Gilt Definition - Glossary of Common Jewelry Terms - Joseph Jewelry Guide | Joseph Jewelry Bellevue Seattle Custom Jewelry (2024)

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Gilt Definition - Glossary of Common Jewelry Terms - Joseph Jewelry Guide | Joseph Jewelry Bellevue Seattle Custom Jewelry? ›

Gilt is a general term referring to an object that is covered in a thin layer of gold or has an otherwise golden appearance.

The gilding process essentially entails applying a layer of gold onto the surface of another material. The art of gilding objects has been around since antiquity, mainly done with liturgical and ritual items. Gilding was, and still is, used to make the object look fancier and more luxurious.

gil·​ding | ˈgil-diŋ noun. An object decorated with a thin layer of gold, gold leaf, or gold foil. Gilding is the process of applying a thin layer of gold, gold leaf or gold foil to the surface of another material, often a more durable metal.

Britannica Dictionary definition of GILT. 1. [noncount] : a thin layer of gold or of something like gold.

Silver-gilt or gilded/gilt silver, sometimes known in American English by the French term vermeil, is silver (either pure or sterling) which has been gilded with gold.

When it comes to durability, gold-filled pieces are generally more durable than gold-plated due to the thicker layer of gold alloy. The longevity of either type is dependent on the wear, environment, and quality of the piece.

Gold is a precious metal. As for the other denominations (gilt, 24K fine gold gilt or gold-plated), these are finishes. In other words, a layer of gold or gilding, of varying thickness, is applied to a base metal.

Gilding is applying a thin veneer of a metal (usually gold) over a 'lesser' metal, usually by “rubbing” (as in gold leaf). Gold plating is an electrostatic process where gold is attached to a “lesser” metal using electric current to make the object and the 'gold bath' into an anode and cathode, as it were.

Gilding gives an object a gold appearance at a fraction of the cost of creating a solid gold object. In addition, a solid gold piece would often be too soft or too heavy for practical use. A gilt surface also does not tarnish as silver does.

Gilts, due to generally being perceived as low risk, offer lower returns than other assets. You could get better performance from investing in a corporate bond or other asset although these can be higher risk.

Is gold gilt the same as gold-plated? ›

Gilding is applying a thin veneer of a metal (usually gold) over a 'lesser' metal, usually by “rubbing” (as in gold leaf). Gold plating is an electrostatic process where gold is attached to a “lesser” metal using electric current to make the object and the 'gold bath' into an anode and cathode, as it were.