When it comes to jewelry, there are a lot of terms that get thrown around. "Gold," "gold-plated," and "diamond accent" are three of the most common. But what do they mean? And how do you know which one is right for you?

In this post, we'll take a closer look at the difference between gold and gold-plated jewelry so that you can make an informed decision the next time you're in the market for some new bling.

Gold vs. Gold-Plated

The first thing to understand is that there is a big difference between gold and gold-plated jewelry. Gold-plated jewelry is made by taking a base metal, such as copper or silver, and coating it with a thin layer of gold. The resulting piece of jewelry will have the look of real gold but at a fraction of the price. 

Diamond Accent vs. Real Diamonds

The second thing to understand is the difference between diamonds and diamond accent jewelry. Diamond accent jewelry simply has a tiny diamond (or diamonds) on it somewhere. A real diamond, on the other hand, is the star of the show. A piece of diamond jewelry will typically be made entirely of diamonds or have very few non-diamond accents. 

Now that you know the difference between gold and gold-plated jewelry, as well as diamonds and diamond accent jewelry, you can make an informed decision next time you're in the market for some new jewelry.

So, whether you're looking for a statement piece or something more understated, there's sure to be something that fits your style—and your budget.