Gold Filled Jewelry Factory — International B2B Atelier
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Precision 14/20 gold-filled bonded wire spool and calibrated metallurgical stock on bright atelier surface
Gold-filled: bonded karat gold, fabricated from wire and sheet.

Gold-filled manufacturing

Gold-filled, engineered for everyday wear.

Bonded karat gold, fabricated from wire and sheet, sampled and inspected for brands that sell gold-filled jewelry.

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United States terminology

What “gold-filled” means in the United States

Jurisdiction: United States. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission's Guides for the Jewelry, Precious Metals, and Pewter Industries (16 CFR Part 23) describe when jewelry may be called “gold filled”. Other countries use different terms and standards; this section describes U.S. usage only.

Under §23.3(c)(2) of the Guides, “gold filled” may be used when a plating of gold alloy of at least 10 karat has been affixed to all significant surfaces by a mechanical process (such as soldering, brazing or welding), is of reasonable durability, and makes up at least 1/20th of the weight of the metal in the entire article. The term must be immediately preceded by the karat fineness of the plating, for example “14K Gold Filled”.

Because the gold is a mechanically applied layer rather than an electroplated film, gold-filled is a different product from gold-plated and gold-electroplated jewelry. The table below sets the U.S. terms side by side.

Source: 16 CFR §23.3, eCFR (ecfr.gov). This is general information, not legal advice. Check marking requirements for each market you sell in.

Compare

U.S. jewelry terminology at a glance

United States only. Minimums as described in the FTC Guides (16 CFR Part 23); karat fineness must be disclosed with each term. Micron figures are equivalents of fine (24K) gold.
Term How the gold is applied Minimum described in the FTC Guides Reference
Gold filled Gold-alloy layer affixed by a mechanical process At least 10K; at least 1/20 of the metal weight of the article §23.3(c)(2)
Gold overlay / rolled gold plate Gold-alloy layer affixed by a mechanical process At least 10K; at least 1/40 of the metal weight; the fraction is disclosed with the karat (e.g. “1/40 12K R.G.P.”) §23.3(c)(2)
Gold plate / gold plated Mechanical or electrolytic At least 10K. Mechanical: at least 1/40 of the metal weight. Electrolytic: at least 0.175 microns §23.3(c)(2)–(3)
Gold electroplate Electrolytic process At least 10K; at least 0.175 microns throughout §23.3(c)(3)
Heavy gold electroplate Electrolytic process At least 10K; at least 2.5 microns throughout §23.3(c)(3)
Gold vermeil Gold coated or plated on a sterling silver base Sterling silver base; at least 10K; at least 2.5 microns throughout §23.4
Karat gold (e.g. “14K gold”) Gold alloy throughout Correct karat designation; hollow items must disclose it and may not be called “solid” §23.3(c)(1)

Process

How gold-filled jewelry is made

  1. Thermal diffusion bonding press applying heat and extreme pressure to fuse karat gold cladding to base metal ingot
    Bonding, as a concept: heat and pressure join gold to the core. No process values implied.
    01 / 05

    Bonding

    A karat-gold layer is bonded to a base-metal core by a mechanical process under heat and pressure.

  2. Continuous wire-drawing die reducing bonded gold-filled stock to calibrated gauges
    Drawn down, the gold stays the same share of the metal.
    02 / 05

    Rolling & drawing

    The bonded stock is rolled into sheet or drawn into wire; the gold layer is reduced in proportion with the core.

  3. Gold-filled jump rings, engineered lobster clasps and chain components on bright atelier bench
    Components prepared for assembly.
    03 / 05

    Fabrication

    Components are cut, formed and soldered, avoiding operations that would expose the core.

  4. Macro photograph of mirror-polished gold-filled curved surface demonstrating zero orange peel or pinhole defects
    The finished surface.
    04 / 05

    Finishing

    Pieces are polished with care to preserve the gold layer.

  5. Master jeweller inspecting seamless bond line of finished gold-filled hoop earring under 10x achromatic triplet loupe
    Checked where the core could show: cut ends, holes, edges.
    05 / 05

    Inspection

    Finished pieces are checked against the approved sample before packing.

Specifications

What we can make in gold-filled

Tell us the specification you need; availability is confirmed for each project.

  • 01

    Ratios & karats

    Ratios and karats are confirmed for each project.

  • 02

    Minimum order quantity

    40 pieces per design

  • 03

    Private label

    Gold-filled collections produced and packed under your brand.

  • 04

    Inside the factory

    See each production stage, from CAD to inspection.

Development

From design to delivery

Every gold-filled project follows the same development path; the time each stage takes depends on the design.

  1. 01

    Design and CAD

    Sketches or references become a technical design and a CAD model engineered for fabrication.
  2. 02

    Sampling

    A sample in the final material and finish, for you to approve before production. Sampling timelines are confirmed per project.
  3. 03

    Production

    Your order is produced to the approved sample. Production timelines are confirmed per project.
  4. 04

    Quality control

    Pieces are checked against the approved sample before packing.
  5. 05

    Packing and shipping

    Packed to your specification and shipped with the documents your import needs.

Who we make gold-filled jewelry for

Gold-filled suits brands that want a precious-metal look and everyday wear at a price point below solid gold.

  • 01

    New jewelry brands

    Launching a first collection: development support, sampling and realistic first-order sizes.
  • 02

    Independent designers

    Turning your designs into consistent production without losing the detail.
  • 03

    E-commerce labels

    Consistent repeat production and packaging that arrives ready to sell online.
  • 04

    Retailers and wholesalers

    Adding a gold-filled line under your own name or from an existing range.

Finished jewelry

Finished gold-filled

What the material becomes: hoops, chains, rings and fine jewelry for everyday wear.

  • 14/20 gold-filled hoop earrings and delicate cable chain arranged on bright ocean-mist atelier surface
    Finished gold-filled jewelry.
    01

    Hoops and chains

    Fabricated from gold-filled wire.

  • Precision-engineered 14/20 gold-filled curb and cable chains on pure white atelier marble
    Chains: gauge, link and finish to specification.
    02

    Chains

    Drawn wire, linked and finished.

  • Polished 14/20 gold-filled hoop and drop earrings on bright ocean-mist reflective surface
    Earrings: hoops, studs and drops.
    03

    Earrings

    Hoops, huggies and drops.

  • 14/20 gold-filled sculptural rings and bands on bright ocean-blue luxury surface
    Rings: yellow, white and rose gold.
    04

    Rings

    Bands and stackables.

Questions

Gold-filled manufacturing FAQ

01Is gold-filled the same as gold-plated?

No. In U.S. terminology, gold-filled requires a mechanically applied karat-gold layer of at least 1/20 of the article's metal weight; gold-plated and gold-electroplated items can carry much thinner layers. See the terminology table.

02Can gold-filled jewelry be cast?

Gold-filled pieces are normally fabricated from bonded sheet and wire rather than cast, because melting would combine the gold layer with the core. Designs are engineered for fabrication from the start.

03Can gold-filled be made under my brand?

Yes. See private-label manufacturing.

Have a gold-filled project?

  1. 01

    Send your brief Sketches, references or CAD. PDF, images, STL, STEP, DXF, ZIP.

  2. 02

    We review it Questions, engineering notes and a structured quote.

  3. 03

    Talk it through On WhatsApp or email, whichever suits you.

Send your designs or references with the karat and ratio you have in mind. We'll reply with engineering notes and a quote.

Request a quote