Every piece Mariqe currently sells is 925 sterling silver, plated in either 18k gold or platinum. None of it is solid gold. That is true of most affordably priced moissanite jewellery, and it is not a hidden flaw: it is the reason the price is what it is. What differs from a solid gold piece is not the moissanite, which is the same stone either way, but how the metal's colour holds up over years of wear, and what that is worth to you.
What "925 sterling silver with plating" means on the product page
925 sterling silver is 92.5 percent pure silver alloyed with other metals for strength. It is the standard base metal for affordable fine jewellery, and it is what sits underneath every Mariqe piece. On top of that base, a thin layer of a different metal is bonded to the surface, usually by electroplating. For Mariqe's gold pieces, the product pages state the metal plainly as "18k Gold Plated 925 Sterling Silver". For the white metal pieces, it is "Platinum Plated 925 Sterling Silver".
That wording matters more than it looks. The gold you see is real 18 karat gold. It is also a coating a few millionths of an inch thick, not the substance of the piece.
What "solid gold" and "vermeil" mean, and where Mariqe sits
Solid gold means the metal is a gold alloy all the way through, commonly stamped 10k, 14k or 18k. There is no separate base metal underneath. Vermeil sits between the two: the base is sterling silver, same as Mariqe, but the gold layer has to clear a specific legal minimum before a seller can use the word.
In the United States, the Federal Trade Commission's jewelry guides set out exactly what each term is allowed to mean:
| Term | Base metal | Minimum gold fineness | Minimum coating thickness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold plate / gold plated | Any | 10 karat | No fixed figure. Must give "reasonable durability" |
| Gold electroplate | Any | 10 karat | 0.175 microns |
| Vermeil | Sterling silver | 10 karat | 2.5 microns |
| Gold filled | Any | 10 karat | Gold layer at least 1/20th of total weight |
| Solid gold | None, gold throughout | Whatever is stamped, eg 14k | Not applicable, it is not a coating |
Mariqe's 18 karat gold clears the fineness bar for every category in that table with room to spare. What it does not do, on any product page we could find, is state the coating thickness in microns. That means you cannot tell from the listing alone whether a given piece meets the vermeil threshold or sits at the thinner end of ordinary gold plate. Mariqe uses the term "gold plated," not "vermeil," so the honest assumption is the plain gold plate standard, not the higher vermeil one.
How each one actually wears over years of use
A plated layer is a wear surface. Skin oils, friction against clothing, and repeated putting on and taking off gradually thin it. Once it wears through, usually at the highest point of contact, the sterling silver underneath shows as a duller, cooler tone against the gold around it. How long that takes varies enormously: a thin layer can show wear within months of daily use, while a heavier layer kept dry and removed for swimming or exercise can hold its colour for several years. There is no single honest number for "how long it lasts," because it depends on the plating thickness, which is not published, and on how the piece is worn.
Solid gold does not have this failure mode. The colour is the metal itself, so there is nothing to wear through to. A solid gold piece can still scratch, dent, or need polishing, but it will not reveal a different coloured metal underneath. That is the entire practical difference: not brilliance, not hardness of the stone, just what happens to the metal's colour over years of contact.
What each one actually costs (checked 21 September 2026)
The price gap is real and it tracks the cost of gold itself, not just markup. A solid gold setting contains grams of actual gold. As of early September 2026, 24 karat gold was trading at roughly $144 per gram, and 14k or 18k alloys still carry a meaningful fraction of that per gram. A plated piece uses a fraction of a gram spread over the whole surface.
| Piece | Metal | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Mariqe Eterna Stud Earrings, a pair with a 1 carat (6.5mm) stone in each earring | 925 sterling silver, 18k gold plated | $118, listed regular price $490 |
| Charles & Colvard round brilliant six-prong martini stud, listed as 1 carat | Solid 14k white gold | $599.20 sale, $749 regular |
Both are moissanite studs, so much of the price difference is the metal, though the brand, the setting design and the way each seller lists carat weight also differ. Mariqe's 1 carat is the size of each stone, so a pair carries two. If the plating on the Mariqe piece eventually wears and you choose to have it replated, that is a separate cost: replating a small piece like stud earrings commonly runs $30 to $120 at a jeweller, though it varies by shop. Many owners of lower priced plated jewellery skip this and simply replace the piece when the coating wears, a reasonable choice at a $118 price point in a way it would not be at $599.
What the Mariqe warranty covers, and does not
Mariqe's Lifetime Moissanite Warranty is real and worth understanding precisely. It covers "changes to your stone's optical properties including clarity, color, fire or brilliance." It does not cover the metal. The warranty terms state plainly: "This warranty covers the stone itself, not the metal or setting," and specifically excludes metal scratches, dents, or discolouration from water, chemicals, sweat, makeup or cooking.
That is a normal exclusion, not a Mariqe-specific gap. Solid gold sellers do not warranty against ordinary scratches either. But it does mean that if the plating on a Mariqe piece wears, there is no warranty claim to make. That risk sits with the buyer, priced into the much lower cost of the piece.
What this means for you
If you want a piece that keeps its exact gold colour for decades without ever needing attention, and you are willing to pay for the gold itself, solid gold is the honest choice, and Mariqe does not currently sell it. If you want the moissanite and the gold look at a fraction of the price, and you are comfortable that the gold tone is a surface layer that may eventually need care or replacement, sterling silver with plating is a reasonable, honestly priced choice. Neither is a trick. Knowing which one you are buying is the whole point.
Every current Mariqe listing states its metal as sterling silver with plating on the product page. Browse the earrings collection to see the current pieces and their full specifications.
Eterna Solitaire Ring
Six-prong round moissanite solitaire in 925 sterling silver with platinum plating, or 18k gold plated 925 sterling silver. Choose 1, 2 or 3 carat. From $79, with a Lifetime Moissanite Warranty on the stone.
See sizes and pricesFrequently asked questions
Does Mariqe sell solid gold jewellery?
No. Every current piece is 925 sterling silver, plated in either 18k gold or platinum. There is no solid gold option in the range at present.
What does "18k gold plated 925 sterling silver" actually mean?
It means the piece is made of sterling silver, with a layer of real 18 karat gold bonded to the surface, usually by electroplating. The gold is genuine, but it is a coating, not the substance of the piece, and its thickness is not published on the product page.
How long does gold plating last before it wears through?
It varies widely, from a few months for a thin layer under daily wear to several years for a heavier layer that is kept dry and taken off for swimming and exercise. There is no single reliable figure because plating thickness is not usually published by any seller.
Does the Mariqe warranty cover the plating?
No. The Lifetime Moissanite Warranty covers only the stone's clarity, colour, fire and brilliance. It explicitly excludes metal scratches, dents, and discolouration from water, chemicals, sweat, makeup or cooking. This is a standard exclusion across the jewellery industry, not unique to Mariqe.
Is solid gold better than sterling silver with plating?
It is different, not simply better. Solid gold costs substantially more, largely because of the value of the gold itself, and it keeps its colour permanently. Plated sterling silver costs much less and the colour is a wear layer that may eventually need attention. Which one suits you depends on how long you need the exact gold colour to last without any care.