Metal options
925 Sterling Silver
Silver, often associated with success or wealth, is one of the most popular precious metals. It is ductile and malleable. This is a positively ideal way of making all types of jewellery because it can be drawn into write or beaten into sheets.
Silver has been used throughout all of history because it is brighter than other white metals and extremely fashionable. Silver is also extremely versatile, whether it is plain, engraved or stone set, and is the perfect metal to complement other jewels.
The term ‘sterling silver’ refers to an alloy, made up of copper and 92.5% pure silver, and this reflects in the 925-sterling silver hallmark stamp. Slightly harder than pure silver, sterling silver is the most popular alloy used for manufacturing jewellery and silverware. Less common but with a higher purity is Britannia Silver UK, which is also made up of copper but contains 95.8% silver, with a hallmark stamp of 958.
Silver articles weighing less than 7.78 grams are not required to carry a hallmark.
Yellow Gold
Available in 18karat, 14karat & 9karat
Yellow gold is regarded as a timeless metal with remarkable qualities. While the majority of other pure metals are grey or white, yellow gold, as its name suggests, is a shiny yellow metal.
Throughout history, it has always held significant importance. The Ancient Egyptians used gold in their art, whereas the Ancient Greeks believed it was created from water and sunlight. Its stunning quality has kept its worth in jewellery for over 6000 years. This is more crucial than ever in today’s market because so many central banks, including the Bank of England, have gold reserves. Our reliance on gold as a commodity is greater than ever. This association with currency began with the introduction of the gold ducat in Venice in 1284 and has been used in the United Kingdom since 1377.
With such importance placed on its value, gold’s authenticity has been verified by the assaying process since the 13th century. Gold jewellery may carry a hallmark stamp, to ensure it conforms to the legal minimum standards of purity. Pure gold, often known as 24 karat gold, is too soft to be used in jewellery, so it is alloyed with harder metals to make jewellery. The ratio of pure gold to other metals in an item is defined by its “karat”.
Gold is an excellent investment that may be passed down through the generations. It is indeed timeless.
White Gold
Available in 18karat, 14karat & 9karat
White gold is exquisitely fashionable and beautiful. It is a stunning alternative to both yellow gold and other white metals such as silver, platinum, and palladium due to its lustrous and silvery hue.
Gold is naturally yellow and too soft to be formed into jewellery, so it is alloyed with harder metals to create a stronger alloy and maybe a different hue. White gold is alloyed with gold and one or more white metals to produce a silver hue. The most typical combinations consist of nickel, magnesium, and palladium. White gold jewellery is a cost-effective alternative to platinum and does not tarnish, making it an ideal material to complement diamonds and other gemstones. The colour of white gold is dependent on the amount of pure yellow gold and other metals used to create the alloy.
The contemporary version of white gold is often enhanced by rhodium plating. Rhodium is a metal from the platinum group that is naturally silver and beautifully bright. Almost all white gold is electro plated with rhodium to hide any staining or browning from the alloying process and to ensure white gold always has a shiny white, polished finish. Depending on the type of jewellery, over time rhodium plating can wear away or scratch if it is repeatedly in contact with other hard items. Earrings, for example, are unlikely to come into contact with anything which will wear the plating, but rings may show signs of wear.
If you find your rhodium plating has worn away slightly, you can arrange for it to be replated. Madewear can advise on recommended UK specialists. Even when white gold is rhodium plated, white gold will still be hallmarked in the same way as other gold, ensuring its purity and fineness.
Rose Gold
Available in 18karat & 14karat
Rose gold is an attractive metal alloy composed of gold and copper. Thus, the final product has a lovely rose hue. At the turn of the 19th century, rose gold became popular, notably in Russia. Since then, rose gold has been used as a stylish and elegant alternative to yellow and white gold. Rose gold’s colour complements more skin tones than yellow gold and contrasts nicely with other metal colours; for this reason, it makes a complimentary addition to any jewellery collection.
