Materials
Our jewellery designs are made from either18K, 14K gold filled metal or sterling silver. We are often asked about the difference between gold filled and gold plated, so the following information may be helpful.
18K Gold
Expressed in percentage terms, 18 karats is equal to 75% gold content (18 divided by 24). The other 25% usually consists of metals such as zinc, copper, nickel, etc.
14K Gold
It’s composed of 58.3% gold and 41.7% alloy. Appearance: 14k gold has a yellow hue brighter than 10k gold, but not nearly as vibrant as 24k gold. Advantages: Most jewelers and consumers love 14k gold for its perfect balance of durability, affordability, and appearance.
Gold Filled
Gold-filled is not an alloy. It is a layered material constructed in two or three layers. The core metal is jewelers’ brass; though, in the past, sterling silver was sometimes used instead. Single clad gold-filled has all the gold content in a single layer on one side.
Gold Vermeil
Gold vermeil is a legally regulated term that refers to jewelry with a sterling silver base metal and a layer of gold plating that is at least 2.5 microns thick. Gold vermeil is superior to gold plated jewelry in terms of longevity, quality and value!
Gold Plated
Gold plated refers to jewellery that consists of a thin layer of gold that is applied over the top of another affordable metal, such as copper. The process of gold plating is done through putting the economical metal in a chemical solution that contains gold and then applying an electric current to the piece.
Brass
Finally, gold-plated brass is an alloy, a mixture of copper and zinc, covered with a layer of gold of less than 1 micron. Of course, vermeil remains the most expensive of these metals because it is tied to the price of silver.
Sterling Silver
Sterling silver is an alloy of silver containing 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% of other metals, usually copper. Silver jewelry marked with a 925 is sterling silver jewelry that has been certified to contain 92.5% silver content.
Maintenance & Care
- Jewellery should be stored away separately in an air -tight jewellery box
- Keep away from water, do not immerse jewellery in water
- Avoid direct contact with perfume, body lotions or other chemicals
- Remove jewellery when bathing, showering or swimming
- clean the pieces after use and occasionally & wipe with a soft cloth
- Remove jewellery before going to bed or participating in physical activity