This is causing a lot of confusion for buyers, and reduce the value of gold. The gold layer is as thin as 1/1000 to 3/1000 of an inch, but still giving the jewelry the same look as a solid gold piece. Gold plated items is created by bonding a very thin layer of gold over a more budget-friendly materials such as silver, copper or brass. Is Gold Plated Sterling Silver Worth Anythingpros& Cons This Charizard card has a large black star in the corner, demonstrating that its a promo card.