Gold vs Gold Plated:

November 12, 2019

Bespoke Celtic Wedding Rings designed in Ireland by Elena Brennan.

Gold Plating

With gold plated pieces, their beauty is only “skin deep”. They are gorgeous to wear on special occasions but unfortunately don’t have the same durability as a solid gold piece. The gold plating that covers your piece of jewellery will wear away after a short while, maybe 6 months if you are lucky and not rubbing the piece too much.

Gold Assay Marks

This shows the fineness of the metal – i.e. purity of the precious metal content in parts per 1000 in relation to the standard recognised in the UK.

For example 750 parts per 1000 by weight is equivalent to the old 18 carat gold standard. The alloy must be at least 750 parts per 1000 to be marked as such.

9ct 375 = 37.5% gold content

10ct 417 = 41.7% gold content

14ct 585 = 58.5% gold content

18ct 750 = 75% gold content

22ct 916 =91.6% gold content

24ct 990 and 999 = 99% / 99.9% 24ct or pure gold content. Seldom used in Western jewellery, used in bullion and Eastern jewellery.

Gold used in Elena Brennan Jewellery

Mostly I use 14k gold when adding gold elements to pieces as it has a lovely colour and it is mid way between 9ct and 18ct, so it is reasonably priced for gold.

Of course I can make any of my pieces in most of the precious metals and golds. Just email me with your requests and I will quote you a price.

If you have any other questions queries or anything else that you would like to find out more about, please get in touch with me and I will be happy to help at admin@elenabrennan.com.

An 18ct gold boot, handcrafted by Elena Brennan Jewellery as a special commission.