Materials for the fashion jewelry

What is stainless steel?

Because of its stainless qualities, stainless steel is a very common metal in all areas of domestic and industrial life.

Stainless steel is an alloy of iron, chromium, nickel, and carbon — components that are necessary to ensure the formation of a self-regenerating layer that makes it stainless.

Is stainless steel allergenic?

The nickel, one of the components of this alloy, is the allergenic element. However, the alloy that makes up stainless steel is extremely strong and limits its release.This means that the nickel particles become trapped in the alloy, so they remain strongly bound to the other components.

The fact that nickel does get freed is what makes stainless steel a hypoallergenic metal that will not irritate the skin.

The advantages of stainless steel:

Stainless steel has many advantages including:

• Malleable when hot. It can be engraved.
• Hypoallergenic. It does not irritate the skin except in rare cases.
• Ecological. It does not release nickel in its environment.
• Almost indestructible and inflexible.
• Requires little maintenance.
• Reflects the light and shines as much as silver and gold.
• Does not tarnish over time.
• Does not change colours.

Silver 925 is synonymous with solid silver (French denomination) and sterling silver (English denomination).

This denomination simply means that the jewel is made of real silver as opposed to a silver plating.

Sterling silver or 925 silver, corresponds to the amount of pure silver contained in the jewel;

• 92.5% pure silver
• 7.5% copper

Benefits of sterling silver:

Silver is appreciated as much for its brilliance as for its colour, and is much more accessible than platinum and gold. It makes it possible for you to make bold choices and to follow fashionable trends without breaking the bank.

How to maintain your sterling silver:

With proper care, your high quality silver will last a lifetime. To minimize scratches and other damage, it is best to store your silver jewelry in a cloth pouch or in a separate compartment in your jewelry box. Avoid exposing your silver to household chemicals when cleaning with bleach or ammonia, or when swimming in chlorinated water, as these chemicals can damage the silver.

What is Rhodium Plated Jewelry?

Rhodium is a rare metal that belongs to the platinum family (with ruthenium, palladium, osmium, iridium and platinum). It is a metal that has a high quality of resistance to corrosion and oxidation.

There is no known allergy to Rhodium, which is why it is often used in jewelry:

On jewelry composed of similar metals or alloys, rhodium plating makes it possible to considerably increase the jewelry’s resistance and gives it a colour fairly close to that of steel throughout the lifespan of the plating.

Rhodium is chosen for its remarkable qualities: a strength and hardness that will allow the jewel to better withstand scratches and shocks, and a brilliant white-silver colour of exceptional intensity and lifespan. Finally, it is stainless: once the rhodium is deposited on the jewel, the jewel’s colour will no longer vary. However, since rhodium plating is very thin, the layer may wear out with time, revealing the coated metal.

How to maintain your Rhodium Plated Jewelry:

Rhodium’s great advantage is that it does not need much maintenance, which is why rhodium plated jewelry is generally preferred. If you wish to maintain them, simply plunge them into a bath of hot water with a small amount of natural soap such as Marseille soap. Dry your jewelry with a MicroSham cloth immediately after cleaning to make them shine. If the rhodium layer becomes damaged, you can bring your pieces to a jeweller that is specialized in rhodium plating.

The 18-karat gold-plated jewel, as the name suggests, is characterized by an 18-carat gold plating applied to a metal jewel that possesses an electric current, usually brass; an alloy of copper and zinc. Sometimes silver can also be used as a base. If this is the case, it would then bear the name of gilt silver.

Whatever metal is used, the brilliance of the jewel, enhanced by the 18-carat gold plating, will contribute to showcasing its creator’s signature and the particular design of the affordable jewel.

The gold plated jewel and its lifespan:

An 18-carat gold plated jewel of 3 microns in thickness that will last from 5 to 10 years which is quite respectable considering the investment. In order to enjoy your jewel and ensure its beauty and longevity, a few basic recommendations should be remembered.

The longevity of your jewelry can vary depending on certain factors such as the acidity of your skin, and the use of products containing alcohol or abrasive products (lacquer, perfume etc.). It is therefore best to remove your jewelry when you use household products, go to the pool or the sea, take a bath or do sports activities.

Moreover, it is recommended to store your gold-plated jewelry in a dry place and in separate pockets so that you can still enjoy their brilliance for a long time.

Cubic zirconia is what’s called a simulated diamond. Since diamonds are very expensive, there has been a lot of research to find their low-cost equivalent. However, cubic zirconia’s low cost  and great resemblance to the diamond means that it was quickly adopted in the world of jewelry. It should also be noted that cubic zirconia is machine-cut in the same way as a real diamond.

The difference between cubic zirconia and diamond:

Cubic zirconia looks a lot like diamonds. However, they have their differences:

Cubic zirconia has no defects and is completely colourless while the diamond has some imperfections and a slightly yellowish hue.

Cubic zirconia is softer than a diamond and may become scratched after being used often.

Cubic zirconia is much more affordable.

Cubic zirconia is heavier than diamond — nearly 1.7 times heavier than a diamond of equal size.

Cubic zirconia is now available in many colours in order to resemble fine or precious stones.

How to maintain cubic zirconia:

Maintaining cubic zirconia jewelry is very easy. They can be cleaned with any jewelry cleaning product. Because of its rigidity, you can even use a brush to remove dust and grease. It is recommended to dry the stone thoroughly after cleaning to avoid the deposit of a slight film, which could harm the brilliance of the jewels.

A rhinestone is a glass that imitates a fine stone or a gemstone. It is used for making luxurious jewelry. It has become a real fashion accessory, and is used for almost everything; embellishment on clothing, jewelry, decorative items, holiday makeup styles, hairstyle ornaments, temporary tattoos, etc.

The rhinestone a glass consisting of at least 24% lead oxide. It is because of this oxide that the rhinestone possesses different reflections and a lustrous quality. Metal oxides can be added to provide colour and give emerald, ruby ​​or sapphire appearances.

How to care for your rhinestone jewelry:

Crystal jewelry is the most fragile to maintain. The best method is to clean them with a dry, lint-free cloth. If you want to give them a deeper cleanse, make sure to pay attention to the metal parts that surrounds them. If the metal is gold plated or Rhodium, it is best to avoid water. If the metal is water resistant, you can clean your jewelry with a brush and lukewarm water.

Swarovski-the secret and the magic:

The magic of the Swarovski crystal is due to a secret recipe of lead glass paste. The secret lies both in the composition of this paste having a percentage of lead reduced to a minimum as well as in the working and cutting techniques of the crystal whose composition makes it one of the purest in the world.

The cutting techniques developed by Swarovski make it possible to standardize the shape of the crystals and to obtain sharp edges for maximum brightness. Hence the similar appearance of all facets of the diamond in comparison with an imitation.

Swarovski – How to recognize it?

• Shine: By comparing two crystals side by side, the Swarovski crystal will sparkle more than a crystal of lesser quality due to the glass compound’s distinctiveness.
• Bubbles: There are no bubbles inside a Swarovski crystal. If bubbles are visible, it is most likely an imitation.
• The uniformity of the crystals: the finish of Swarovski crystals creates smooth and uniform surfaces. Imitations usually possess scratches, swirl marks and oily surfaces, which are due to a bad finish.
• The precision cutting done by Swarovski devices ensures that all of the jewel’s joints point upwards, so the junctions of all facets meet exactly at the same point.

How to maintain your Swarovski crystals:

• Keep your jewel in its original packaging or in a soft pouch to avoid any scratches.
• Regular polishing with a soft cloth keeps maintains its original shine.
• Remove your jewelry before washing your hands, swimming or applying cosmetics such as perfume, hair spray, soap or cream, as this may damage the jewel and reduce the life of metal coating as well as lead to discolouration or loss of shine.
• Put your jewel on last when getting dressed and remove it first.
• Avoid contact with water.
• Avoid shocks with hard objects as this may lead to scratches.