Meaning & use
gold vermeil
Last updated
Meaning
noununcountablespecialist
Jewelry made by coating a thick layer of real gold over sterling silver.
Grammar: Used as a material noun: a ring in gold vermeil.
Patterns
- something in gold vermeil
- gold vermeil jewelry
The necklace is gold vermeil, so it has a silver core under a layer of gold.
She chose gold vermeil earrings because they last longer than plated ones.
Shops must label an item gold vermeil only if it meets a minimum thickness standard.
Common combinations
- gold vermeil jewelry
- Gold vermeil jewelry costs more than plated pieces.
- gold vermeil ring
- He gave her a gold vermeil ring.
- sterling silver and gold vermeil
- The shop sells sterling silver and gold vermeil.
- plated in gold vermeil
- The bracelet is plated in gold vermeil.
- gold vermeil finish
- The watch has a gold vermeil finish.
Synonyms and how they differ
- gold-plated silver
- Gold-plated silver is a plain description, but it does not promise the thicker gold layer that vermeil implies.
- gold plate
- Gold plate often goes over cheaper base metals and with a thinner layer, so it is less valuable than vermeil.
- gilded silver
- Gilded silver is an older, more artistic term with no thickness standard.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: gold vermeil or solid gold? gold vermeil or vermilion?
gold vermeil vs solid gold
Solid gold is gold all the way through, while vermeil is only a layer on silver.
gold vermeil vs vermilion
Vermilion is a bright red-orange color, unrelated to jewelry despite the similar spelling.
Practice
What is gold vermeil?
Choose one answer.
Vermeil is real gold over sterling silver. Solid gold has no other metal beneath, and plastic or copper does not meet the definition.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “gold vermeil”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.