As someone who has experienced the disappointment of high street accessories that tarnish easily and irritate sensitive skin, I wanted to make sure that LuvLoops offered a better alternative. That's why we chose to work with Gold Vermeil and Gold Filled products, and why I want to share with you how to choose jewelry that is right for you.

At LuvLoops, we know that jewelry isn't just about looking good - it's about feeling good too. And that's why we offer both Gold Vermeil and Gold-Filled jewelry pieces. You might be wondering why we use both, and I'd love to share with you the difference between these materials and how they can benefit you.

Gold vermeil, or just vermeil (pronounced "ver-may"), is a term used to refer to jewelry or other items made of silver and coated with gold. That's really a simple explanation, isn't it? Don't worry, we are going to carry on with more details : )

Carrying on, how is Gold Vermeil made?

Vermeil jewellery is a beautiful combination of silver and gold. It is made by first crafting the base of the item out of silver and then plating it with a layer of gold through a method called electrolysis. The gold used in vermeil can vary in purity, but the minimum requirement for a piece of jewelry to be considered vermeil is to be plated with gold that is at least 10 karats or 42% gold content. At LUVLOOPS, we take it a step further and use 18K Gold Plating for all of our selections, which means that all our jewelry pieces contain at least 75% gold in their coats. We believe that using high-quality materials will not only create a beautiful and long-lasting piece of jewelry, but it will also make it hypoallergenic and safe for sensitive skin.

And then, what is Gold-Filled?

Gold-filled (also known as rolled gold) comprises a solid brass (copper and zinc) core over which gold is mechanically bonded using heat and pressure. Gold-filled items must contain, by law, 5% or 1/20 of gold by weight. The gold used is generally 12K or 14K, although I have seen some 10K gold-filled items too. All our gold-filled findings are 14K.

What do you mean by 12K, 14K, or 18K?

It means how much gold actually contained in your jewelry pieces.

The difference between Gold Vermeil vs. Gold-Filled 

Some people have allergic reactions to certain types of plating. The most common is nickel-plating-  possibly up to 10% of people react to nickel. Unfortunately, nickel is used to color gold, as an alloy, and sometimes in the electroplating process. If the allergy is a problem, most jewelry makers like to use surgical steel, sterling silver, vermeil, or gold-filled items. The plating on plain electroplated items is usually too thin. LuvLoops collections are all sterling silver based and 18K Gold Plated, which provides a very safe base as well as the coat for sensitive people.

Why don’t you provide a bigger range of jewellery collection in gold-filled? 

I've asked myself this question many times, and I understand that many of you are also curious. While we would love to offer a wider range of gold-filled products, unfortunately, it's not as simple as it seems. The main reason we are not doing so is that gold-filled cannot be cast, which is a process of pouring molten material into a mold to create a certain shape. This process can be easily done with metals such as silver or gold, but melting or soldering gold-filled would not retain the gold layers over the inner brass core.

As a result, all gold-filled products are made from sheet, tube, or wire, which retain the separate layers of brass and gold.

This means a lot of my designs and ideas, which involve detailed and intricate shapes to express the uniqueness and meanings within the designs, would be impossible to achieve with gold-filled. Additionally, gold-filled technology only exists in a limited number of countries, so getting the right resources is also a big challenge.

Therefore, we primarily use gold vermeil in our originally designed jewellery pieces, as it allows for more detailed and intricate designs. While we do have some gold-filled pieces, they are limited in their design and mainly consist of simple shapes and styles. It's worth noting that there are only less than 6 manufacturers in the USA who make gold-filled, so all of the gold-filled jewelry pieces we offer are from the USA.

A good alternative to gold-filled is gold vermeil.

At LuvLoops, all the Gold Vermeil products are sterling silver plated with 14K or even 18K gold. There is an e-coating to ensure your jewellery from us last longer than the normal Gold Vermeil Jewellery.

At this stage, you may wonder how long can vermeil jewellery last

The durability of the gold plating is dependent on its thickness - the thicker the layer of gold, the longer it will take to wear away. Additionally, the karat of the gold layer is also a factor in the piece's durability. A higher karat number indicates a softer gold alloy, which is more prone to surface scratches. The lifespan of your vermeil jewellery also depends on how you use and care for it. For example, wearing your jewellery in the shower or exposing it to heavy perfumes can damage the surface. Proper care and storage can help extend the life of your jewellery. It's important to note that despite what some jewelry sellers may claim, Gold-Filled jewellery can still tarnish due to oxidation, exposure to sulfur, body chemistry, or exposure to certain chemicals. Proper care is key to preventing tarnishing.

Can you wear your jewellery in water?

The good news is that you can, but there are a few things to keep in mind. Gold Vermeil is a thick layer of 18ct gold over sterling silver, which means it won't tarnish like silver, but it may get dirty or slightly fade over time with regular wear. However, with a few simple steps, you can keep your gold shining like new for years to come! If you've already purchased some jewelry from LuvLoops, you'll find a care card included in your package with all the information you need. Here are a few tips to get you started:

• Store your jewelry in the fabric pouch provided when you're not wearing it.
• Avoid wearing your jewelry overnight to give your skin a break and help your jewelry last longer.
• Perfumes, lotions, and other potions can wear away the gold coating, so it's best to apply them before putting on your jewelry.
• When cleaning, wear rubber gloves to protect your jewelry from harsh chemicals like bleach, which can damage the gold overlay.