Jewelry IdentifierWhat Does VERMEIL Mean on Jewelry?
Vermeil means thick gold plating over solid sterling silver.
- Metal
- Gold over sterling silver
- Purity
- gold layer (≥2.5µm) over 925 silver
- Karat / type
- varies
- Also written as
- gold vermeil, 925 vermeil
- Commonly on
- fine fashion jewelry, designer pieces
Vermeil (pronounced 'ver-may') is gold over solid sterling silver. To qualify in the US, the gold layer must be at least 10K and about 2.5 microns thick, bonded over a 925 silver base. That makes it a step above ordinary gold plating: the core is genuine sterling with real silver value, topped by a durable gold finish.
What is a VERMEIL piece worth?
Unlike gold plate over base metal, vermeil's core is real sterling silver, so it has genuine silver melt value plus a durable gold layer.
How to verify a VERMEIL stamp
Vermeil should test as sterling underneath; confirm with the Is It Real? tool. Anyone can stamp a mark on metal, so a hallmark alone isn't proof — the fastest way to check is to photograph the stamp and run it through the free Hallmark Reader, then confirm the metal itself with the Is It Real? tool. For a full picture of what your piece is worth, get a free jewelry appraisal. To compare VERMEIL with every other mark side by side, see the full jewelry stamps and markings chart.
Frequently asked questions
Related hallmarks
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