Gold Vermeil
Gold plating over sterling silver rather than base metal, at a defined minimum thickness. The best of the plated family.
Vermeil has two requirements: the base must be sterling silver, and the gold layer must meet a minimum thickness, commonly 2.5 microns.
Because the core is a precious metal, a worn vermeil piece is still silver underneath rather than brass, so it neither corrodes nor turns skin green.
It is pronounced ver-may, and it is the standard for good demi-fine jewellery.
When you are buying
If a seller offers plated and vermeil versions of the same design, vermeil is usually worth the difference. You are buying a silver piece with a gold finish rather than a brass one.
Gold Plating
A thin layer of gold deposited over a base metal. Gives the colour of gold at a fraction of the cost, and wears off over time.
Gold Filled
A thick layer of gold mechanically bonded to a base metal, legally at least 5% of the item's weight. Far more durable than plating.
925 Sterling Silver
An alloy of 92.5% silver with 7.5% other metals, usually copper. The international standard for silver jewellery.
Micron Plating
The thickness of a plated layer, in thousandths of a millimetre. The single number that determines how long a finish lasts.