The Mulu blog
Sterling Silver, Gold Plated or Solid Gold?
How the three compare on price, wear and care, so you know exactly what you are buying.
Two pieces can look nearly identical in a showcase and be made quite differently. Here is what the terms on a product page mean.
Sterling silver
Sterling is 92.5% pure silver, mixed with a small amount of other metal for strength, and is often stamped 925. It is bright and affordable, and it tarnishes with time and exposure to air. A polishing cloth removes most of that.
Gold plated
A gold-plated piece has a thin layer of gold bonded over another metal, often sterling silver. You get the look of gold at a lower price. The layer wears with use, so plated pieces last longest when kept away from water, perfume and abrasion. Plating can usually be renewed.
Solid gold
Solid gold, whether 10K, 14K or 18K, is the same metal all the way through. It will not wear away to reveal another colour and it holds resale value based on its gold content. See what the karat numbers mean.
A simple way to decide
- For a piece you will wear every day for years, solid gold is the long-term choice.
- For style and colour at a gentler price, sterling silver is hard to beat.
- For the look of gold on a piece worn occasionally, gold plated works well.