What Is Silver Vermeil?

Silver vermeil is silver jewelry or other metalwork with an overlay of gold. Many pieces of jewelry are made using this technique, which typically leaves some silver exposed so that the item has a two-tone appearance.

"Vermeil" (pronounced "vur-may") is a French word with its origin in a Latin term meaning "reddish color." It passed from French into English in the 19th century, when the style of jewelry and metalwork became popular.

French craftsmen developed vermeil more than 250 years ago using a potentially poisonous process involving mercury. Modern vermeil is made by an electrolytic process, which is safe for both the artisan and wearer.

According to U.S. law, vermeil must consist of a base of sterling silver, plated with at least 10k gold on "all significant surfaces." The gold must be a minimum thickness throughout of 2.5 microns, or about 1/10,000th of an inch. There cannot be any other metal between the silver base and the gold plate unless that fact is disclosed to the buyer.

Vermeil has a much thicker gold overlay than standard gold plate, so it usually lasts quite a bit longer than gold plate, which can wear off after a short time. On the other hand, vermeil isn't as durable as gold-filled jewelry.

The White House has a room called the Vermeil Room (also called the Gold Room), which houses notable portraits of first ladies and a collection of vermeil objects donated to the executive mansion in the 1950s.

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Gold Vermeil Jewelry - Sterling Silver
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www.berricle.com/jewelry-rings/gold-vermeil-rings.htm
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What is Gold-filled or vermeil? - Australian Craft supplies
craft.ontheinternet.com.au/beads/gold-filled.htm
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www.ehow.com Women's Fashion Jewelry
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www.silvercollection.it/silverdictionary.html
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Gold Vermeil @ Inspired Silver
www.inspiredsilver.com/c17_vermeil.html
Inspired Silver has the best selection of Gold Vermeil.