14kt gold-filled sterling silver 'Triple V' pendant necklace from By Boe. Gold-filled jewellery is composed of a solid layer of gold bonded with heat and pressure to a base metal such as brass. Gold-filled items, even with daily wear, can last 30 years. Gold-filled items are 50 to 100,000 times thicker than regular gold plating, and 17 to 25,000 times thicker than heavy gold electroplate .