Gold Filled vs. Gold Plated

Gold filled wire and beads are different then gold plated wire and beads. The difference lies in the amount of gold used. Gold-plated products have a thin layer of gold, around seven millionths of an inch. Gold filled products must have at least one-twentieth of their entire weight in 14K gold. That is why it's described as 14k/20. This means that gold-plated items will not last as long as gold filled items. If you are making your necklace for the long haul, you should spend the extra money for gold filled wire or gold filled beads, which will maintain their luster with proper care. This is especially true with gold beads, where the wear will be that much evident as the thin gold plate wears off.