Precious Metal FAQ's What is Gold Filled Jewelry? Gold filled metal and wire is made from solid gold and filled with other alloys. Gold filled jewelry wears like solid gold because the outer surface is solid gold. The process of making gold filled jewelry is quite different from gold plated – there is 100 times more gold in a 14K gold filled piece than in the same piece gold plated. 14K gold filled wire is also referred to as rolled gold or 14/20, is created by permanently bonding a sheet of 14K gold to a core of semiprecious metal, usually brass, carefully controlling extreme heat and pressure for a precise length of time. The substantial layer of gold surrounding the inner alloy is regulated by law. Gold filled jewelry is strong, durable and resistant to tarnish. The gold will not wear off as in plated jewelry. It is nearly impossible to tell a gold filled piece from the same piece in solid gold. With reasonable care it will last a lifetime. What is Rose Gold or Red Gold? Rose gold, also called red gold or pink gold, is yellow gold that has been combined with an alloy (as is the vast majority of gold used in jewelry, to increase its strength. Most gold is usually alloyed with a combination of copper and silver. Using more silver and less copper results in gold that is the traditional yellow color; while increasing the concentration of copper creates the beautiful rose gold, or the softer color of pink gold. Similarly, white gold is alloyed with nickel, zinc, and palladium to give it the white coloring. Rose gold is as tarnish resistant and hypoallergenic as yellow gold. I use 14K rose gold-filled wire in my creations; this means that the rose gold is a thick sheet of 14K gold permanently bonded to an alloy core. It is as strong and long-lasting as 14K yellow or white gold-filled metal. What is Sterling Silver? Sterling silver is defined as 92.5% pure silver. It is hardened with another metal alloy of no more than 7.5%, usually copper. Sterling silver is also referred to as 925. What is Fine Silver? Fine silver is defined as 99.9% pure silver, with no other metals. What is Vermeil? Simply put, vermeil is "gilded silver"; sterling silver that has been heavily electroplated with 22Kgold. Vermeil is usually a very warm color of gold, as is the case with very pure gold.