Metals
Studio Bijouxx
The metals I work with
The right metal shapes how your piece looks, feels and wears. Here’s a simple guide to solid gold, platinum and sterling silver, and the gold vermeil used in some of my ready-made pieces, so you can choose what feels right for you.
Andrea|Melbourne Jewellery Designer
Solid gold
Yellow, white and rose gold in 9ct, 10ct, 14ct and 18ct. Solid gold all the way through, not plated.
Platinum
A naturally white precious metal that’s dense and durable, and a beautiful choice for fine jewellery.
Sterling silver
925 sterling silver, made up of at least 92.5% pure silver, for pieces with a bright, cool shine.
Custom pieces can be made in solid gold, platinum or sterling silver, and each product page lists the exact metal used. All my in-house pieces are designed in Melbourne, excluding estate pieces.
Solid gold
Carats and colours
Pure 24ct gold is too soft for everyday jewellery, so it’s mixed with small amounts of other metals to make it stronger and more durable. The carat tells you how much pure gold is in the alloy, and I can make your piece in any of these (rose gold in 10ct, 14ct and 18ct):
- 9ct37.5% gold
- 10ct41.7% gold
- 14ct58.5% gold
- 18ct75% gold
Higher carats have a richer colour and more gold, so they cost more and are slightly softer. Lower carats are harder-wearing and more affordable, with a slightly paler colour. All of these are solid gold, not plated.
Yellow, white and rose gold
Gold’s colour comes from the metals it’s mixed with. Yellow gold keeps gold’s natural warmth, white gold is alloyed with white metals for a cool, silvery tone, and rose gold gets its soft pink glow from copper. Yellow and white gold are available in 9ct, 10ct, 14ct and 18ct, and rose gold in 10ct, 14ct and 18ct.
Platinum
Naturally white and made to last
Platinum is a naturally white precious metal, so its colour comes from the metal itself. It’s dense and durable, which makes it a lovely choice for engagement rings and for settings that hold precious stones, and it feels noticeably heavier in the hand than gold.
Platinum is generally well tolerated by people with sensitive skin, although everyone is different. If you have any metal sensitivities, let me know in your request and we’ll talk through the best option for you.
Sterling silver
925 sterling silver
I use solid sterling silver, stamped 925. The ‘925’ means it’s at least 92.5% pure silver. Pure silver is soft and prone to damage, so the remaining 7.5% is made up of other metals, which keeps sterling silver durable and suitable for everyday wear.
Silver can naturally tarnish over time. Gentle, regular cleaning brings back its shine.
For ready-made pieces
18ct gold vermeil
Some of my ready-made pieces are 18ct gold vermeil (pronounced ver-may). Vermeil is a thick layer of gold over sterling silver: to be called vermeil, the gold layer must be at least 2.5 microns thick, much thicker than standard gold plating. I use 18ct gold for a rich, warm colour.
Because vermeil is a layer of gold rather than solid gold, it can gradually wear with time, so a little extra care helps it last. If you’d like a piece that’s gold all the way through, choose solid gold.
At a glance
My metals compared
| Metal | Colour | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Solid gold | Yellow, white or rose | Yellow and white gold in 9ct to 18ct; rose gold in 10ct to 18ct. Higher carats have a richer colour; lower carats are harder-wearing. |
| Platinum | Naturally white | Dense, durable and noticeably heavier in the hand. |
| Sterling silver | Bright white | At least 92.5% pure silver. Can tarnish over time, and gentle cleaning restores its shine. |
| 18ct gold vermeil | Yellow gold | A thick layer of 18ct gold over sterling silver, used for some ready-made pieces. |
Your choice
Which metal is right for me?
There’s no wrong answer, and I’m always happy to help you decide. A few things to consider:
- Wearing it every day? For engagement and wedding rings, solid gold or platinum are durable choices for everyday wear.
- Love a rich, warm colour? 18ct yellow or rose gold has the most gold and the deepest colour.
- Want harder-wearing gold? 9ct or 10ct gold is harder-wearing and more affordable (rose gold starts at 10ct).
- Prefer a naturally white metal? Platinum is white through and through.
- Matching other jewellery? Tell me what you already wear, and I’ll help you choose a metal and colour that sits beautifully beside it.
- Sensitive skin? Let me know in your request, and we’ll talk through which metal suits you best.
Care
Caring for your metals
Every metal looks its best with a little care. Take your jewellery off before sleeping, swimming or exercising, store pieces separately, and clean them gently. You’ll find my full care guide and warranty details in my FAQ.
Ready when you are
Choose your metal
Tell me about the piece you have in mind and I’ll help you choose the right metal, or browse my collections.
Andrea|Studio Bijouxx, Melbourne Jewellery Designer