14K/20 GOLD-FILLED:
Gold-filled is a layer of 14K gold that is bonded to the jeweler’s base metal wire through pressure and heat. It is then rolled or drawn to a given thickness or gauge. The exterior of the gold-filled jewelry is solid karated gold and everything you can see or touch is a solid layer of karated gold.
In the jewelry industry, the quantity of gold must be at least 1/20th (5%) by weight of the total product. This is normally abbreviated as 14K/20.
In the U.S.A., this process is referred to as “gold-filled” and called “rolled gold” in Europe.
Gold-filled does not tarnish or cause allergic reactions.
925/10 SILVER-FILLED:
Our silver-filled products are comprised of 10% silver. The silver is mechanically bonded to a brass core for a sturdy structure. Silver-filled products offers high-quality beauty without the higher sterling silver cost.
BALI SILVER:
Bali Silver beads are sterling silver beads handcrafted on the island of Bali in Indonesia. The Balinese are highly skilled silversmiths, known for their wirework decoration made entirely by hand.
CUBIC ZIRCONIA (CZ):
Cubic Zirconia, also known as CZ, is a laboratory gemstone created as a diamond substitute. It has a brilliant and unique eye-catching shimmer.
CZECH FIRE-POLISHED GLASS:
Czech fire-polished glass beads are still made by hand in small quantities in the Czech Republic. They are made with an age-old technique that gives their lead-free glass an amazingly bright and shimmering finish with a smooth surface.
FINE SILVER:
Fine silver, also called pure silver, is a valued precious metal. The silver content in fine silver is 95% to 99%, which is even higher than sterling silver at 92.5%. It is also softer than sterling silver.
Fine silver will not tarnish as quickly, if worn frequently. However, with the passage of time, fine silver can tarnish by taking on a mild, goldish patina. It can easily be polished back to its original luster by gently rubbing it with a special silver polishing cloth. Since fine silver is a soft metal, it can be scratched if it is rubbed too briskly.
To help reduce tarnish when not being worn, store it in an air-tight plastic zip lock bag.
GOLD VERMEIL:
This is .925 Sterling Silver that has been plated with a thick layer of 10 to 24 karats of gold, through the process known as electrolysis. Gold Vermeil is the best quality jewelry you can get short of buying solid gold. It offers a less expensive, yet high quality alternative to solid gold. Gold Vermeil is a great option for those with metal allergies due to the durable thickness of the gold combined with the base of sterling silver.
INDIAN SILVER:
With a silver content varying from 90-92.5%, Indian silver is alloyed with lead and copper to give it a heavier feel.
KAREN HILL TRIBE SILVER:
The Karen Hill Tribe in Northern Thailand makes handmade fine silver pendants and beads using traditional tribal methods passed down from generation to generation.
Karen Hill Tribe Silver is 99.9% pure fine silver. There is no mixing and no added ingredients. That missing 0.1% is because it is just not technically possible to remove all the impurities. The higher silver content (compared to sterling silver, which is 92.5%) makes the pieces softer and easier to shape. Oxidation, hammer marks, and slight design variances are part of the allure of these distinctive pieces.
Karen Hill Tribe Silver usually goes through an oxidation process. This causes the silver items to turn black. The silver is then polished leaving the black coloring only in the grooves of the item, which allows tiny details and patterns to stand out.
LEVER-BACK EARRING COMPONENTS:
MEMORY WIRE:
Memory Wire, used for some of our bracelets, is a stainless steel coil wire that retains its shape. It works like a spring. The wire flexes to fit your wrist when you put it on and take it off. The wire is corrosion resistant and will resist tarnishing.
NIOBIUM:
Niobium, a pewter grey color, is an element on the periodic table (Nb) and is estimated to be the 33rd most common element in the Earth’s crust. It is physiologically inert and thus hypoallergenic. For this reason, niobium is used in jewelry, and is found in many medical devices such as pacemakers. As with aluminium, niobium can be electrically heated and anodized, resulting in a wide array of colors using a process known as reactive metal anodizing. The color is anodized to the niobium, not plated. Niobium is corrosion resistant.
RECONSTITUTED TURQUOISE (ABBREVIATED AS “REC. TURQUOISE”):
Fragments of fine turquoise material, too small to be used individually, are powdered and then mixed with a binding agent to form a solid mass.
RESIN:
Resin is a composite blend, which is molded into products. It is used for many things, including jewelry, art and crafting. Resin is a liquid organic compound, that will harden when a hardener is added. When the reaction starts, the resin molecules bind together to form long chains of molecules. Resin is toxic only when in its liquid form. As soon as the resin hardens, it stops releasing harmful substances, and is safe to wear.
RHODIUM:
Rhodium, a member of the platinum group, is one of the rarest and most valuable precious metals. It is a hard, silvery, durable metal and is used as a finish for jewelry because of its extremely reflective surface and its high resistance to corrosion.
STABILIZED TURQUOISE:
Turquoise is a soft and porous gemstone, therefore most turquoise used in jewelry is stabilized. This is done by treating or infusing it with epoxies or acrylic resins.
STERLING SILVER:
For jewelry that lasts, sterling silver is used in high quality silver jewelry. It is a valued precious metal.
Sterling silver is over 92.5% pure silver, mixed with alloys (usually copper) to add strength and durability. It is the copper in sterling silver that oxidizes with the air and makes it appear darker.
Storing your sterling silver jewelry in the open air and humidity for extended periods of time can cause it to tarnish more quickly. Tarnish first appears as a golden hue, then quickly turns to black. This is a normal process that is caused by oxidization and moisture from air and sunshine. The natural oils from the skin can actually help minimize the tarnishing of sterling silver jewelry, so the more frequently a piece is worn, the less likely it is to tarnish.
If your sterling silver becomes dull or tarnished, it is easy to polish it back to its original luster by gently rubbing it with a special silver polishing cloth. Sterling silver is a soft metal and can be scratched if it is rubbed too briskly.
To help reduce tarnish when not being worn, your sterling silver jewelry can be stored in an air-tight plastic zip lock bag.
SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS:
Swarovski Elements is the premium brand for the finest precision cut crystal glass. Crafted in Austria since 1895, Swarovski is highly regarded by designers all around the world.
TOGGLE CLASP:
A toggle clasp consists of a bar on one end and a circle on the other end. To fasten a toggle clasp, slant the bar end of the clasp so that it’s parallel with the rest of necklace strand. Insert the bar end of the clasp through the circle until it’s through to the other side. Turn the bar end of the clasp so that it’s upright to the circle. The weight of the necklace will allow the circle and the bar to sit against each other. The clasp now forms a full circle.
WHITE BRONZE:
White bronze is not actually bronze. It is an alloy consisting of a combination of copper, tin and zinc. Tri-metal alloys are white in color, similar to bright nickel, silver or rhodium and are extremely resistant to tarnish and corrosion.
