Gold filled is an industry standard that legally requires at least 5% of pure gold by weight. It’s a strictly regulated process that involves pressure bonding multiple layers of solid 14k gold with extreme heat over a core of high quality brass resulting in a durable, quality, real gold product.

After solid gold, gold filled is definitely your best and most affordable choice for durable gold jewellery, especially if you have sensitive skin. With a little care you can keep your gold filled jewellery beautiful for a lifetime. It won’t make your skin turn green, it won’t flake, and it won’t rust.

Caring for your gold filled jewellery is relatively easy (I always call it jewellery for lazy people). It’s possible to shower with your gold filled jewellery if you use mild soaps. There are some (harsh) chemicals that can negatively impact the look of your gold jewellery, such as chlorine, perfume, and salt (from the ocean). Personally, I never take them off, even when swimming in the pool or sea, but it is a good idea to give it a mild rinse with a little soap afterwards.

When you’re not wearing your gold filled jewellery, it is best to store it in a dry environment, preferably in a closed container.

Sterling silver consists of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% usually copper which adds strength to the metal while still preserving the appearance of pure silver.

Sterling silver can tarnish when exposed to certain atmospheres or chemicals. The good thing is that sterling silver jewellery can easily be polished (check out our polishing cloth) or put in a soda bath to remove tarnish and make it good as new!

When you’re not wearing your sterling silver jewellery, it is best to store it in a dry environment, preferably in a closed container.

Gold vermeil is .925 sterling silver that’s gold plated. The number of micron indicates how thick the layer of gold is. A gold plated piece can only be called vermeil if the thickness of the layer of gold is at least 2.5 micron. The thickest layer possible is 5 micron which, if it’s cared for properly, makes it just as durable as the gold filled pieces.

When you’re not wearing your vermeil jewellery, it is best to store it in a dry environment, preferably in a closed container.

We like to use exclusively genuine gemstones and freshwater pearls for our designs. They give the jewellery a more natural look and feel. Gemstones and pearls love to be worn! They are both relatively easy to care for, but keep a few things in mind to prevent damaging them.

• Keep away from chemicals such as harsh cleaners, fragrances, and chlorine.
• Give your pearls some air. Pearls love moisture, so airtight containers aren't ideal for these pieces specifically.

We call it the perfect materials for lazy jewellery wearers! There are, however, a few things to keep in mind if you want your piece to last a lifetime.

After each wear it’s a good idea to give it a gentle wipe with a soft cloth, lens cloth, or even one of our polishing cloths. If you’ve been a bit sweaty from a workout or a hot day, or applied sunscreen, it would be great to give it a quick rinse in lukewarm water and dry it with a soft cloth or microfibre material. Try to avoid abrasive material such as paper towels or bath towels. Taking your jewellery off while sleeping will also help to make it last longer.

Oils from your skin help prevent silver tarnish, so wear it often! There are, however, a few things to keep in mind if you want your piece to last a lifetime.

Avoid contact with perfume, sweat, and salt water as much as possible. No problem if you do, just give it a gentle rinse afterwards.

When your piece has had a bit too much sweat, sunscreen, or any other product applied to it, it’s best to give it a nice deep cleanse.

• Grab a bowl or sink and put your piece in warm water with some gentle soap, preferably perfume free
• Let the piece soak for about a minute
• Gently scrub your piece with a soft toothbrush to make sure you really get into the chain where there is dirt buildup
• Rinse it in lukewarm water and make sure to get all the soap off
• Carefully dry it afterwards, it needs to be completely dry if you’d like to store it

One of the oldest tricks in the book is to clean your silver jewellery in a soda bath. The reaction of the soda to the aluminium foil you’ll be using will cause the tarnish to transfer to the foil and off of your piece. This is how to do it:

1. Put a piece of aluminium foil on the bottom of a glass baking dish
2. Fill the dish with boiling or very hot water
3. Add 1 tablespoon of salt and 2 tablespoons of baking soda to the water
4. Drop your silver piece(s) into the dish and make sure it’s touching the foil. You can use an old toothbrush to scrub the soda onto your piece(s)
5. After about 10 minutes of soaking you can take your jewellery out when it appears clean
6. Rinse your jewellery with water and a soft towel

How long 14k gold filled lasts comes down to three things:

1. What touches it: chemicals that come in contact with your jewellery from wearing it
2. What residue is left on your jewellery (or gets taken off with cleaning)
3. How you store your jewellery

Gold filled jewellery can last beautifully for many years, but we’ve found that when the wrong chemicals are left on your pieces it can cause the gold to darken more quickly than it should. The following list contains possible causes for your piece to tarnish with a rating from 1-5, with 5 being the worst.

• Pools & hot tubs – 5
• Body chemicals – ranges from 1-5 depending on the individual
• Sweat – 2-5 depending on the individual
• Sunscreen – 5
• Perfume – 4
• Unscented lotion – 2
• Perfumed lotion – 4
• Cleaning products with bleach – 5
• Mild dish soaps – 1
• Nail polish remover – 5
• Hairspray – 4

The best way to store your jewellery is in something that’s airtight. Less airflow means less chance for chemical reactions that cause tarnish.

• Store it clean & dry after your daily maintenance
• A ziploc bag works best, but one of our cotton pouches will be fine too
• Store it in a low humidity environment

I switched to gold a couple of years ago and truthfully, I am quite lazy when it comes to taking proper care of my pieces. When I come in contact with harsh chemicals (such as perfume or industrial cleaning products) I do make sure to give my gold jewellery a gentle rinse. Apart from that, I shower, sleep, and swim with my jewellery on. Because of this the chains I wear aren’t as sparkly as new, but you wouldn’t notice when you’re wearing them. If I notice a dark spot, I give it a quick rub with one of our polishing cloths to make it shiny again.