Is gold filled better than gold plated?

Meaningfully, yes. The gold layer is far thicker and bonded rather than deposited. It still sits on a softer base metal though.

Is PVD gold real gold?

The gold is real 18k. What differs from solid gold is that it is bonded to a steel core rather than the piece being gold throughout.

How thick is PVD gold compared to plating?

Thickness matters less than the bond. PVD is measured in microns like plating, but because the gold is integrated into the steel rather than sitting on it, it wears very differently.

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What is the difference between gold plated, gold filled, and PVD gold?

Gold plated is a thin gold layer over a cheap base metal that rubs off in weeks. Gold filled is a thicker bonded layer, better but still soft. PVD bonds gold to stainless steel at a molecular level, which is why it resists fading, scratching and tarnish for years.

Gold plated means a microscopically thin gold layer electroplated onto brass or copper. It is the cheapest method and the shortest lived. Once it wears through, the base metal is exposed and the piece discolors.

Gold filled uses a much thicker gold layer mechanically bonded to a base core, typically 5% gold by weight. It genuinely outlasts plating. The limitation is softness — gold filled dents and scratches, and the core is still usually brass.

PVD (physical vapour deposition) is a different category. Gold is vaporised in a vacuum and driven into the surface of 316L stainless steel, forming a bond rather than a coating. The result is harder than the gold itself, does not oxidize, and does not have a layer that can peel.

The trade-off is cost per piece against how long it lasts. Plated is cheapest to buy and most expensive to keep replacing.

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