WHAT IS STERLING SILVER?
Pure silver (also referred to as fine silver) is relatively soft, very flexible, and easily damaged so it is commonly combined with other metals to produce a more durable product. The most popular of these alloys is sterling silver, which is made up of 92.5 percent silver and 7.5 percent copper. Although the 7.5 percent non-silver portion of sterling can consist of any metal, centuries of experimentation have shown copper to be its best match, improving the metal's hardness and durability without affecting its beautiful color. The small amount of copper added to sterling has very little effect on the metal's value. Instead, the price of the silver item is affected by the labor involved in making the item, the skill of the artisan, and the sophistication of the design.
WHAT IS RHODIUM?
A member of the platinum group, rhodium is a shiny, white metal that is highly reflective, durable, and expensive. It is often used as a hardening agent for platinum. In jewelry, it is plated on other metals to increase shine and eliminate tarnishing.
GOLD PURITY
Gold has an extraordinary legacy with unique qualities. As a lasting element found naturally in a distinctive yellow color, gold is resistant to rust, tarnish, and corrosion. Although gold is very strong, it is also the most pliable of all precious metals.
Pure gold is too soft for everyday wear, so it is alloyed with a mixture of metals like silver, copper, nickel, and zinc to give it strength and durability. “Karatage”, symbolized by a number followed by "k", indicates purity or how much of the metal in a piece of jewelry is gold. Karatage is expressed in 24ths, making 24k gold, 100% gold.
GOLD COLOR
Yellow Gold
Natural gold and color-saturated alloys are what give yellow gold jewelry its rich shine. The alloys most commonly used are copper with a red hue and silver featuring a green hue. A proficient mixture of copper, silver and pure gold gives this precious metal its signature warmth.
Rose Gold
The beautiful pink hue of rose gold jewelry is created by using a copper alloy. The overall percentages of metal alloys is the same for rose gold as it is for yellow or white but there is just a different mixture in what alloys are used.