What are the jewels made of?

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They are made with 14K Gold-filled and Argentium® Silver.  These are very high-quality metals.

If you want to learn more keep reading. 

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Are they nickel-free?

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Yes! They are also Hypoallergenic.

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Gold-filled

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WHAT IS 14K GOLD-FILLED?

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It is made of real gold.

Gold-filled is a layered gold product, made with real gold, from the United States, that is easy to care for and will usually maintain its golden shine for a lifetime.

Gold-filled is constructed in two or three layers. The core metal is jewelers’ brass. A gold alloy is then bonded to the surfaces of the brass core with heat and pressure. Unlike plated (aka electroplated or "dipped") metals, Gold-filled is legally required to contain 5% or 1/20 gold by weight. This 5% is then described by the karatage of the gold alloy. Our Gold-filled items are 14kt gold-filled. The gold layer is 14-karat and is 1/20th of the entire weight of the material.

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IS GOLD-FILLED THE SAME AS GOLD-PLATED?

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They are not the same. 

Gold-plated is a minuscule layer of solid gold applied to a brass base. The plating does not compose any measurable proportion of the product's total weight. It is estimated to be only 0.05% or less of the metal product. Gold plating will generally wear off rather quickly and expose the brass base product.

On the contrary, Gold-filled has 5% of real gold and it will maintain its golden shine for a lifetime. 

So Gold-filled is much much better quality than just plated. 

 

 

CARE & CLEANING

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Gold-filled jewelry should always be stored in a dry place, and gold-filled jewelry should not be worn in the bath or shower, in swimming pools, or in seawater. Tarnishing elements act very slowly in the absence of moisture.
Gold-filled does not de-laminate or peel like plated or "dipped" products. Nor does it tarnish as readily as silver. Many owners find that they never have to clean gold-filled items at all. However, from time to time your jewelry may become dirty from everyday wear. To clean gold-filled, it is best to use mild soap and water. Hot weather and water will not damage the material.

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Argentium Silver

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WHAT IS ARGENTIUM® SILVER?

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It is made of real silver.

Is an alloy with a minimum silver content of 93.5% (exceeding the traditional Sterling standard) with the remaining percentage being copper and germanium. The element germanium has been added to eliminate fire-stain, add tarnish resistance, and heat-hardening properties.

Argentium® Silver presents a bright white color that is closer to fine silver than traditional sterling and extremely slow to tarnish under most conditions. With 93.5% pure silver, Argentium meets the legal standard to be quality-marked as sterling silver. All Argentium is made from reclaimed silver and its sources are guaranteed by Argentium International Ltd.

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IS ARGENTIUM® SILVER THE SAME AS STERLING SILVER?

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They are not the same, and the difference is in their composition.

Sterling Silver is made with: silver + copper.

Argentium® Silver is made with: silver + copper + germanium.

Argentium® Silver is better because its tarnish-resistant, purer, and whiter color than Sterling Silver and has antibacterial and hypoallergenic properties.

 

 

CARE & CLEANING

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Argentium® Silver jewelry should always be stored in an airtight bag when not wearing and keeping it from direct contact with any chemicals, including sunscreen, perfume, hairspray, deodorant spray, body lotion, acetone, bleach, or turpentine.

Argentium® Silver jewelry can be easily cleaned with mild soap and lukewarm water and its shine restored with a polishing cloth reserved only for Argentium® jewelry. When body oils accumulate on your jewelry: wash, rinse, and dry.  Simply use Dawn or non-ultra dishwashing liquid for quick cleaning.

Avoid ionic cleaners, ionized water, harsh cleaning chemicals, and chlorine.  Do not use any sterling silver cleaner or polish on Argentium® sterling silver. 

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For more information, please visit:

https://www.argentiumsilver.com/

https://www.riogrande.com/article?name=GuideToGoldFilledMetals

https://www.riogrande.com/article?name=Argentium-Fact-File

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