Most jewelry sites put "18k gold" in the title and stop there. That usually means a coating measured in fractions of a micron, and you find out which when it wears. We'd rather just tell you.
What our pieces are made of
Stainless steel with a gold-tone finish. Two things that's worth knowing for.
Steel has no copper in it. That's the reason brass jewelry leaves a green mark on your neck and ours won't — there's simply nothing in it to react with your skin.
And steel doesn't rust. Caught in the rain, worn on a hot day, forgotten in a gym bag — the metal underneath is fine.
The gold tone is a finish on the surface, not solid gold. Look after it and it holds its colour for years. Swim in it, shower in it, or wear it through a workout and it won't.
The terms, plainly
Gold-tone — a gold-coloured finish over another metal. That's what we sell, and we say so.
Gold-plated — a thin layer of actual gold over a base metal. There's no legal minimum thickness for the term itself. It can wear through.
Gold-filled — a much thicker gold layer mechanically bonded to a base. US rules require at least 10 karat gold making up at least 1/20th of the item's total metal weight. Far more durable than plate. Still not solid gold.
Vermeil — gold over sterling silver specifically. Requires a sterling base, at least 10 karat gold, and a minimum 2.5 microns throughout. A lot of jewelry sold as vermeil wouldn't meet that standard.
925 sterling silver — 92.5% pure silver, the rest alloy for hardness. A solid precious metal, not a coating. It tarnishes; it polishes back.
Stainless steel — steel, not precious. Won't rust, no copper, so no green marks.
How long the finish lasts
Honestly, it depends on you more than on us. The same necklace worn daily through showers and workouts, and worn three times a month and kept dry, are two very different lifespans.
What wears first, in order: ring bands, clasps, the back of a chain where it sits against a collar. What barely wears at all: the face of a pendant.
What actually helps: last thing on, first thing off. Perfume, hairspray and lotion do more damage than water does — let all three dry before you put it on. Take it off for swimming, showering and the gym. Wipe it with a dry soft cloth now and then. Store it separately so other pieces can't scratch it.
Engraved pieces
Your words are cut into the metal, not printed on top, so they don't fade or rub away. The finish on the surface can thin over years of hard wear; the letters underneath stay put.
What we don't say
We don't say waterproof. No coated or plated jewelry is.
We don't say tarnish-free or forever gold. Finishes wear. Anyone telling you otherwise is selling you the same thing we are with better adjectives.
We don't say hypoallergenic. That claim needs alloy composition and nickel release testing to back it up. When we have those numbers we'll put them on the page. Until then, if you have a nickel sensitivity, please don't take the risk on our word.