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I get this question frequently since I sell both solid and semi-hollow fine jewelry. I personally collect both kinds – I think each has importance in a collection for different reasons. I’m going to share the break down of my reasoning as to why I prefer one or the other, some examples and other buying tips for you so you can start your fine jewelry collection off right!
The difference between solid and semi-hollow jewelry:
Solid gold pieces, in my definition, are jewelry made of karat gold and completely solid throughout. Semi-hollow jewelry is also made of real, karat gold (not plated) but crafted with a hollow interior – almost like a “tube.” You can often create the same piece of jewelry with a solid version and a semi-hollow version, and they will look exactly the same. It is only until you hold the piece in your hand, you will notice a huge different in weight and in price! If it is a vintage semi-hollow piece, it will often have dents from wear. Denting is not preventable unless you truly never wear the piece!!
Why I prefer solid gold:
-Less likely to dent
-Holds up extremely well overtime, even if you don’t take the best care of it
-An investment piece that will probably increase in value overtime
-I love the heft of a solid gold piece, like a security blanket, I can tell when I’m wearing it that it’s there
– Can be resized easily or repaired easily
When do I prefer solid gold:
-When buying rings and bracelets, I prefer solid gold pieces and not semi-hollow. These are the two categories for me that get the most “abuse” as I’m always banging my hands around and hitting my rings and bracelets often. This is not to say I never buy semi-hollow rings or bracelets, I’m just pickier about it, I have to REALLY like the style, and I will totally take better care (like only wearing them for special occasions).
-When buying workhorse chains that will hold lots of charms, big pendants or get a ton of wear.
Why I prefer semi-hollow jewelry:
– Less expensive than solid gold, but still REAL gold
-Lighter in weight, so you can wear big/bold pieces without weighing you down (especially cool for earrings)
-If there is a specific trend that I want to buy into but can’t afford to invest in a solid gold version, I like buying it in semi-hollow
When do I prefer semi-hollow pieces:
-When buying necklaces (bold chains) and earrings – I don’t think I own a single solid gold earring since the weight of earrings really bothers me! I like to be able to wear semi-hollow hoops, bold dangles, etc for several hours in a day without my ears hurting. I love a big chain – but with the price of gold, solid and bold don’t really fit my budget, so I’m always looking to buy semi-hollow in this category (I just make sure to not sleep in them and take extra care).
Great examples of semi-hollow jewelry to buy:
Trombone Link! Checkerboard hoops! The “Perfect” hoop!
