Gold filled materials have a thick, solid layer of gold mechanically bonded over a more affordable metal core. The thickness must be at minimum, 5% of the total weight of the material. Properly made, gold filled jewelry appears the same as solid gold at a fraction of the cost, and can easily last 10-30 years before showing wear. It is NOT gold plating, which wears off quickly.
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Many jewelers shy away from gold filled, because it’s quite difficult to work with. It’s a pain, but it’s worth it to me to offer low cost, higher quality alternatives.