What does “gold-filled” mean?

Gold-filled ring size adjusters are composed of a solid layer of gold bonded with heat and pressure to a base metal such as brass. Some products are made using sterling silver as the base, although this more expensive version is not common today. Double-clad gold-filled blanks are produced with half the thickness of the gold on each side of the blank.

White gold is not silver. Our white or yellow gold-filled ring sizers have the look, luster, and beauty of 14k (58%) gold. If our 14k white gold ring adjusters are slightly more yellow than your ring, then your ring is probably a lower karat grade like 10k, or less.

In the USA the Federal Trade Commission defines the quality of gold-filled jewelry. If the gold layer is 10 karat fineness the minimum layer of karat gold in an item stamped GF must equal at least 1/10 the weight of the total item. 10kt and 14kt are very common forms of gold-filled.

The Federal Trade Commission allows the use of Rolled Gold Plate or RGP on items with lower thicknesses of gold than are required for gold-filled. 1/60 12kt RGP designates a 12Kt gold layer that is 1/60 the weight of the total item. This lower quality does not wear as well as gold-filled items.

The gold layer on gold-plated jewelry varies greatly depending on the manufacturer. Unfortunately there is no single, simple comparison.

Gold-filled coatings are 50 to 100,000 times thicker than inexpensive gold plating, and are 17 to 25,000 times thicker than heavy gold electroplate (sometimes stamped HGE or HGP) as found on costume jewelry.

A gold-filled ring size adjuster can last 5 to 30 years, even with daily wear, but will eventually wear through.