OUR MATERIALS
We are proud of our materials. We exclusively use premium materials such as 925 sterling silver, gold filled, gold vermeil, and rhodium
STERLING SILVER
One of our materials is Sterling silver: a popular metal in jewelry making, known for its bright luster, versatility, and relatively affordable price point. It’s a preferred material for many designers and craftsmen due to its workability and durability.
To fully appreciate sterling silver, it’s important to understand its composition, and characteristics.
Sterling silver is an alloy composed of 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals to enhance durability. The addition of copper or other metals enhances the metal’s strength and durability without compromising its beautiful silver color. The standard for sterling silver is a minimum millesimal fineness of 925, meaning it contains 925 parts of pure silver out of 1000. This standard ensures the alloy maintains its quality while being hard enough for crafting intricate jewelry designs.
While pure silver is too soft for everyday wear, the addition of copper in sterling silver makes it sufficiently durable for jewelry, silverware, and other items. However, we apply a layer of fine silver coating on all of our sterling silver pieces. It has a bright, white metallic luster that can be finished in various ways, including a high polish, satin, matte, or antiqued look, suiting many styles and preferences
Sterling silver is highly malleable and easy to shape, making it ideal for creating a wide range of jewelry designs, from simple bands to complex, detailed pieces.. Compared to gold and platinum, sterling silver is more affordable, allowing for the creation of luxurious, high-quality jewelry at a fraction of the cost.
Sterling silver’s combination of beauty, durability, and affordability makes it a favored choice in the world of jewelry and beyond. With proper care, items made from sterling silver can last a lifetime, making them not only beautiful adornments but also cherished heirlooms.
GOLD FILLED
Another one of our materials is Gold filled: it features a layer of genuine gold bonded to a base metal core, in our case sterling silver. This results in a durable and long-lasting piece with the luxurious look and feel of solid gold, at a fraction of the cost. The bonding process ensures that the gold layer is permanently attached to the base metal, preventing it from peeling or flaking off under normal circumstances and with the proper care. It lasts much longer than gold-plated jewelry and, with proper care, can retain its beauty for decades.
Gold filled jewelry represents a beautiful and affordable alternative to solid gold, offering both durability and a touch of luxury. It’s a term that often comes up in the jewelry industry, denoting a specific process and quality standard that differs significantly from other forms of gold plating or coating.
Due to the thicker layer of gold, gold filled jewelry is significantly more durable than gold-plated pieces (gold plated pieces usually use brass as a base). It is resistant to tarnishing and wear, making it suitable for daily use with the proper care.
Our gold filled jewelry is hypoallergenic, making it a safe choice for individuals with sensitive skin, as long as they do not have allergies to the base metal used.
Gold filled jewelry offers the luxurious look of solid gold without the high price tag, making it accessible to a wider audience.
RHODIUM
Rhodium is also one of our materials, a precious metal that is part of the platinum family, is highly regarded for its outstanding qualities, making it a sought-after material in the creation of fine jewelry. Among its most celebrated characteristics are its remarkable durability and robust resistance to corrosion and tarnishing. These attributes ensure that jewelry pieces coated with rhodium retain their pristine condition over time, significantly extending their lifespan compared to those made from less resilient materials.
In addition to its durability, rhodium is prized for its stunning, high-shine finish that closely resembles the appearance of white gold. This similarity allows jewelers to achieve the luxurious look and feel of white gold at a more accessible price point, making rhodium-plated jewelry a popular choice among consumers seeking elegance and value. The bright, reflective surface of rhodium enhances the brilliance of gemstones, making them appear more vibrant and dazzling.
Rhodium‘s rarity further contributes to its appeal. Being one of the rarest metals on Earth, its use in jewelry adds an element of exclusivity and prestige. This exclusivity is not just about the aesthetic appeal; it also reflects the metal’s superior quality and the craftsmanship required to work with such a material.
Moreover, rhodium’s hypoallergenic properties make it an ideal choice for individuals with sensitive skin.
We sometimes utilize rhodium in a thin layer over sterling silver, enhancing the silver’s appearance and protecting it from the elements. This practice not only imparts a brilliant, white-gold-like finish to the silver but also shields it from scratches and wear, maintaining its beauty and integrity for years. The combination of sterling silver and rhodium brings together the best of both worlds: the strength and affordability of silver with the exquisite finish and protective qualities of rhodium.
GOLD VERMEIL
Gold vermeil, pronounced “ver-may,” is a high-quality form of gold plating that offers a good balance between luxury and affordability in jewelry. It has become a popular choice for those looking to buy gold jewelry without the high cost of solid gold pieces.
Gold vermeil is a specific type of gold plating that involves coating sterling silver with a layer of gold. However, not all gold-plated silver jewelry qualifies as vermeil; there are specific standards it must meet:
The base metal is sterling silver and the gold layer must be at least 10 karats, which ensures the piece has a genuine gold appearance and does not tarnish quickly. In our case, it is 18 karats.
The thickness of the gold plating must be at least 2.5 microns (millionths of a meter). This thickness significantly exceeds typical gold filled, contributing to vermeil’s durability and long-lasting wear.
Due to its thickness and the use of sterling silver as a base, vermeil jewelry is more durable than gold filled items In both cases re-plating over the years is an option if improper care.
Gold Vermeil is a hypoallergenic metal, making gold vermeil a suitable option for individuals with sensitive skin.
Gold vermeil stands out as an excellent choice for consumers seeking the beauty of gold and the durability of silver, provided that it is cared for properly. Its popularity in the jewelry market continues to rise as it offers a perfect balance between quality, beauty, and affordability.
All these metals, our materials, are prized for their exceptional craftsmanship, enduring beauty, and versatility, ensuring you’ll cherish your pieces forever.
