Copy of Materials & Care

 

Jewellery of all types should be stored in a secure, dry place. Pieces should be stored separately from one another to prevent harder metals and stones from scratching softer ones, and to avoid the tangling of chains. Beyond this, caring for your jewellery varies depending on the materials used. All of Silverwolfe Studio's pieces include material details in the description.  

 

Metals 

The type of metal used effects both durability and longevity. For gold, Karat (typically shortened to 'K' or 'Kt') represents the amount of pure gold out of 24 parts. See below for our metal choice recommendations and care information.  

 

Often marked '1/20 14K'. Typically referred to as just 'gold-filled', which is composed of a relatively thick layer of 14K gold, bonded during the manufacturing process to high quality brass. This differs from gold-plated and vermeil, which involve applying a thin coat of gold to a finished piece. Gold-filled is recommended for pieces that are not worn every day, pieces that don't come into direct contact with the skin, and for those looking for the appearance of gold at a lower price point.   

 

Marked '10K' or '417' (denoting 41.7% gold content). This solid gold option is fantastic for chains, as well as pendants and rings without stones. It is the hardest (most scratch-resistant) gold karat. We do not use 10K for earring posts due to possible skin irritation, and typically avoid it when setting gemstones, aside from thicker bezel settings.   

 

Marked '14K' or '585' (denoting 58.5% gold content). 14K is our preferred gold alloy, due to its balance between quality and durability - it is strong enough even for thin and dainty pieces, and has a beautiful colour that is not too yellow. The majority of our ready-to-wear fine jewellery is crafted of recycled 14K gold.   

 

Marked '18K' or '750' (denoting 75% gold content). 18K is the highest gold percentage that we use. It is recommended for those looking for a richly coloured, upscale piece of fine jewellery. Because of its higher gold content, it is softer, heavier, more lustrous, and more expensive. All of our standard inventory jewellery can be made in 18K by request.

 

White gold and rose gold generally have the same characteristics as yellow gold of the same karat, with some small differences. White gold is often plated with Rhodium, a metal in the Platinum family, to provide a richer colour without any traces of yellow. The colour of rose gold comes from alloying copper, and therefore should be avoided by those with copper sensitivities. Higher karats of rose gold contain less copper, and will therefore be more peach than rose coloured.

 

Sterling Silver is an alloy of 92.5% pure silver mixed with 7.5% copper to increase the metal's durability. Though it does tarnish, it can easily be re-polished and returned to its original brightness. It is softer than 14K gold, but slightly harder than 18K. Thin rings crafted of sterling silver may warp out of shape with regular wear, but can be re-rounded as needed.

 

Gemstones

For jewellery set with gemstones, keeping your piece clean and 

serviced

 

Gemstones, like metals, vary in durability. Diamonds are famously the strongest, hardest, and toughest of stones.

Most durable stones aside from diamonds are Sapphires and Rubies, which are both in the Corundum family. Spinel, though little-known, is another fantastic choice of coloured stone with high durability. 

 

Carat Weight  

Carat, while it sounds similar to Karat, is a different measurement entirely. Carat is a measurement of weight, which is equal to 0.2 grams. For standard cut diamonds, carat weight generally represents size in mm as per the chart below.

 

 

diamond colour/quality chart?

other gemstones:

whole world of coloured gemstones, diamond alternatives to bold colours and unique play of light

educated in gemmology, access to any gemstones through trusted lapidaries

a few favourites:

 

We also offer cleaning, polishing, and

Fine jewellery pieces with gemstones set should be taken in (see Attic's wording)

We also can help to identify your own jewellery, and give recommendations on care.

 

It is not recommended for those with allergies to brass or highly sensitive skin.

 

The majority of Silverwolfe jewellery is crafted with recycled 14K gold.

 

gold karat guide

this applies to yellow, rose, and white gold.

While we prefer to work with 14K - great balance between quality and durability - don't hesitate to reach out for a quote on any of my pieces in 10K or 18K.

10K is not recommended for pieces with set stones, but is a great options for chains, as well as pendants and rings without stones.

 

We use a range of materials depending on the type of jewellery. For pieces intended to be worn every day,  

 

 

 RING DIAGRAM labelled parts! shank etc.