About 18k gold plated pieces:

All my products are 100% hypoallergenic. You can wear your Medys pieces 24/7, and never have to worry about developing a rash! Does not contain nickel.

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About 14k gold filled pieces:

 “Gold-filled” is a USA industry standard that legally requires 1/20th, or 5% pure gold by weight.  It’s a strictly regulated process that involves pressure bonding multiple layers of solid 14k gold with extreme heat over a core of high quality jeweler’s brass resulting in a durable, quality real gold product.

Gold-fill actually is not "filled with gold". All the gold is on the outside, so yep, it’s strange.  I’m not sure why the industry decided on “gold-filled” to identify this kind of jewelry—it’s confusing, since it really has nothing to do with being filled with gold.  The only thing you need to know is that the term refers to a thick outer layer of durable, pressure-bonded, real, solid gold...on the outside.  No filling.

A: The gold in 14k gold-filled is definitely real. There’s a thick layer of real, solid 14k gold on the outside of a brass core.  The 14k gold that’s on the outside of gold-filled is the same gold as you would get from a solid 14k piece.  

A: Gold-filled jewelry is required to have a minimum of 1/20th (5%) gold by weight.  The 5% gold in gold-filled jewelry may not sound like a lot, but it’s all on the outside and it's plenty to keep your jewelry looking great for many years.

14/20 GF or 14k GF mark may be present on gold-filled pieces.  Often, handmade gold-filled pieces from smaller companies won't be marked, however.  For example, we don’t mark our rings and some of our other pieces, but we do have a mark on our chains (at the clasp).

Gold-fill is absolutely your best option after solid gold for quality and durability.  It will not flake off or turn your skin green and offers a great option for people with sensitive skin.  We only use the best USA made gold-filled components and stand behind our product’s quality.  Gold-filled jewelry can stay beautiful for a lifetime, especially with a little care.

After solid options, Gold-filled jewelry is certainly your best quality for gold pieces.  In theory, gold fill items can last a lifetime.  Indeed, some gold-fill jewelry still exists from the Victorian era (over 100 years old).  In practice, actual longevity will depend on how you care for it and a variety of other factors. 

14k GF materials are not supposed to tarnish for a long time.  It's possible for gold-fill to tarnish under certain circumstances, but it should not tarnish easily.  You might like to check out a post we did dedicated to exploring the phenomenon of tarnishing and how to prevent it.

Is safe for sensitive skin.  99.9% of people find they have no sensitivity to gold-filled jewelry.  Because the outside of the piece is solid 14k gold, it interacts with your skin in the same way solid 14k gold would.  If you do not have any sensitivities to solid gold, you will find gold-filled agrees well with your skin.

 

Caring for 14K GOLD-FILLED JEWELRY

You DO not need TO TAKE IT OFF TO SHOWER.

Not if you use mild soaps.  It can actually be good for cleaning gold-fill jewelry to shower with it on.  BUT, MAKE SURE that your shampoos and soaps are gentle as certain chemicals can negatively impact the look of the gold.  If you're not sure, take your jewelry off to shower.  I personally shower with my jewelry on all the time, but I just use Dove soap and natural shampoo (for a happy ocean).

Sleeping in your jewelry won’t damage the gold-filled surfaces, but for delicate pieces such as dainty chains on necklaces or bracelets, snagging on the fabric of your sheets or nightclothes can be an issue.  If you can remember to take your pieces off before bed, they'll thank you by staying bright longer.  It's also nice if you can to give them a wipe down after a day's wear just to get body oils off the surface.

The best care you can give your pieces is to clean them gently with water, mild soap, and a soft cloth (eyeglass chamois work great!) and only polish them when they really need it. It also helps to avoid exposure to lotions or wash them off your jewelry immediately, especially gold-fill chain, which can capture bits of lotion in all the nooks and crannies.

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