18ct gold vermeil is sterling silver that has been plated with a layer of 18ct gold. Gold vermeil jewellery is hallmarked as sterling silver.As with sterling silver, avoid letting your vermeil jewellery come into contact with chlorinated water, cosmetic products or household cleaning products.To clean your vermeil jewellery, gently polish it with a soft microfibre cloth. This removes any excess perfumes and skin oils.When not wearing it, store your jewellery in a box or cloth pouch.Depending on the item and the regularity of wear, gold vermeil can fade over time. On necklaces and earrings, gold vermeil will last for many years; on a ring that is worn regularly we would expect the gold plating to wear more quickly.Re-plating is possible for a small charge; please contact Customer Service on 0208 912 5510 for details.Every single piece of our jewellery complies with the Hallmarking Act, and as such all gold vermeil items weighing over 7.73g are sent for independent testing and marking at Edinburgh Assay Office. The hallmark is a mark of quality and assurance. FURTHER INFORMATION