Gold jewellery comes in more flavours than most buyers realise. "Gold-plated", "vermeil", "gold-filled", "14k solid" — these aren't marketing words; they're real categories with real differences in how much gold is actually on or in the piece. This guide makes them simple, so you can buy with confidence.
Why the Vocabulary Matters
The single most common source of jewellery buyer's regret in India is paying solid-gold prices for plated pieces, or vice versa — buying a "gold" piece that turns out to be a paper-thin coating that wears off in three months. Understanding the four main categories ends that risk forever.
The Four Tiers of Gold Jewellery (Lowest to Highest Gold Content)
1. Gold Plated
What it is: A thin layer of gold (typically 0.5 to 2.5 microns) bonded to a base metal — usually brass, copper, or a similar alloy.
Lifespan: 6 months to 4 years depending on plating thickness, base-metal quality, and care.
Price range in India: ₹500 – ₹15,000+ per piece, depending on design and brand.
Best for: Trend-led pieces, statement designs, everyday wear without major investment. The Blinglane sweet spot.
What to look for: A premium plated piece should specify thickness in microns. Anything under 1 micron will wear off quickly; 2–2.5 microns is excellent for fashion jewellery.
2. Gold Vermeil (pronounced "ver-may")
What it is: Sterling silver base with a gold plating of at least 2.5 microns. Vermeil is a regulated term in some jurisdictions (notably the US) — to legally call something vermeil, it must meet that 2.5-micron + sterling silver standard.
Lifespan: 3–8 years with good care. Significantly longer than standard gold-plated.
Price range in India: ₹3,000 – ₹25,000 per piece.
Best for: Bridge-tier buyers who want longevity without solid-gold pricing. The silver base also makes vermeil safer for sensitive skin than brass-based plating.
3. Gold Filled
What it is: A thick layer of gold (usually 5% of the piece's total weight) mechanically bonded to a base metal core. Not the same as plating — this is a much thicker, more durable layer.
Lifespan: 10–30 years with normal wear. Often outlasts the wearer's interest in the design.
Price range in India: Less common in the Indian market; typically imported. ₹5,000 – ₹40,000.
Best for: Hypoallergenic, long-life everyday wear pieces. Excellent value if you can find it.
4. Solid Gold (10k, 14k, 18k, 22k, 24k)
What it is: The piece is made entirely of a gold alloy. The "karat" (k) number refers to gold purity out of 24:
- 10k — 41.7% pure gold; durable and affordable; popular in the US
- 14k — 58.3% pure gold; the most popular global standard for everyday jewellery
- 18k — 75% pure gold; richer colour; common in European fine jewellery
- 22k — 91.7% pure gold; the Indian wedding standard; softer, more easily scratched
- 24k — 99.9% pure gold; too soft for most jewellery; usually for bullion or coins
Lifespan: Effectively lifetime, with normal polishing and maintenance.
Price range in India: ₹15,000 – ₹5,00,000+ depending on weight and karat.
Best for: Wedding jewellery, heirloom pieces, investment-grade purchases.
BIS Hallmarking — What It Is and Isn't
In India, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) hallmark is a government-backed certification that the gold content of a piece matches the karat marked on it. Since June 2021, BIS hallmarking is mandatory for solid gold jewellery sold in India. The hallmark consists of the BIS logo, the karatage (14k, 18k, 22k), a 6-digit alphanumeric HUID code, and the jeweller's identification mark.
Important: BIS hallmarking applies to solid gold, not to gold-plated, vermeil, or gold-filled jewellery. A fashion brand that sells only plated pieces (like Blinglane) cannot — and should not — claim BIS hallmarking. We don't, and we won't. Any future solid-gold lines we may launch will be clearly identified with BIS hallmarks.
Which Should You Buy?
Pick based on your use case:
- Daily wear, trend-led, budget-conscious: Premium gold-plated (look for 2+ micron plating and nickel-free base)
- Long-life everyday wear with sensitive skin: Gold vermeil or gold-filled
- Wedding, anniversary, investment, heirloom: BIS-hallmarked solid 14k, 18k, or 22k gold
- Travel-friendly second set you can afford to replace: Premium gold-plated
Where Blinglane Fits
Our current range is premium gold-plated and silver fashion jewellery, designed for daily wear with a nickel-free, hypoallergenic base. We don't sell solid hallmarked gold (yet), and we never describe our pieces as anything other than what they are. The exact composition of every piece is listed on its product page — so you always know what you're wearing and what to expect.
