When you want to sell a piece of jewelry, one question often arises: is it really solid gold?
There is often confusion between gold-plated, solid gold, and vermeil, and this can greatly influence the value of your jewelry when it is being appraised.
Good news: there are several simple methods for recognizing the true nature of a piece of jewelry. In this guide, our experts explain how to avoid mistakes and know exactly what you own.
Solid gold: what is it really?
A solid gold piece of jewelry is made entirely of real gold.
It is always marked with an official hallmark indicating the carat:
- 750 → 18K gold (most common in Belgium)
- 585 → 14K gold
- 375 → 9K gold
The higher the carat, the more pure gold it contains.
These are the pieces of jewelry that sell for the highest prices.
How can you recognize solid gold?
- Visible hallmark 750, 585, or 375
- Uniform color even in areas subject to wear
No color change on edges, clasps, or backs of rings
Gold-plated: please note, this is not solid gold.
Gold-plated jewelry is NOT actually made of gold: it is a metal (copper, brass, steel, etc.) covered with a thin layer of gold, often invisible to the naked eye.
Typical signs of plated jewelry:
- Hallmarks such as "GP," "GEP," "Plated," "Gold Filled"
- Wear revealing a copper or silver color
- Significantly lower initial purchase price
- Color too yellow or "metallic"
Vermeil: an intermediate case
Vermeil is often confused with solid gold.
It is an object made of solid silver covered with a layer of gold.
Recognizing vermeil:
- Silver hallmark: 925, Sterling, Minerva head
- Slight silver tint visible in areas of wear
- Yellow less vivid than 18K gold
How can you be 100% sure? Professional testing
At our agencies in Braine-l'Alleud, Wavre, Woluwe-Saint-Pierre and Uccle, we test your jewelry free of charge thanks to:
✔️ The touchstone
To check the reactions of the metal with different acids.
✔️ The magnetic test
Gold is never magnetic.
✔️ The spectrometer (precise analysis)
Accurate metal analysis — 100% reliable.
These are the only foolproof methods for distinguishing between gold-plated, solid gold, and vermeil.
Why is it important to make a difference?
| Type of jewelry | Surrender value |
| Solid gold | 💰💰💰 (high) |
| Vermeil | 💰 |
| Gold-plated | ❌ no value |
Want to sell gold jewelry in Belgium at the best price?
Good news:
- We provide free valuations for your jewelry (silver, solid gold).
- Fast payment at the best price of the day.
- No obligation.