Click images to enlarge

Description

McKenzie’s Gold ‘n Jewels
SS Diamond Cut w-Yellow Gold Overlay Adjustable to 20" CHAIN
CHAIN:  Adjustable up to 20"; 1.7mm; 
EYE-CATCHING shimmering Sterling Silver diamond cut CHAIN with a 14KT yellow gold overlay. Twisted diamond cut chain has a sterling silver ball the chain slides through to adjust, and a sweet sterling silver heart charm at the end.  
WEIGHT:  3.1 grams of silver;
Nice Lobster Claw Clasp; SE-C100-20SY

 Gold Plated vs Gold Overlay
For most people, it’s easy to confuse gold plated with gold overlay. After all, they do sound similar.
You may be surprised to find out, however, that each term carries very different meanings. If you’re one that sells or buys gold, it’s important to understand the distinction between the two, the biggest being layer thickness.
There are also a few other terms you should know about as well, such as gilding, gold layered, and gold filled.

Gold Plated
Gold plating is the practice of applying a very thin layer of gold onto the surface of an object through a process called electroplating. It gives the object a gold-like appearance and also renders it more desirable for the gold-like properties.
Gold plating is a common practice especially in today’s electronics industry. Semiconductors, circuit boards and audio jacks are just a few of the products people tend to see all the time that use gold plated hardware.
It’s especially popular in the jewelry industry because it gives you a product that resembles gold, but without the high price.
A few specifications for “Gold Plated”:
  • Gold must be at least 7 millionths of an inch thick.
  • Gold must be of at least 10k quality.
 Gold Layered
A gold layered object is similar to gold plated, but it differs in that there is no Federal standard for “gold layered”, so a gold layered object could have as little as 1 millionths of an inch of gold plating on it. That’s a super thin layer!

Gilding
You may have heard the term gilt before. A gilt is used to describe a gilded object. Traditionally, gilding has been largely used for decoration. It is the practice of applying fine gold powder or gold leaf to hard surfaces such as wood, stone or metal without the use of electric current.
Gold Overlay
An object with gold overlay has a thicker coating that will hold up better over time and is usually more valuable gold plated objects.  The technique has been around for thousands of years and used all over the world. It is the process of using heat and pressure to forge a new alloy with base metals, usually brass.
Because nickel is not used in overlay, rings and other jewelry with gold overlay do not irritate the skin like some gold plated jewelry items do.
A few specifications for “Gold Overlay”:
  • The weight of the gold can be less than 1/20th the weight of the metal.
  • A stamp indicating overlay quality must be carried on the object.
  •  
Gold Filled
Gold overlay and gold filled are similar in that they both use heat and pressure, but they differ for the reasons listed below.
A few specifications for “Gold Filled”:
  • Must have an overlay of at least 10k gold and weigh at least 1/20th of the total weight of the metal.
  • A stamp indicating filled quality must be carried on the object.
If you have an object that is gold plated and you’re looking to sell it to a gold buyer near you, you may be surprised to find out that the gold layer doesn’t add any value to your object. On the other hand, if you have an item that is gold filled or overlayed, then you’re in better luck.
So how do you know what kind of coating you have? Without a quality stamp on the item, you won’t be able to tell using the naked eye whether your product is gold plated or overlay. X-ray Fluorescence is one way to measure coating thickness.  There you have it. Hopefully you have a better idea of the similarities and differences between different gold plating/overlay. 
  • All Gem Weights, & Gold & Silver Weights are approximate.
  • Image Colors are as digitally accurate as possible.
  • PICTURES ARE ENLARGED TO SHOW DETAIL.  
  • PLEASE ASK QUESTIONS "BEFORE" BIDDING.
  • WE WANT YOU TO BE PLEASED WITH YOUR PURCHASE.  
  • THANK YOU FOR LOOKING AT OUR AUCTION ITEMS!
​
  • McKenzie’s Gold ‘n Jewels
    I come from a long line of family jeweler’s ca 1943.  Each piece I sell whether Vintage Estate, Trendy pieces from wholesalers, or my own Creations, they are special to me.  I have a wide selection of many pieces that are from all kinds of different Cultures that are rich with history for 1,000s of years.  I know WOW huh!  Each piece radiates these amazing personalities whether new or vintage.  I hope my customers will enjoy their treasure & wear it with pride & confidence that the best jewelry components & one-of-a-kind gemstones are adorning their beautiful bodies.
     
  • Here at ~MGJ~ we sell primarily three types of jewelry and on occasion miscellaneous items:
  • I research what my wholesaler’s newest trends are for the changing seasons & purchase some of their inventory we call “finished goods” (already made jewelry pieces).
  • Next several times a year I go out to Estate Sales & if I’m lucky I come across some really pretty “Vintage Estate” pieces that are a very good value & what I consider very well-made from multiple eras, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, etc.  On occasion I may sell a fun costume piece I find on my Estate Sale searches; or on occasion I make some unusual jewelry that may not be solid gold or silver but has a genuine focal Gemstone - those pieces are always disclosed as not solid gold or silver. 
  • Then there is my Workshop here on South Padre Island, TX where I design my own creations.  I “never” make the exact same piece twice.  I’m just not a fan of seeing ladies wearing all the “SAME IDENTICAL PIECES” from the popular designer-of-the-moment.
  • First, I use “precious metals (gold or silver)”; rarely use anything else.  You may see in some listings that Sterling Silver has a Gold "Overlay".  It is still precious metal over precious metal.
  • Second, I am a big believer in nature’s lovely bounty of glorious Gemstones available in every color imaginable. There are just so many & I like working with them all while trying to keep prices reasonable for my customers.  I put a great deal of thought & creativeness in my designs.  Sometimes it takes a while in the designing process before I am satisfied that my pieces are impressive, unique, & affordable considering the overwhelming competitive jewelry market.  I’m all about the color, different textures & nature’s richness of exquisite, stunning, awe inspiring, dazzling magnificence that natural Gemstones provide, organic or mineral!  You get the picture, I like to mix ‘em up! 
  • Thank you for looking at our store & we would appreciate it if you would come back any time as I am making unique pieces weekly.
  • Fran McKenzie, Owner & Designer, 
  • McKenzie’s Gold ‘n Jewels