Should I Choose 14K Gold or Gold Vermeil?

Five questions to ask yourself when choosing between 14K solid gold and gold vermeil jewelry. 

Hi! At Tiny Tags, we are often asked the difference between gold vermeil and 14K solid gold - and more importantly, which one to choose. We've put together this quick guide on our different material options, and our excellent Customer Service team is always available to answer your questions. But if you need a little bit more, read on! At the end of the day, it's a personal choice; this is your Tiny Tags and you know what makes sense for you. BUT asking yourself the following questions can help. 

Let's begin. 

1) Will you wear it ALL the time (like, in the shower)?

This may seem like an odd question to lead with but it's an important one. Many of our moms like to keep their Tiny Tags on all the time, never taking it off to swim, sleep, etc. It makes them feel like their children are always near them and it's part of the appeal of personalized jewelry with their children's names. While our high quality gold vermeil is the best 14k gold alternative, it does require special care like all fine jewelry. Vermeil is considered the best 14k gold alternative because it has a base of sterling silver, not brass or copper like gold plated or gold filled jewelry, and is layered with 100+ mls of 24k gold (that's a lot of gold!). However, gold vermeil jewelry does need to stay dry and away from other harsh chemicals, lotions etc. If you don’t want to worry about taking off your jewelry and know you will wear day and night, then 14k gold might be better option. 

2) Do you think of this as your "Forever" necklace (bracelet, etc) or a stylish piece you want right now?

For example, is your Tiny Tags your push present or a "on a whim" purchase? If you just want to "test drive" our jewelry with earrings to match an outfit or not sure you'll love the look of personalized jewelry, then gold vermeil or sterling silver may be just right for you. At a lower price point, it's less of a commitment and that may be exactly what you're looking for. You can always invest in another piece down the line if you choose. However, if you have been eyeing that special necklace for a while and your first Mother's Day is coming up or a milestone birthday, this may be the time to get that 14k gold! The value of gold is a pretty solid investment (pun intended) as it is expected to continue to go up. All of our 14k gold pieces come in premium gift packaging and include a cleaning cloth. Now, to decide between yellow gold, rose gold and white gold! Our 14K gold collection is a good place to start.  

3) Do you fluctuate between silver and gold?

Rose gold, silver, yellow gold, if you like to mix and match or go through phases of one over another, you may want to stick to gold vermeil so as not to be disappointed down the line when you're feeling more rose goldy and you just invested in a 14k yellow gold piece. If you're, however, a die-hard fan of just one metal, you may be ready to add that 14k gold piece in your color choice to your collection. For example, if you're all about silver but want a more premium, solid metal, then 14K White Gold may be for you. 

4) Do you plan on having more children? 

This is more relevant for pieces like our popular Skinny Bar Necklace or Cuff. Once they are engraved, you can not add to them. So if you love the look and want it RIGHT NOW but worry you'll be leaving a future child behind, go for the gold vermeil or sterling silver now and you may feel more inclined to go 14k solid gold in the final family piece later on once you can include all of your babies' names. Another option, of course, if you're a 14k gold gal, is to go for a "add-on" necklace like our super popular Mini Dog Tags (made famous by the lovely Madi Nelson). For more inspiration, see our Multiple Kids guide.

5) What makes financial sense for you? 

Straight talk: what can you afford right now? Our mamas love our gold vermeil and sterling silver options for their look and their price points. They look just as good as their 14k gold counterparts and are more budget-friendly. They are such a great option for mamas who want to celebrate their children with a special piece but can't justify 14k gold at the moment. We love that we can offer this and part of our mission is to support all moms so we always will. We also offer afterpay on all of our products where you can make four interest-free payments over several weeks. That said, if it fits within your budget, 14k gold is always a smart investment! 

Hopefully this helps you decide what's best for you. Of course, if you are shopping for a baby shower gift or a present for someone else, these questions can still be relevant but really, you can skip to #5, how much do you want to invest right now in this gesture? Visit our new mom gift guide to help you pick the perfect present. Our grandmother gift guide can also be helpful if the recipient is everyone's favorite grandma. 

Whichever you choose, know that all of our USA-sourced metals are high quality and we provide the same amount of attention and care to each one so you can be sure it's high quality and backed by our excellent USA-based customer service. Need more help deciding? Visit our contact page or email us at info@tinytags.com. And fore more styling ideas, check out our Instagram page!