Your Guide to Metals
Discover everything you need to know about jewellery metals and how to care for them. With the right care, your jewellery can maintain its beauty for years to come.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is prized for its exceptional strength, durability, and resistance to tarnishing, making it ideal for everyday wear. It is also commonly used in our watches, valued for its ability to maintain structure and a polished finish over time. In our Nomination Italy bracelets, it forms a robust, low-maintenance base, with each link enhanced by decorative details in sterling silver and solid gold for a refined finish.
Sterling Silver (925)
Sterling silver is a widely used material in jewellery, composed of 92.5% pure silver. Known for its bright, luminous finish, it offers an effortlessly polished look that suits any style. With proper care, sterling silver is incredibly durable and can last a lifetime, maintaining its beauty for years to come.
Gold Plated
Gold plated jewellery features a layer of gold, typically over a sterling silver base, offering the look of solid gold at a more accessible price point. Lightweight and beautifully finished, it’s ideal for everyday styling. With mindful wear and care, the gold layer can be preserved for longer - see our Jewellery Care Guide for tips on maintaining your pieces - although items like rings, which experience more frequent contact, may naturally show wear sooner than earrings or necklaces.
Gold Vermeil
Gold Vermeil refers to a layer of gold plating over a base of 925 sterling silver. In contrast to standard gold plating, vermeil must meet a higher standard, with a minimum gold thickness of 2.5 microns, making it significantly more durable. It is often chosen over standard gold plating for pieces like rings that naturally experience more wear, offering a longer-lasting, more resilient finish.
Solid Gold
Pure gold is naturally quite soft, which is why it’s usually blended with other metals when made into jewellery. In 9k gold, a higher percentage of these added metals makes it stronger and more durable, making it a great choice for everyday wear. Compared to higher karat options like 18k gold, 9k gold is more resistant to scratches and general wear, so it requires less maintenance while still offering a beautiful gold finish.
