often tarnishes quickly or has its plated metal rub off after a few wears, gold-filled pieces retain their beauty for years. With gold-filled jewelry, you invest in items that stand the test of time, without the hefty price of solid gold.

   3. Tarnish Resistance: Thanks to the thick layer of gold, gold-filled jewelry is much more resistant to tarnishing than gold-plated or gold vermeil jewelry. You can wear your favorite necklace or earrings daily without worrying about turning your skin green or exposing the base metal underneath.

   4. Affordable Luxury: While solid gold jewelry can be quite out of budget for many, gold-filled jewelry offers the same luxurious appearance at a fraction of the cost. It’s an affordable way to enjoy high-quality, long-lasting jewelry without breaking the bank.

In Conclusion...

Sand + Salt believes in creating jewelry that’s not only beautiful but durable enough to stand the test of time. That’s why only gold-filled materials are used in every piece. Gold-filled jewelry provides the best of both worlds: the luxury of gold with the durability to last a lifetime—all at a price that doesn’t break the bank.

So, next time you're browsing for a new piece to add to your collection, remember to choose gold-filled for a piece of jewelry that will look stunning and retain its beauty for years to come!