Gold-plated jewelry is visually identical to solid gold at the same karat, because the outer surface is genuine gold, there is no visible difference to the naked eye.
Industry Insight
If a product description uses "bail" and another uses "bale," they are referring to the same pendant fitting. The American trade convention favors "bail," while British usage leans toward "bale." They mean the same thing, and choosing between them is simply a matter of geography and preference.
Elemental Detail
Matching metals between pendant and bail is the standard, but mixed-metal bails exist as a deliberate design choice, creating contrast, or as a practical solution, providing a precious metal attachment point on a base-metal pendant.