silver gilt, also called vermeil, gilded silver produced either by the fire-gilding method or by electrolysis. In the former, earlier method, the object is covered with an amalgam of gold and mercury. The mercury evaporates when the piece is fired, leaving a gold deposit.

Why is silver gilded?

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. ... For objects that have intricate detail like monstrances, gilding greatly reduces the need for cleaning and polishing, and so reduces the risk of damage.

Is silver gilt the same as gold plated?

Vermeil is a style of gold plating also known as silver gilt. Gold thickness, the type of base metal, and the purity of the gold are three key factors that determine whether something is considered vermeil. Vermeil jewelry must have a sterling silver base with a coating of gold laid over the top.