Jewellery material guide

Knowing what your jewellery is made of is the key to its longevity. Get to know the materials we use in our jewellery so you can understand its qualities, and how to look after it correctly. Our jewellery care guide has all the expert-approved tips to keep your collection sparkling for longer. So, whether you prefer gold, silver or all-out colour, make sure you’re in –the know.

Gold-plated

What is gold-plated jewellery?

Gold-plated is jewellery that has a thin layer of gold coated on top of a different base metal. Our gold-plated jewellery is coated in approximately 1 micron (layer) of 10k gold plate on a brass base.

Why choose gold-plated?

It’s durable and has all the outer beauty of solid gold, but the plating makes it more affordable. Where suitable, we add a protective e-coat on gold-plated designs, which will help preserve the colour of the plating and extend the life of your gold earrings, bracelets and necklaces.

Sterling silver

What is sterling silver?

Sterling silver is a metal alloy made of 92.5% pure silver mixed with 7.5% other metals – usually copper or zinc.

What is sterling silver used for?

‘Because pure silver is so soft, it is combined with other metals to make it more durable,’ explains Lianna Sheppard, Jewellery Buyer. We use sterling silver for many of our silver jewellery pieces, including our silver earrings, studs and fine chain necklaces, because it has a bright and shiny finish that’s ideal for delicate and fine designs.

Silver-plated

What is silver-plated?

Silver-plated is jewellery that has a thin layer of silver coating on top of a base made from a different metal. Our silver-plated jewellery is coated in 5 microns (layers) of silver plate on a brass base.

Why choose silver-plated?

It’s durable and has all the outer beauty of solid sterling silver, but the plating makes it more affordable. Where suitable, we add a protective e-coat on silver-plated designs, which will help preserve the colour of the plating and extend the life of your silver earrings, bracelets and necklaces.

Gold vermeil

What is gold vermeil?

If a jewellery item is made from ‘“gold vermeil’” (pronounced ‘"ver-may'"), it means it is plated with a thick layer of 2.5 microns of 24-carat gold over a base of 925-stamped sterling silver.

Why choose gold vermeil?

'Vermeil gold is a more premium jewellery, based on the value of materials used,’ says Lianna. ‘The plating is thicker than that used on our brass pieces.’

Costume

Costume jewellery is made with a base metal, usually brass, and tends to have a lower price point compared to gold and silver-plated pieces. Cords, yarns, resin and beads are all used in our costume range, as well as imitation gemstones. This range of materials creates a bold, colourful collection with textural detailing and sparkly finishes.

Pearls

We use natural, cultured and faux pearls across our pearl jewellery. Freshwater pearls are the most common, formed naturally within freshwater mussels. They’re durable with an untreated, natural shade of white which won’t discolour if properly cared for. Cultivated real pearls tend to have a rounder, cleaner shape, while faux pearls are made from glass, ceramic or plastic coated with a pearl-like varnish for a more affordable alternative. Learn more in our guide to the different types of pearls in our jewellery.

Gemstone

Our gemstones are sourced from all over the world, often set into gold-plated and sterling silver pieces. Each chosen for its natural colour and finish, choose from onxy, opalite, quartz and many more. The variations in shape, shade and texture add to the character of each piece.

Enamel

Enamel jewellery is usually highly decorative and detailed. and is a great way to offset a classic gold or silver frame with a brighter colour. To make enamel jewellery, resin is applied by hand to our costume jewellery. When this decorative coating is set, it forms a hard, outer layer that protects the metal underneath.