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, and you can always get in touch for more information about specific items.
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. Pure gold is relatively soft, so alloy metals are added to create a stronger metal for jewellery. Pure gold also is an intense yellow colour, so alloys have the added benefit of creating new colours of gold.
White gold and rose gold generally have the same characteristics as yellow gold of the same karat, with some small differences. White gold is typically 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 with copper, and 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.
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.
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. Like white gold, sterling silver can be Rhodium plated to provide a richer colour that is scratch- and tarnish-resistant.
Gemstones
Gemstones, like metals, vary in durability. Diamonds are famously the strongest, hardest, and toughest of stones. Next after Diamonds are Rubies and Sapphires, which are both in the Corundum family (Ruby being the name for red Corundum, and Sapphire referring to all other colours). Spinel, though little-known, is another great choice of coloured stone with high durability.
If your jewellery includes gemstones, it is important to have it cleaned, checked, and possibly tightened every so often. A ring that is worn regularly should be brought in once a year. Cleaning can also generally be done at home using a combination of warm water, dish soap, and a soft toothbrush.
Fun facts!
Some gemstones are identical to one another in chemical composition, differentiated only by micro-inclusions of metallic ions. These ions create the arrays of colours seen in allochromatic gemstones, which include Corundum, Beryl, Tourmaline, Quartz, and more. Certain colours have gained their own unique names. For example, we refer to green Beryl as Emerald, blue Beryl as Aquamarine, and pink/peach Beryl as Morganite. Other stones are simply referred by their colour, such as Pink Tourmaline or Black Spinel.
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. Because gemstones vary in density, two types of gemstones with identical dimensions can differ in carat.
Diamond Grading
