Have you ever wondered which jewellery is best, what jewellery does not tarnish and which ones turn your skin green and why? Let's break down the quality of jewellery for you so you can make educated decisions when buying jewellery in South Africa in 2023.
Types of Base Metal
Jewellery can be made from a variety of metals and this affects its price, quality and longevity. Below we break down some of the most common bases that are used in jewellery and their pros and cons.
Stainless Steel
Popular because it's affordable and durable. It can withstand most daily activities without corroding, scratching or tarnishing. If it is gold in colour it is plated and this gold colour can rub off over time. It can also dent easily and isn't always hypoallergenic. We have a dedicated blog post on stainless steel jewellery here.
24k Gold
Gold is the most expensive base for jewellery as it is a valuable metal that is rare and expensive to mine and process. 24k gold means that it is pure gold, i.e. 24 out of 24 parts are gold. This may sound like the best option for jewellery as gold does not tarnish but pure gold is actually incredibly soft and pliable and doesn’t stand up well to wear and tear and damages easily so 24k jewellery won't last at all.
18k Gold
24k gold is mixed with harder metals to strengthen it. 18k means 18/24 parts are gold. This is usually the highest concentration of gold in jewellery as it isn't too soft or hard. Gold itself doesn't tarnish but the alloys included in order to make it stronger do when exposed to chemicals, lotions, chlorine, soaps and cleaners so it's best to remove it and clean it gently with some warm water and a microfibre cloth regularly.
18k gold isn't guaranteed to be hypoallergenic for those that react to nickel or cheaper metals as the alloy that is used to harden it can be composed of any metals, make sure to check with your supplier whether their jewellery is hypoallergenic if you have sensitive skin.
Pure Silver
After gold, silver is the most valuable base for jewellery and a valuable commodity. Pure silver, like gold, is very soft and damages easily, so most pieces are 925 silver which means 92.5% pure silver and the rest is an alloy that strengthens it.
925 Silver
Also known as sterling silver, 925 silver is 92.5% silver and the rest is a mix of metals that harden it. Like 18k gold, 925 silver can also tarnish due to the alloys reacting with the air and the silver can be damaged permanently so you need to polish it regularly with a soft cloth and take care of it by not exposing it to creams, detergents, chemicals and water.
Like 18k gold, 925 silver isn't guaranteed to be hypoallergenic for those that react to nickel or cheaper metals as the alloy that is used to harden it can be composed of any metals, make sure to check with your supplier whether their jewellery is hypoallergenic if you have sensitive skin.
Alloys
Jewellery with an alloy base is usually made from some combination of copper, brass or nickel and then plated in 18k gold or silver. It is the cheapest base and makes jewellery more affordable. It is a durable choice and does not corrode as long as the plating stays intact but is not guaranteed to be hypoallergenic depending on the base and can tarnish if not taken care of.
Plating
Jewellery made from stainless steel, sterling silver and alloys can be plated in either gold, rose gold or silver to get the desired colour. There are different qualities and thicknesses which determine how long the plating will last, not all plated jewellery is created equal and that is why some brands charge more than others for what seems like the same quality jewellery.
Silver and stainless steel can be plated in 14k or 18k gold to get gold jewellery at a lower cost than solid 18k gold jewellery. Like all plated jewellery, the plating can rub off from excessive wear and chemicals, water and just generally being rough on it so as a rule of thumb, jewellery should be the last thing you put on and the first thing you take off every
day.
FAQs
What jewellery can you shower with?
Generally speaking, you shouldn't shower with any jewellery on as the chemicals from the soap and shampoos and other products you use plus the abrasion from scrubbing your body will damage your jewellery and make it wear faster so if you want to keep your pieces for as long as possible, take them off before bathing or showering. Stainless steel is probably the least likely to be damaged in the shower but not immune to damage and again, if it is plated, can rub off. See our dedicated jewellery care post to make sure you're looking after your pieces properly.
What jewellery turns my skin green?
Any jewellery that contains copper can turn green, this includes jewellery with an alloy base, 925 silver base, 18k gold base, and even a stainless steel base if the coating has rubbed off. The green colour is from a chemical reaction called oxidation between the copper metal and things like water or chemicals so make sure to follow our jewellery care post to increase the lifespan of your jewellery.
Why does jewellery go black?
The black you see on tarnished jewellery is actually silver sulphide, a compound formed between silver and sulphur. Tarnish is a thin layer of corrosion that forms on metals when it reacts with the air and chemicals. Moisturisers, perfume, deodorants, chlorine, detergents, sweat and other substances can cause tarnishing as they contain abrasive chemicals that corrode silver.
Another factor to consider is the acidity of your skin. If you notice jewellery goes black faster on your skin than someone else's, this could be why. Allergies or sensitivities can even cause silver jewellery to tarnish within hours of contact in some cases and the change can be quite severe.
Sterling silver will also tarnish more quickly in places with high humidity. Pure silver itself doesn't oxidise or corrode however moisture and temperature affect sulphur and it is the interaction of humidity and sulphur with the silver that causes it to tarnish.
But don't despair, jewellery that has turned black can be cleaned if you don't wait too long to do it as the longer a piece stays tarnished, the more permanent the damage becomes. Use a polishing cloth or a soft toothbrush with some silver cleaner or warm water and dish soap to gently buff away the black tarnish.
Storing sterling silver jewellery properly is the best way to prevent tarnishing in the first place. We have a whole blog post here on how to store your jewellery correctly. Store each piece separately in an air-tight container like a plastic bag.
Conclusion
We discussed the most common types of metals used as a base in jewellery as well as plating and some common reasons your jewellery is changing colour. Let us know in the comments if you have any other questions and we hope you found this helpful!
Now that you're an informed buyer you can shop our range of top-quality jewellery below, whether you're looking for sterling silver, alloy, stainless steel or gold jewellery, we have it all!
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