JEWELRY MATERIAL | INFO + CARE

Amoorella Jewelry uses a variety of material options for each product. Most of my products are made with either 14k Gold Filled or Sterling Silver. I'm hoping to include more solid gold pieces in the future as well!
See how each material compares to one another below.

 GOLD MATERIAL COMPARISON

 GOLD PLATED

● Lower Quality
● Not meant to last
● Gold plating wears off when worn
✖ Cannot be worn in the shower
✖ Not recommended for everyday wear

HOW IT'S MADE:
Base metal is electroplated in a thin layer of gold.

Benefits of Gold Plated Jewelry
✦ Affordable, low cost
✦ Trendy Jewelry and a lot more design options available.

14K GOLD FILLED

✓ High Quality
✓ Long Lasting
✓ Tarnish Resistant
✓ Can be worn in the shower
✓ Great for everyday wear

HOW IT'S MADE:
Real gold is bonded to a base metal with high heat and pressure.

Benefits of Gold Filled Jewelry
✦ Affordable alternative to solid gold.
✦ Can last for several years when properly cared for.

Continue reading below for Care Instructions and How To Clean Gold Filled Jewelry. ▼

SOLID GOLD

✓ Best Quality
✓ Long Lasting
✓ Tarnish Resistant
✓ Can be worn in the shower
✓ Great for everyday wear

HOW IT'S MADE:
Solid gold jewelry is made using real gold mixed with an alloy of other metals. Pure 24k Gold is too soft to actually wear so it has to be mixed with other metal alloys in order to make it durable enough to wear.

Benefits of Solid Gold Jewelry
✦ The highest quality.
✦ Can last a lifetime.
✦ Variety of price options depending on the karat gold (The lower the karat, the more affordable).

WHAT IS "14K GOLD FILLED"?
Gold filled jewelry is the perfect alternative to solid gold and (when cared for properly) can last for several years. Gold filled jewelry is more affordable than solid gold jewelry, so you get the look and feel of solid gold without the hefty price tag!​

Gold filled jewelry has several layers of gold bonded to a base metal (usually brass) with extremely high heat and pressure. Because of the high heat and pressure bonding process, the gold layer does not wear off easily like plated jewelry does.

GOLD PERCENTAGE IN GOLD FILLED vs GOLD PLATED
The amount of gold in "Gold Filled" jewelry in the USA is legally required to contain a minimum of 5% (or 1/20) of the total weight of the piece.

"Gold Plated" jewelry is usually electroplated/dipped in a thin layer of gold (approximately 0.05% of gold). This is why gold filled jewelry is considered to be 100x stronger than gold plated jewelry.

GOLD FILLED CARE INSTRUCTIONS
Gold filled jewelry is still not completely solid gold so if not properly taken care of the gold layer can eventually wear/scratch off over time.
✓ Can be worn in the shower
✘ Not recommended to be worn in pools/hot tubs with harsh chemicals
✘ Keep away from hard surfaces to prevent scratching

HOW TO CLEAN GOLD FILLED JEWELRY
● Make sure you plug your sink drain hole before cleaning any jewelry!
● Clean the piece gently with mild/natural soap and water. A very soft toothbrush can be used to gently scrub in between chain links if needed but you can (very gently) rub the chain in between fingers as well.
Be sure to fully rinse with water and completely dry the piece(s) before storing.
● Store pieces away from direct sunlight.
● To restore shine on dull pieces you can rub with a jewelry polishing cloth. This is only recommended as needed becauce too much polishing can remove the gold layer over time.

 SILVER MATERIAL COMPARISON

 SILVER PLATED

● Lower Quality
● Not meant to last.
● Silver plating wears off when worn.
✖ Cannot be worn in the shower.

HOW IT'S MADE: Silver is electroplated in a thin layer of silver.

Benefits of Silver Plated Jewelry
✦ Affordable, low cost
✦ Trendy Jewelry and a lot more design options available.

.925 STERLING SILVER

✓ High Quality
✓ Long Lasting
✓ Can be worn in the shower.

Benefits of Sterling Silver Jewelry
✦ Affordable alternative to solid white gold.
✦ Can last for several years-decades when properly cared for.

CARE INSTRUCTIONS
● Sterling silver will naturally tarnish (turn dark) when exposed to air. This is normal and can be restored with a simple jewelry dip (like this one) or polishing cloth.​
Tip: Wear your silver all the time to prevent tarnishing. Your body's natural oils will clean the silver.
● Keep away from hard surfaces to prevent scratching
● Store in a sealed plastic baggie away from direct sunlight.