With the price of gold increasing, there are other affordable options to treat yourself without breaking the bank. Lucky for you, Zoe Lev carries that alternative and it’s called vermeil.
Vermeil, pronounced “ver-may,” is a French term meaning “gilded silver.” Gaining popularity in the 18th Century, artisans began layering gold over sterling silver to create luxurious jewelry and decor for nobility. Due to gold being a soft and malleable metal, vermeil opened the door to the beauty of gold and the strength of silver.
Creating vermeil pieces used a process called fie gilding. Gold and mercury are combined and applied to silver before being heated. The mercury evaporates, leaving a thin, glowing layer of gold. When this technique first started, it was very dangerous for the crafters who perfected the process.
Today, thanks to the evolution of technology, it is much safer and more precise. Vermeil is now created through electroplating, which uses an electric current to fuse gold to the surface of the cleaned and polished sterling silver.
For a piece to be considered vermeil in the United States, it has to meet certain criteria. The base must be genuine sterling silver while the layer of gold is at least 2.5 minors thick and a minimum of 10 karats. Though, some designers use 18k or even 24k for a richer, yellower color.