Vermeil

Vermeil is silver coated with a thick layer of gold, with a certain standard requiring a coating thickness of at least 2.5 microns. Such an alloy was widely used in Europe since the 18th century for jewelry, luxury items, and church utensils. Unlike ordinary gilded silver, vermeil is not just a passing fashion: items must meet strict standards, allowing them to retain their noble appearance for centuries.

Often, pieces bear the hallmark "VERMEIL," especially on French or English items.

Fun fact: In 19th-century Paris, there was an entire street of craftsmen famous for vermeil jewelry artistry—some of them held inter-home competitions for the brightness of the gilding!

In the auction world today, vermeil is valued for its rare combination of luxury and refined practicality; such pieces often look no worse than pure gold but are far more affordable.