Why Invest in Solid Gold Jewellery
People all over the world find themselves drawn to the dazzling glow of gold jewellery, an experience that has been shared with our ancestors for thousands of years. Here at Temple of the Sun we are inspired by the timelessness and perennial desirability of gold, and its ability to honour our moments of significance throughout our lifetime.
Today we have a variety of options available for gold jewellery including solid gold, gold filled and gold plated or vermeil. Solid gold is the highest quality and the most expensive, while gold filled, plated and vermeil jewellery aesthetically look like quality gold pieces but aren't made entirely of gold which is why it is significantly cheaper. Read our guide to find out more.
Where does gold come from?
Gold is created inside stars when they explode into a supernova; the earth's gold that lives near the surface arrived via asteroids as the earth was only just beginning. All of the gold on the earth has been on our planet since the beginning of its life and whilst abundant, is a finite resource.
What is solid gold?
Solid gold jewellery are pieces that are made entirely of gold, inside and out. Solid gold is the most expensive option and is more durable, but this can also depend on the karat of your gold. All gold is available in various karats which is shown in numbers such as 9K, 14K, 18K and 22K. These numbers represent the percentage of pure gold that has been alloyed with another base metal. The higher karat, the more gold in your jewellery; and as pure gold is a very soft metal it will be more malleable and can bend easily.
Here at Temple of the Sun our fine and ceremonial jewellery is proudly hand-crafted using RJC-certified recycled and responsibly sourced 9K, 14K and 18K solid gold. To find our more about our materials visitour jewellery page here.
What is gold filled jewellery?
Gold filled jewellery consists of a base metal that has layers of gold that have been bonded or pressed to it. The layers of gold will carry their own karatage to indicate the alloy (9K - 22K) and the base metal is often brass or copper.
What is gold plated jewellery?
Gold plated jewellery is the most inexpensive option when it comes to jewellery, but it is also the lowest quality due to the base metal and thin layer of gold used. Gold plating is usually on a brass, copper or nickel base which means it may not be hypoallergenic; with a very thin layer of gold coating. As the layer is very thin it can easily scratch from the base metal.
Aside from solid gold jewellery, gold vermeil is the best quality gold jewellery without an extravagant price tag. This is because vermeil has two precious metals - gold and sterling silver. The gold is applied to a sterling silver base, a higher quality base metal than is used in gold filled or plated jewellery; and uses a thicker layer of gold. In our case we apply the thickest layer of gold to our jewellery which is 2.5 microns thick, ensuring it will last longer.
Here at Temple of the Sun our gold vermeil jewellery uses 18K gold on a recycled 925 sterling silver base, which is what gives our pieces their unique deep golden glow.
