Different Types of Gold Jewelry

Understanding Precious Metals at Moissé

At Moissé, we believe luxury should feel as honest as it looks. Every piece is crafted with precision, intention, and lasting beauty, and understanding what your jewelry is made of helps you care for it and appreciate its value.

Below, we explain the difference between Gold-Plated, Vermeil, and Sterling Silver — and why Moissé chooses Vermeil for the majority of our fine jewelry pieces.

Gold-Plated Jewelry

Gold-plated jewelry features a very thin layer of real gold bonded to a base metal such as brass or stainless steel. While attractive at first, many gold-plated pieces have an extremely thin coating — sometimes less than 0.1 micron — which can fade quickly with everyday wear.

Gold plating offers an accessible entry into gold-toned jewelry, but it typically lacks the durability and purity that define fine jewelry. This is why Moissé does not use standard gold plating on our pieces.

Instead, we craft our jewelry with 14k Gold Vermeil, which provides the same luminous appearance with far superior quality and longevity.

Vermeil (Pronounced “ver-may”)

Vermeil represents one of the highest standards in gold craftsmanship. To be legally called vermeil in the United States, jewelry must meet strict criteria:

  • A base of solid 925 sterling silver
  • A layer of real gold that is at least 2.5 microns thick
  • Gold of at least 10 karats

At Moissé, we go beyond the minimum by using 14k Gold Vermeil — a thick, genuine gold layer over fine sterling silver. This composition ensures a deeper, richer color and remarkable resistance to fading or tarnish.

The result: the beauty and brilliance of solid gold, at a more accessible price, without compromising integrity or longevity.

Sterling Silver

Sterling silver, marked “925,” is composed of 92.5% pure silver and small amounts of other metals for strength. Naturally lustrous and hypoallergenic, it remains a timeless material that endures with minimal care.

Every Moissé sterling silver piece is:

  • Rhodium-finished to resist tarnish and maintain its brilliant shine.
  • Designed to complement our gold vermeil collection for effortless mixing and layering.

The result: a modern foundation for everyday luxury.

Why Moissé Chooses Vermeil

We believe transparency is the new definition of luxury. Vermeil allows us to deliver pieces that balance fine jewelry quality with modern accessibility. Our gold layer is several times thicker than standard plating, applied over pure sterling silver — never brass or base alloys.

This ensures your jewelry maintains its color, resists tarnish, and shines beautifully for years to come.

Explore the Collection →

Fine & Fair Jewelry, crafted to shine without compromise.