Journal · By Our Bench Jewelers
925 Sterling Silver vs Vermeil vs Solid Gold: Which Lasts?
Published December 31, 1969 · Written by the Holycome atelier team, Wuzhou China
925 sterling silver is 92.5% silver, rhodium-plated to look white. With normal wear, the plating lasts 1–2 years before you need a refresh. We offer free first-year re-plating.
Vermeil is sterling silver with a thicker gold plating (minimum 2.5 microns). It looks like solid gold at a fraction of the cost, but the plating still wears off in 1–3 years.
Solid 10K/14K gold is permanent. It will never tarnish, never wear through, and can be resized and repaired forever.