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vermeil & platinum

Vermeil

Vermeil (pronounced vehr-MAY), also known as silver gilt, is sterling silver coated in a layer of gold to give a gold appearance. To be considered vermeil, the gold must also be at least 10-karat and be at least 1.5 micrometers thick. Sterling silver covered with any metal other than gold cannot be called vermeil.

Vermeil can be produced by either fire-gilding or electrolysis. Originally, the fire-gilding process was developed in France in the middle of the 18thC. However, France later banned the production of vermeil because over time artisans developed blindness due to the mercury involved in the process. Today, vermeil is safely produced by electrolysis and is frequently used in contemporary jewellery .

Platinum

Platinum is a brilliantly white metal with excellent wear- and tarnish-resistance characteristics. For these reasons it has gained greatly in popularity for Designer Jewellery in recent years. It is, however, very expensive - although the price of platinum fluctuates with its changing availability, it normally costs slightly less than twice the price of gold. In the 1700s, the rarity of platinum made King Louis XV of France declare it the only metal fit for a king. It is 30 times rarer than gold – if all the platinum in the world were poured into one Olympic swimming pool, it would only just be deep enough to cover your ankles


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