Ten 22K Gold Vermeil on 925 Sterling Silver granulation 7mm spacer bead in a traditional Balinese style. Hole size is 3mm. Total weight is 7.9 grams. More valuable and durable than gold plating, "vermeil" jewelry has a thicker layer of gold covering (over 2.5 microns), and by definition has a sterling silver base. Granulation is an ancient jewelry manufacturing technique whereby a surface is covered in spherules or granules of precious metal, usually gold and/or silver alloys of high purity - alloys below 18K gold and sterling silver being unsuitable. The granules are usually made from the same material as the base to which they are affixed.