Hello Giovis Fams
I hope you all had a wonderful, safe, and restful holiday with friends & loved ones!
As the new year is now upon us, it’s time to get to our busy schedules, leaving little to no time to think about what holiday, birthday or special occasion is around the corner. Let alone time to ponder on what gift to get. Well, the good news is, we are here to make your life a little bit easier.
Jewellery comes in a wide variety of metal colours, when searching for the most suitable gift, a lot of consideration need to be taken into account, such as style, metal colour, budget, lifestyle you want or need from your jewellery along with the how, where and when it will be used or worn.
Answering these questions, will assist in understanding what jewellery piece and metal is most suitable for you or a loved one. So, Lynq has decided to help you out by giving you some detailed information and tips on the different types of jewellery metals available.
Let’s get started!
First things first, let’s start with Gold. When looking to purchase a pure 9k yellow gold jewellery product, be sure to know what you are looking for. Yellow Gold is made from pure Gold, one of the most popular and purist metals, compared to other metals, they are less chemically reactive. Making them more shiny, soft, and dense. Pure Gold does not tarnish or wear down over-time. And in its pure form it is bright, reddish yellow in colour, with the highest version of gold, 24 karat. Gold mixed with other alloys like silver, copper etc are seen to have 9k, 14k and 18k gold in them, making them a symbol of wealth.
However, if you are looking for something less expensive but with a long lifespan, then the yellow – gold filled (Bonded) products are your best go-to options. Yellow Gold-filled jewellery has a solid layer of real yellow gold, with heat and pressure used in bonding this layer of karat gold to a brass or other base metal core. Making these products 5-10 times thicker of which is less likely to chop. Yellow gold-filled jewellery has a lifespan of 10-30 years depending on how you wear it, making It less expensive than pure yellow gold but more expensive than plated gold.
Should you look to purchase a yellow gold jewellery piece that is more affordable with an attractive finish, mimicking real gold jewellery, yellow gold-plated jewellery is your best friend. This product has a very thin layer of gold deposited on the surface of another metal (copper or silver). It is more affordable than pure or filled/bonded jewellery. This is relatively strong but less durable than pure gold and you will have to take special care to avoid wearing the jewellery in places where it could get scratched, chipped, or come into contact with chemical or water as it will likely tarnish or wear off.
Now for those who love a rose-gold finish, this unique jewellery metal is derived from pure gold and its various colours. Also on the expensive side, with the combination of two alloys, gold and copper, which are dependent on the amount of copper is present along with the gold, the more copper that is used the darker the gold will be. The highest version of rose gold is a 22 karat. However, for a 18karat rose gold, typically 4% silver is added to the 75% of gold & 21% of copper to give a rose colour finish.
For a more affordable version of rose gold, rose gold plating is your best bet. This type of jewellery is one in which the jewellery is covered with a fine finish of rose gold. Producing a bright, clean finish to the jewellery piece. This type of jewellery has an increasing popularity with its stunning sleek and beautiful finish. With that being said, it is possible for the plating to tarnish and wear-off depending on how it is worn, treated & cared for.
Now to finish off our talk on gold, there is an option of a gold vermeil, for those who don’t know, this is a combination of sterling silver and gold, typically sterling silver coated with 14k or 14k gold. To be considered vermeil the gold must be at least 10k. these products are for those that are looking for something that mimics gold but are much cheaper and lighter than solid gold. And is usually produced by fire-gilding or electrolysis.
Now that we’ve covered gold, let’s talk SILVER….
Fine Silver is 99% pure silver, instead silver is often alloyed with copper to create sterling silver which is 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% copper. This is why plenty silver pieces that are purchased have been coded “925”. Doing this, helps keep the shape, and soft texture of pure silver while adding to its durability, ductility, and appearance. This type of jewellery can be on the expensive side, however compared to gold it is more affordable. And is seen to be shiny and bright, with minimal to no reaction to tarnishing or wearing-off.
Moving onto silver plating, there are two options, Rhodium plated sterling silver & silver plated. Rhodium plated. Rhodium is a silver white metal related to the platinum family and is considered the best in the platinum family as it is the most tarnish & corrosion resistant of them all. This is produced by polishing the fine silver and dipping it in rhodium, producing a bright, shiny and reflective product. Unlike silver plating, this follows the process of covering the conductive surface with silver to prevent it from corrosion while also adding a lustrous shine it to it. This action adds a perfect polish to the jewellery, with proper care it can last longer than expected.
For those who are wanting a more affordable yet high end look, stainless steel is the way to go. Stainless steel is a steel alloy with a minimum of 10.5% chromium content by mass, with the 316L steel alloy grade that is commonly used, this product does not tarnish, rust, or stain, ensuring a long lifespan. Due to this, stainless steel has become popular along with its high-end look and affordability.
SO there you have it folks, as mentioned above, there are many various types of jewellery metals and we have only named a few, that are most prominent in the markets today. There are plenty more combinations of metal that are used to create inspiring modern jewellery. If you are unsure on what metal piece you are purchasing, contact us or your local jewellery to assist with the correct decision.
Wishing you all a fabulous day.
Stay Safe & Stay Giovis