If you have shopped for fine jewelry, you have probably seen "gold vermeil" on a tag and moved on without asking what it means. It is worth a minute, because it explains both what you are buying and how to look after it.
Gold vermeil (pronounced ver-MAY) is sterling silver with a layer of real gold on top. To qualify, the base has to be sterling silver, the gold layer has to be at least 10k, and the plating has to be at least 2.5 microns thick. That thickness is what separates vermeil from a flash-plated imitation that wears through in a season.
It is the material behind our Traditional Jewelry line and the Junipurr x Frida Kahlo collection, made for everyday wear. It is a different thing from the solid 14k gold and implant-grade titanium in our professional piercing jewelry, which a piercer installs.
A few habits keep gold vermeil looking new:
- Take it off before you shower, swim, or work out. Moisture, chlorine and salt water dull any plated finish fastest.
- Put it on last. Lotion and perfume can react with the plating over time.
- Store pieces separately. A dry spot out of direct light keeps them from scratching against harder metals or stones.
- Wipe with a soft cloth after wearing. You do not need a special cleaner, just a dry cloth to lift oils and residue before the piece goes back in its box.
None of it is complicated. Treat gold vermeil like any fine jewelry you want to keep, and it will hold up the way it is meant to. Every piece we sell here is also covered by our 2-year warranty against defects in materials and workmanship.