Materials and Care
All pieces are handmade in precious metals, using traditional gold-smithing techniques to ensure each piece is made with the highest level of craftsmanship and attention to detail. Wearable art to be lived in, that will stand the test of time and be passed down through generations.
When purchasing jewelry, it is important to be mindful of materials you are investing in.
Sterling Silver:
All silver pieces available are made in 925 sterling silver. This refers to a specific silver alloy which contains 7.5 percent copper. As pure silver is extremely soft, this alloy was created as a more durable alternative. Although sterling silver jewelry can last you a lifetime, the copper in this alloy is what causes the tarnish most people fear with their silver pieces. The best way to avoid this, is to keep your silver jewelry in plastic bags when not being worn, as tarnish is a reaction to the air. If your silver pieces do tarnish, dips and polishing cloths may also be purchased to remove tarnish and restore your silver back to its original state.
Yellow gold:
All gold pieces available are made in 10k yellow gold. The “k” refers to “karat” which is a measurement of the amount yellow gold within each particular alloy. A typical 10k gold allow contains approximately 41.8 percent yellow gold, the rest of the alloy being made up of, silver, copper, zinc and nickel, which may vary slightly alloy to alloy. As you move to higher karats, such as 14k and 18k and 22k, the alloy will contain more yellow gold, and less of the other materials mentioned, causing the metal to become softer, and more yellow in colour. 24k gold refers to pure yellow gold, but due to it’s extremely soft and malleable nature, is rarely used in jewelry.
We choose to work in 10k yellow gold to keep pieces durable, while being able to offer customers high quality at a reasonable price point. However, higher karats of gold are available upon request. We recommend higher gold karats for anyone who experiences metal allergies, or strong reactions to 925 sterling silver.
Gold jewelry will last you a lifetime, and can simply be cleaned with soapy warm water, and a polishing cloth.
Rose Gold:
Rose gold, often referred to as red, or pink gold, is a gold alloy which takes on a similar appearance to copper, but is much more durable and sustainable. Pure gold is a very rich yellow colour, so when talking about coloured gold, you are always referencing a gold alloy, which has other metals mixed in to give it a unique colour. Each karat of rose gold contains the same amount of gold as its yellow gold counterpart, and it is by varying the proportions of the silver and copper that you get the two different colours. Rose gold containing more copper, and yellow gold more silver.
- 10k gold - 41.8 percent yellow gold
- 14k gold - 58.5 percent yellow gold
- 18k gold - 75.2 percent yellow gold
- 22k gold - 91.8 percent yellow gold
Plated Metals:
Most costume and vintage jewelry is made of a non-precious base metal (typically copper, brass, iron, nickel, tin or aluminum) and will be gold, or silver plated to give it the appearance of a precious metal. However, over time and wear this plating will fade revealing the base metal, which will often change the colour of the skin. Although this can be an affordable alternative, for longevity it is wise to invest in precious metals to avoid skin irritations, or re-plating your piece continuously.