Jewelry guides

The material and care knowledge that makes every brand page readable.

You only need to learn this once. What a metal is, how a finish is applied and what wears it away explains nearly every price and durability difference in jewelry — across every brand, at every price point.

A heavy sterling silver curb chain darkened by tarnish, with the clasp in the foreground. — Sterling silver darkens with air exposure. It is a surface reaction, not damage, and it reverses.

Guides in production

Gold filled vs gold plated vs vermeil — The three terms that decide how long a piece lasts.
How to clean silver jewelry — What works, and what quietly destroys plating.
Does stainless steel jewelry tarnish? — Why steel behaves differently from silver and brass.
Hypoallergenic jewelry, explained — What the word means legally, and what it does not.
What makes jewelry waterproof — PVD, plating thickness and the base metal underneath.
Sterling silver vs stainless steel — Weight, colour, cost and how each ages.

Hands cleaning a diamond ring with a soft cloth and a soft-bristled brush beside a glass of water. — A soft cloth and a soft brush handle most jewelry. Dips and ultrasonic cleaners are what strip plating and loosen stones.

Each brand profile in the index already states the base metal and finish, so you can apply this as you browse.