Gold-filled and vermeil
Gold-filled bonds a karat gold layer to a base metal core under heat and pressure, at a minimum of 5% of total weight. Vermeil deposits at least 2.5 µm of gold over sterling silver.
- Tolerance
- Gold-filled 5% by weight; vermeil ≥ 2.5 µm
- Min. wall
- 0.4 mm
- Tooling
- As for the underlying forming route
- Batch fit
- 500–20,000 pcs
How it works
Gold-filled bonds a karat gold layer to a base metal core under heat and pressure, at a minimum of 5% of total weight. Vermeil deposits at least 2.5 µm of gold over sterling silver.
Ranges sold on gold content, US market pieces where the terms carry legal meaning are the work this route is chosen for. It runs on 925 silver (vermeil), Brass core (gold-filled) and suits 500–20,000 pcs.
Production steps
Each step below is a separate labour operation, and labour is priced per operation rather than per piece. That is why a 6-step route costs what it does.
- 01Gold-filled: mill-bonded stock sourced to the 1/20 weight ratio
- 02Stock formed, stamped or drawn without cutting through the gold layer
- 03Vermeil: piece produced in 925 silver first
- 04Gold deposited to at least 2.5 µm over the silver
- 05Inspection of layer thickness by XRF
- 06Packing in anti-tarnish barrier material
Process parameters
These are engineering properties of the process itself. They hold at any competent factory and can be checked against a manufacturing reference.
| Dimensional tolerance | Gold-filled 5% by weight; vermeil ≥ 2.5 µm |
|---|---|
| Minimum wall / section | 0.4 mm |
| Tooling cost | As for the underlying forming route |
| Suited to | 500–20,000 pcs |
| Cycle time | Adds 2–4 days |
| Materials accepted | 925 silver (vermeil), Brass core (gold-filled) |
Tooling ranges are industry-typical. A firm figure is quoted against your CAD file — see the cost breakdown.
Gold-filled vs Electroplating
Gold-filled and vermeil put real karat gold at the surface and are legally defined; plating is thinner, cheaper and unregulated by thickness. The difference shows after a year of wear.
Compare with electroplating →Materials and categories this suits
Process, material and product category are one decision seen from three sides. These are the combinations that actually work.
| 925 silver | ASTM B700 / EN ISO 9202 (925 fineness) |
|---|---|
| Brass | ASTM B36 / EN CW508L |
| See the product hub | All categories |
|---|
What to watch out for
Gold-filled and vermeil — buyer questions
Each answer stands alone and can be read without the rest of this page.
What tolerance can gold-filled and vermeil hold?
Gold-filled and vermeil holds Gold-filled 5% by weight; vermeil ≥ 2.5 µm on production parts, with a minimum wall or section of 0.4 mm. Gold-filled bonds a karat gold layer to a base metal core under heat and pressure, at a minimum of 5% of total weight. Vermeil deposits at least 2.5 µm of gold over sterling silver. Tighter tolerances than this normally mean a secondary machining operation rather than a change to the primary process.
How much does tooling cost for gold-filled and vermeil?
Tooling for this route is as for the underlying forming route, quoted as a one-off line and invoiced separately from the unit price. The buyer owns the tooling and it is not charged again on a reorder. Full tooling ranges for every route are on the manufacturing cost page.
What order quantity does gold-filled and vermeil suit?
This route suits 500–20,000 pcs. Below that range the setup cost dominates the unit price; above it, a different route is usually cheaper per piece. Gold-filled and vermeil put real karat gold at the surface and are legally defined; plating is thinner, cheaper and unregulated by thickness. The difference shows after a year of wear.
Which metals can be processed this way?
925 silver (vermeil), Brass core (gold-filled). Both terms are legally defined in the US — vermeil requires a sterling base and 2.5 µm minimum under FTC 16 CFR §23.5, gold-filled requires 1/20 by weight. Using either word for ordinary plating is a mislabelling exposure, not a marketing choice.
Gold-filled or electroplating — which is right for my design?
Gold-filled and vermeil put real karat gold at the surface and are legally defined; plating is thinner, cheaper and unregulated by thickness. The difference shows after a year of wear.
Not answered here? All buyer questions →
Quote a gold-filled run
Send the CAD file or a sketch. You get the tooling cost as its own line, the unit price at your quantity, and a straight answer on whether gold-filled is the right route for the design — we will say so if it is not. Production runs in Qingxi, Dongguan, Guangdong.
- 01Reply within one working day, Guangdong business hours.
- 02Itemised cost sheet — mold quoted separately, not folded into the unit price.
- 03NDA on request before any file is shared.