What Is 14K Gold Fill?

Gold fill is created by bonding a thin layer of gold to a thicker core of brass, which itself is an alloy of copper and zinc. Typically, 14K gold (14 karats, the standard for jewelry) is used for the thin layer of gold.

Manufacture

Heat and pressure are used to create a durable bond between the thinner 14K gold layer and the thicker brass core. Gold fill is usually either made into wire or sheets, which are then fashioned into jewelry.

Gold Composition

By U.S. law, gold fill must be five percent 14K gold by weight. The definition of 14K gold is .585 fine, or 58.5 percent pure gold, with the balance being other metals such as copper or silver to make the alloy hard enough to be worked into jewelry.

Advantages

Gold fill looks very much like 14K gold jewelry but is a lot less expensive because of its relatively low gold content. It is also durable in the sense that the layer of gold bonds strongly to the brass and doesn't usually wear off quickly.

Gold Plate

Gold plate is not the same thing as gold fill. Gold plate is made by exposing a metal (such as brass) to an electrical current while in a solution containing gold. A very thin layer of gold then adheres to the metal.

Gold Fill vs. Gold Plate

Gold plate contains very little gold compared with gold fill. More importantly for the purposes of owning and wearing jewelry, gold plate wears off very easily under certain circumstances, leaving behind a less-than-desirable look.

References

• Harlequin Beads & Jewelry
• Land of Odds: Gold Fill vs. Gold Plate