Sterling Silver
Sterling silver is 92.5% silver. The remaining 7.5% is copper. The addition of copper makes the silver more durable. It is however the softest of the materials we offer. Stamped “.925,” “sterling silver,” “sterling” or “ster,” sterling silver has a warm look that will burnish over time giving it a pleasant weathered character. If stored or exposed to certain chemicals and or moisture sterling silver can tarnish.
Discoloration of the skin or tarnishing of the ring although rare is a possibility with any sterling silver. Some people can have a reaction with that small amount of copper or they can come in contact with a chemical that reacts with the copper. This is even more pronounced with someone with more moisture in their skin. Exposure to certain chemicals especially sulfur compounds will cause this reaction. Another possibility is that some polishing material or silver or abrasive dust left over from the final finish trapped in the treads or the stamps on the interior or the ring (the final finish abrasive is green). Wash with generous amount of dish soap and an old toothbrush. If there is tarnish on the ring use a kitchen sponge (scrubby).
Gold
We offer 10k, 14k and 18k yellow and white gold.
Gold is mixed with other metals like silver, copper, nickel and zinc for various purposes. Other metals add strength, adjust color or reduce cost. 24 karat gold (24 out of 24 parts gold) is pure gold and not suitable for most jewelry applications. A lower karat gold like 14 karat (14k) would be 14 out of 24 parts gold etc. The yellow gold varieties increase in richness of color as the karat goes up.
The white gold varieties tend to be less white as the karat goes up due to the increase of gold which is a rich yellow (14k white gold is whiter than 18k white gold). In many cases white gold jewelry is rhodium plated to make the white gold whiter. We do not plate our white gold because we like its natural color and we don’t want our customers to have to re-plate our rings. We offer two other white metal alternatives, palladium and platinum.
Palladium
Palladium is a platinum family metal, 95% pure with a white color. It is very durable and has no yellow tinge and a similar density to 14k gold. It is hypo-allergenic, nickel free and non-tarnishing.
Recommended cleaning: Use a mild soap (dish soap) and a soft bristled brush to clean recesses. The abrasive side of a duel purpose kitchen sponge will also assist in returning the original satin finish.
Platinum
Platinum is a very hard dense non tarnishing white metal. Marked “Plat”, the platinum we use is the industry standard 95% platinum. Platinum is close to twice the weight of sterling silver. Platinum will resist wear better than all the other precious metals.
Recommended cleaning: Any silver cleaner will clean these products adequately. You could also use a mild soap (dish soap) and a soft bristled brush (old toothbrush) to clean recesses. The abrasive side of a dual purpose kitchen sponge (scrubby) will also assist in returning the original satin finish. Don’t attack the recesses as the black could come out.
