If you are shopping online for an item from a new seller, there is always a bit of anxiety mixed with your excitement as you wait for the item you ordered to arrive. There’s always the possibility of not getting what you expected.
Knowing the product you are ordering well might save you from disappointments. If you plan to buy earrings online, for example, paying keen attention to important information on the product might save you from dismay.
Know more before you buy
Earrings have been worn since ancient times. From the crescent-shaped golden hoops worn by Sumerian women in 2500 BCE, earring designs have evolved over the centuries. Even the materials used to make these adornments have changed.
Let’s breeze through some of the materials commonly used in earrings these days. If you plan to buy earrings online soon, getting to know what makes one better than the other is good information.
Sterling silver: The harder and stronger silver
Fine silver is 99.9% silver. Almost pure, fine silver is very soft and not ideal for jewellery. In jewellery making, silver is then often alloyed with other metals to make it harder and stronger. Sterling silver contains 92.5% silver by weight and 7.5 % of other metals like copper, argentium, sterlium, sterilite and silvadium.
Sterling silver has high silver content and is durable, hypoallergenic and is one of the brightest and whitest metals used in jewellery. If you want shiny pieces of jewellery, one made with sterling silver is a good bet.
White gold: Gold turned into silver
Sharing the same qualities as silver, gold in its pure state is soft and gets easily deformed. Other metals are usually mixed with gold in order to increase its strength and hardness. Mixing gold with silvery-white metals such as palladium and silver give rise to the gold alloy known as white gold in the jewellery industry. If you are an avid fan of gold but prefer a silvery hue, then white gold is for you.
Rose gold: A gold alloy with a rosy tone
Rose gold is another gold alloy produced in the same manner as white gold. Rose gold is a blend of 24-karat yellow gold, copper and silver. Copper gives the slight reddish tone to rose gold.
14 k gold plated: A thin plate of gold that shines bright
14K gold plated jewellery has a thin layer of 14K gold bonded onto a base metal giving the piece the look of an expensive piece of gold jewellery. Common base metals used are silver and copper. Nickel, brass, stainless steel, and more recently industrial metals like tungsten and titanium are also used. Gold plating is commonly used for costume jewellery.
With gold plating, you have an expensive-looking piece that would retain its luster for a year or two without paying a hefty price.
Rhodium-plated: Shiny and smooth
Rhodium is a precious metal that is the same family as platinum. Jewellery pieces plated with rhodium are often made of gold and silver. Rhodium plating adds luster to the jewellery while making it stronger and less prone to scratches and tarnishing if the jewellery is made from silver. It makes the jewellery hypoallergenic too.
For those who get skin irritation due to nickel allergy, rhodium-plated jewellery might be worth considering.
These are the common bases of jewelry pieces. If you will buy earrings online soon, knowing what these base metals are and their qualities may help in choosing the dream jewelry piece you’ve always wanted.