what’s inside your jewellery box?
intro: —-
What’s the difference between Sterling silver and gold based jewellery? How do they rank in quality, value and durability? What does it mean when it says ‘plated, filled, or vermeil’?
Here’s an insight into what’s in your jewellery box!
STERLING SILVER 925
Sterling silver is considered the most popular go to metal for jewellery due to its durability to hold its shine, strength and value. Sterling silver jewellery is hypoallergenic, tarnish resistant, waterproof and cost efficient. It can be easily cleaned at home without worrying about damage. The main thing to look for in silver jewellery is to make sure there is a stamp saying 925.
You may or may have not noticed, but most sterling silver is either a bright, shiny silver (E-coating) or a darkened almost textured silver (Oxidised). One of the most common comments I hear is “I bought sterling silver, but i’m not sure if it is, as it has darkened.” This is a natural process from exposure to wind, water, cosmetics, and sweat. If it is 925 sterling silver, read below on how to care for your designs.
E-coating is a process in which metal is plated with a thin, clear ceramic layer, which creates a barrier between the metal and the environment protecting it from tarnishing. This also makes the metal hypoallergenic, allowing anyone with allergies to wear the jewellery.
Oxidised silver is intentionally exposed to a chemical process to speed up the natural tarnishing process. This creates patina, a surface colour that occurs when the silver is introduced to sulfides. A layer of silver sulphide forms on the exterior of the metal giving it a blackened look. This makes the silver hypoallergenic and easy to care for.
Why is Sterling Silver the best type of silver to use for Jewellery? why not use pure silver, or silver plated?
Fine silver is 99.9% pure silver. In this form the metal is beautiful and suffers from minimal tarnish, but its generally too soft and malleable for silver jewellery (similar to using solid gold). Instead, fine silver is alloyed with copper to create sterling silver, which is 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper. Silver plated jewellery is not hypoallergenic and the thin layer of silver will fade. Therefore, 925 Sterling Silver is the best quality for all styles of jewellery.
GOLD FILLED
Gold filled jewellery has a layer of real gold that is 5% of the total weight. This layer is coated on a base metal, usually sterling silver or brass. Compared to vermeil or gold plated, gold filled jewellery is likely to be more durable and hold its gold colour for longer. However if it is coated in brass metal it is not hypoallergenic and not ideal for earrings.
The main difference between gold filled and vermeil, is that no matter the weight of the jewellery, vermeil is 2.5 microns, where as gold filled is always 5% of the total weight. This makes gold filled designs ideal of necklaces, bracelets/anklets, chains, whilst vermeil is hypoallergenic and ideal for earrings.
GOLD VERMEIL
Ideal for earrings. Compared to gold filled, Gold vermeil is hypoallergenic and holds a thicker layer of gold than gold plated. Therefore with good care your earrings will remain golden!
Gold vermeil has a solid gold layer over sterling silver. The gold layer has to be a minimum 2.5microns on sterling silver to classify as vermeil compared to gold plated which is usually only 0.5 microns.
GOLD PVD
Physical vapor deposition, or PVD, is a process that many manufacturers now use for coating metals such as stainless steel. The technique involves “blasting” the gold onto another metal at a high temperature. During the process, the material moves from a condensed vapor phase that to a thin solid film.
This creates golden jewellery that is waterproof and tarnish resistant, however compared to gold filled, vermeil or solid gold, it’s shine isn’t as bright. PVD is cost effective.
GOLD PLATED
Gold plated jewellery has a thin layer of real gold (14k, 18k, or 24k) on a base metal, such as sterling silver or brass.
Gold plated jewellery on sterling silver is hypoallergenic, tarnish resistant, and water resistant - not waterproof. It is cost effective and holds its shine, however after heavy use and regular exposure to cosmetic and water, the thin layer of gold may fade.
What we use at Kaveri and why?
With hours of research, testing and designing, we use a combination of materials based on which metal suits our designs. We are continually weighing balancing quality, durability and affordability.
For our silver designs, we only use genuine 925 sterling silver, as it is durable, water and tarnish resistant, holds it shine, is hypoallergenic and affordable.
For our gold earring designs, we previously used gold plated, however have transitioned to gold vermeil. Vermeil has a thicker layer of gold, is hypoallergenic, durable and affordable.
When designing necklaces, we use gold filled beads and findings as they are more affordable than solid gold or vermeil, and hold their golden shine.
How to care for your designs
BEST PRACTISE FOR ALL MATERIALS is to remove jewellery when entering water or applying cosmetics. E.g. before jumping in the ocean or having a shower, remove all jewellery and then once you are dry, and have finished your beauty routines, then put jewellery back on.
925 Sterling Silver
Sterling silver requires little to no maintenance, however sometimes it’s nice to resin your jewels up. Here’s a few tips!
Wear: Fun fact! You can avoid tarnish by wearing your jewellery often. The oils in your skin will keep your sterling silver looking shiny.
Shower : Or is not ideal to shower with your jewellery on, but once in a while isn't going to do any lasting damage. Just make sure to dry it after.
Swimming pools - hot tubs : Avoid as the chemicals (Chlorine) will tarnish your jewellery over time. If you forget, that’s okay! Simply clean with warm soapy water and pat dry afterwards.
Makeup, lotion, perfumes : Jewellery should be the last thing you put on when getting ready ! This is to avoid putting any chemicals on your jewellery that will cause tarnishing.
Cleaning: Combine baking soda and water to form a paste, then use a soft cloth to apply the mixture onto sterling silver jewellery. Rub on, rinse and pat dry!
Gold Vermeil
Water : Although much stronger than standard gold plated, we recommend to remove your jewellery before showering or swimming in the ocean however doing it every now and then won’t do any lasting damage. Just make sure to pat it try afterwards.
Swimming pools - hot tubs : Avoid as the chemicals will cause the gold to fade off over time. If you forget, that’s okay, simply rinse your pieces with warm soapy water and pat dry.
Makeup, lotion, perfumes : Jewellery should be the last thing you put on when getting ready ! This is to avoid putting any chemicals on your jewellery that will cause tarnishing.
Cleaning: Mix 1-2 drops of dish soap with warm water, whisk until bubbly and soak your pieces for 3-5 minutes. Gently clean your piece. Rinse with clean water then pat dry.
Gold & Rose Gold Filled
These designs require a little bit of care. They are safe in water, but avoid contact with perfumes, detergents, skin and hair care products. Also its best to avoid exercising in your jewellery. Refer to Gold vermeil for cleaning. To maintain the golden shine, polish off with a soft polishing cloth and rinse with warm water after swimming in the ocean.
