Why Gold-Filled Wins Over Plated
The subtle luxury that lasts — and why it matters.
When shopping for gold jewelry, you’ve likely come across terms like gold-filled and gold-plated. They may sound similar, but the difference in quality, longevity, and value is striking — especially if you care about wearing your pieces every day and for years to come.
At Desideri Design, we intentionally choose 14K gold-filled over gold-plated, and here’s why that decision matters for you.
Gold Comparison Guide: 14K Solid vs. Gold-Filled vs. Gold-Plated
Gold Plated
Gold content: 0.05% gold, ultra-thin coating.
Durability: 6–12 months, wears off quickly.
Water resistant: No — fades with water, sweat, perfume.
Skin friendly: Often contains nickel — may cause irritation.
Maintenance: High — requires avoiding contact and polishing.
Price point: $ — cheap, fast fashion.
Ideal for: Occasional or trend-based fashion jewelry.
Gold Filled
Gold content: 5% gold by weight, thick bonded layer
Durability: 10–30 years with care — highly durable.
Water resistant: Yes — resistant to tarnish and moisture.
Skin friendly: Hypoallergenic — nickel-free, skin-safe.
Maintenance: Low — gentle clean with cloth and warm water.
Price point: $$ — affordable luxury.
Ideal for: Everyday wear, gifting, minimal luxury.
14K Gold
Gold content: 58.5% pure gold (solid all the way through).
Durability: Lifetime — never fades or tarnishes.
Water resistant: 00% safe — won’t tarnish.
Skin friendly: Hypoallergenic (best for sensitive skin).
Maintenance: Low — just polish occasionally.
Price point: $$$$ — high investment
Ideal for: Engagement, heirlooms, lifetime pieces.
Ethically Sourced
All metals used in our designs are sourced and manufactured in US and Italy.
Materials and useful tips
Sterling silver
Our jewelry are made of the highest quality 925 sterling silver sourced in US and Italy. It’s normal for silver jewelry to oxidize over time. Regular cleaning with a silver polishing cloth will keep your jewelry looking like new.
Tips : To avoid premature oxidation, store all your silver jewelry in sealed plastic bags, or keep them in their box provided with every shipment. Our boxes are filled with anti-tarnish pads ideal for keeping your jewelry nice and shiny.
Gold filled
Gold filled can last a very long time, but it is evenly dependent on several lifestyle and environmental factors. Things to avoid, Pool/hot tubs/chlorine. Porfumes are also corrosive we suggest not to spray directly on the jewels.
Tips: You can simply immerse our 14K gold filled jewelry in a hot water and dishwasher liquid solution and gently rub dirt off with old toothbrush.
14k gold
Sourced in US and Italy our 14K gold is a great chose of investment if you are looking for a lifetime piece.
Metals and gems
14k gold
14k Gold: 14 karat gold is produced from 58.3 per cent pure gold and a 41.7 per cent mixture of other metals like copper, zinc, silver and nickel. ... The presence of a higher amount of alloyed metals makes 14K gold more resistant to wear and tear.
Gold filled
A 14K gold fill piece is created by wrapping an actual layer of 14K gold around a jeweler's brass core (typically 90% copper and 10% zinc). By law, that layer of gold has to be 1/20th gold by weight - meaning that if you melt a piece of jewelry down, 5% of what is in the melting pot has to be gold. This is a durable piece that will not tarnish or chip. It is also safe for those with metal allergies. Gold-filled is much more expensive than gold plated material and will last longer; however, it does have a lifespan of about 10 to 20 years, unlike pure gold pieces which will last forever.
Sterling silver
Sterling silver is an alloy of silver containing 92.5% by weight of silver and 7.5% by weight of other metals, usually copper. The sterling silver standard has a minimum millesimal fineness of 925.
Austrian crystals
Austrian crystals are synonymous with the highest quality glass crystals today. Use a soft cloth for polishing or gently deep the jewelry in a hot water and dishwasher liquid solution. Stones and gems can be polished with a soft cloth.
Gems
Our gems are sourced from allover the world and carfully chosen based on the quality and their cut to achieve the best design with affordable pricing.