What is Gold Plate?

   Gold plating is a miniscule layer of solid gold applied to a brass base. The plating does not compose any measurable proportion of the products total weight. It is estimated to be 0.05% or less of the metal product. Gold plating will generally wear off rather quickly and expose the brass base product. It does not stand up to heat, water or wear over time. (Bonus note: Gold Plate is not to be confused with "Vermeil" (pronounced vehr-MAY), which is a thicker level of gold plating over sterling silver rather than a base metal. To truly qualify as Vermeil, the plating should be a minimum of 2.5 microns thick and always over sterling silver.) The Difference Between Gold-Filled and Solid Gold, Solid Gold is an alloy that is described with the karatage of pure gold. Pure gold is 24k. However, it is much too soft to hold its shape or wear well. Therefore, it is mixed or alloyed with other metals to make it harder and easier to work with. Karatage (k) refers to the alloy’s purity. For example, 8 karat gold is 8/24 pure gold or 33.3% pure.
 

Gold Plating vs Gold Filled    

    What is Gold-Filled? Gold-Filled is a United States layered gold product that is gaining popularity throughout the Americas, Asia and Europe. It is a quality material that is common in all types of jewelry. The product is easy to care for and will usually maintain its shine for a lifetime. Gold-Filled is constructed in three or four layers. The core metal can be jewelers’ brass or in many times, .925 Sterling Silver. A gold alloy is then bonded to one or both surfaces of the core with heat and pressure. Unlike plated (aka electroplated or "dipped") metals, Gold-Filled is legally required to contain 5% or 1/20 gold by weight. This 5% is then described by the karatage of the gold alloy. Our Gold-Filled items are between 10k to 24k gold-filled. 

   Gold-Filled is not the same as solid gold. It is a layered alternative product. The gold-Filled karatage only refers to the gold layers that compose 5% of the product on the surface.

     Gold filled is a technique used chiefly to make jewelry by combining metal with another metal. Filled or Overlay jewelry is a cheaper option in comparison to pure jewelry, but it has the same luster and lasts as long as the real thing. 

     Care and Cleaning Gold-Filled does not de-laminate or peel like plated or "dipped" products. Nor does it tarnish as readily as silver. Many owners find that they never have to clean Gold-Filled items at all. However, from time to time your jewelry may become dirty from everyday wear.

     To clean Gold-Filled, it is best to use mild soap and water. Hot weather and water will not damage the material.

   Our Gold products are primarily Gold-Filled or Vermeil (pron. Veer Meal) as they tend to last a lifetime, that is with proper handling, 25-30 years, without damage to the adherence of the outer layers of gold. This is how you can receive quality pieces without the expense of high jewelry pricing. I do have some 24k solid gold items, but they will be priced according to the gold standard.

     Otherwise, silver pieces are either .925 Sterling Silver, or Tibetian Silver, otherwise known as "antique silver", but still silver.

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Platinum

      The name Platinum is derived from the term ‘platina del Pinto’ which means little silver of the Pinto river. In its natural form it is a gray-white metal and one of the rarest elements on earth, 80% of the worlds production coming from South Africa.

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     Like gold it has a remarkable resistance to corrosion, and has a higher melting point than gold. It is scarcer than gold with only a few hundred tons 

produced annually and therefore considered a high value precious metal usually of greater monetary value than gold.

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    It is a lustrous metal and extremely malleable not oxidizing an any temperature. Due to its density

resistance to wear, it is much more difficult to use than gold, in the creation of jewelry, melting at a much higher temperature. Casting platinum is an art in itself requiring specialized techniques and skill. The jewelry tools and polishes used in platinum jewelry manufacturing are much more susceptible to wear and tear.  Being a white metal that doesn’t fade

or  tarnish is well suited for making fine jewelry.

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     Platinum in jewelry is usually 90–95% of the alloy and unlike white gold, which is often plated with Rhodium to give its shiny silver color, Platinum’s color is naturally white as lustrous when polished than with minute surface scratches called its patina.

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     Due to a higher density than gold, Platinum is 11% denser than fine gold and 42% denser than 18K gold. So a ring weighing 4.5 Grams in 18K gold will weigh almost 6.40 Grams in Platinum.

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     Some of our pieces are platinum filled. I try to stay away from "plating" as much as possible, but even if it's platinum plated, it's going to be good quality. Platinum plating is normally over white gold or sterling silver.

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About Gemstones

     I provide the best quality gemstones I can get. These may include Sapphires (different color grades can and do include white, pink, blue, red, orange, and black), Topazes (different color grades can and do include white, yellow, blue, pink, green and smokey), Citrine, Rubies (different color grades include red and pink), Emeralds (green), Amethyst (different color grades can and do include purple, blue, pink, red, and orange), *Zircons (different color grades can and do include white, yellow, blue, pink, purple, green, and red), **Tanzanite (different color grades can and do include blue, purple and lavender as well as others, but I only carry the blue & purple varieties.), Peridot, Lapis Lazuli, Jade (different grades can and do include green, red, orange, brown, purple, white and black), Opal (different color grades can and do include "white" or your standard opal such as smokey white, fire or opalescent; green, orange and sometimes blue, black and boulder opal-the rare black opal accounts for only 8% of Australian opal. Black opal is especially valued because its dark body tone gives the play of color and extra vibrancy not seen in the more common white opals.), Diamonds (different color grades can and do include white, yellow, blue, pink, and "chocolate" or brown), Onyx, Malachite, Garnet (different color grades can and do include brown, green, red, pink, orange or yellow, however, I try to keep my garnet gemstones to the most known color of brown, or dark orange), Tourmaline, Turquoise (different color grades can and do include white, blue, and green), Amber, Aquamarine, Alexandrite, some Quartz, Pearls (different grades of pearl can and do include white, pink, black and blue), Red & Black Coral, Jasper & Carnelian.

     If there is a particular gemstone you would like, and I don't have it, please ask me. It's possible I can find it for you!

     There are different "grades" of gemstones, so naturally it's sometimes difficult to know if you're getting the best grade available. I research the grade of the gemstone of the jewelry piece before purchasing, and if the delivered item isn't "up-to-par" as stated in the description of the supplier, I will try to make restitution to you. However, be advised it's not always possible to find and procure high quality for the prices I am offering. In this instance sometimes the statement, "You get what you pay for" applies. If you are looking for top grade diamonds for example, I do not have them. I do have nice quality, and they are plenty brilliant and sparkly! Hence the name of this venture, "SPARKLES", because what I offer does sparkle!

     I also have some pieces that include CZ's (CUBIC ZIRCONIA. Technically, cubic zirconia is zirconium dioxide. It's a relatively hard synthetic mineral. It's optically flawless, usually colorless, though it can be made in a variety of colors. Don't confuse cubic zirconia with Zircon.) 

     *Zircon is an underrated but magnificent gemstone that has been worn and treasured since ancient times.  

     The name ‘zircon’ was given to the stone following the Arabic words ‘zar’ (gold) and ‘gun’ (colour). The most popular colour for zircon is blue, but it comes in a rainbow of different colours like yellow, orange, red, and even colourless which was very popular in previous years. Zircon is generally found in areas such as Thailand, Cambodia, and southern Vietnam. It is said that zircon grants its wearers the power to relieve pain, increase appetites, and to protect travellers from injury and disease. It also ensures a warm welcome to visitors and allows for a peaceful night’s sleep without bad dreams. The zircon is one of Earth's most common but most overlooked minerals.

     **Tanzanite. The world's only known tanzanite deposit of commercial importance is in northern Tanzania. Tanzanite was not discovered in commercial quantities until the 1960s. The naturally blue, untreated tanzanite is held in very high regard by some gemstone and jewelry buyers who seek it out when making a purchase. Tanzanite is highly regarded as a special stone, and being that it is only found in one place in the world, once it's gone, it's gone, making this stone rarer than diamonds! 

     Some websites to look into different grades of gemstones are:
(Click link or copy & paste in your browser search bar to view pages.)

http://geology.com/gemstones/

http://geology.com/gemstones/ruby-and-sapphire/

http://www.minerals.net/GemStoneMain.aspx

https://www.gemselect.com/other-info/gemstone-list.php

https://www.gemrockauctions.com/learn/additional-gemstone-information/a-list-of-precious-and-semi-precious-gemstones-and-their-treatments

     I encourage you to research on your own, different gemstones, their treatments and their values.