To achieve a sterling silver designation, the silver component must be made of 92.5% silver. There are two types of sterling silver, oxidized and non-oxidized sterling silver. Oxidized silver has an antique-looking darkness around the ridges (common in Bali beads). Non-oxidized silver is pure shiny silver with no tarnish visible.

Gold-filled jewelry components are created by applying heat and pressure to chemically bond a layer of gold over a brass core. The gold contained on the component will equal 1/20th the weight of the item. Since gold is selling for approximately $900 an ounce, this is the more affordable and durable option for people to own gold jewelry. The outer gold layer wears off much slower than gold-plated items, even with everyday use, and retains the non-tarnishing properties of solid gold. Another advantage of gold-filled components is greater durability than solid gold, which easily dented and flawed. Gold-filled, while not bulletproof, is not as soft and can withstand more abuse.

Gold and silver plated jewelry components are created by placing a thin layer of gold or silver, or something that leaves a gold or silver color, onto copper, brass, or another base metal. An additional chemical treatment is applied to give the component a bright and shiny look. The gold or silver color will wear off very quickly when exposed to salts on your skin, the air, perfumes, lotions, etc. The gold and silver plating process is used in jewelry as a more economical way to wear gold and silver than gold-filled or sterling silver components, which can be costly as well. However, gold and silver plated jewelry does not have the longevity of gold-filled or sterling silver jewelry and, often, does not look as elegant. To quote an old adage, "You get what you pay for."

Vermeil (pronounced ver-may) is created by electoplating a layer of 22K gold over sterling silver. The gold on vermeil components will fade eventually, but it's longer lasting than gold-plated components and is another economical option for lovers of durable gold jewelry.

The industry leader for crystal jewelry components, Swarovski crystals are perfectly (and beautifully) laser-cut glass beads with approximately 32% lead for maximum light refraction. No other crystal maker can surpass the beauty, precision, clarity, and design of Swarovski crystals.

Swarovski's crystal pearls are perfectly round, uniformly exact, glass pearl replicas created over a crystal inner core. This gives the pearls near indestructible quality. Each pearl contains multiple layers of a special pearlescent coating that is resistant to scratching and fading from contact with perfumes, oils, lotions, etc. Additionally, Swarovski pearls weigh approximately the same as their freshwater counterpart.

Made with at least 92.5% oxidized sterling silver and 7.5% copper (for strength), Bali beads are known for their exquisite and intricate designs. Each bead is hand-made in Bali, Indonesia. There are many Bali bead replicas (typically from India), but true Bali beads are quite dimensional and, with the naked eye, one can see they are not molded from a cast but meticulously hand-crafted. This hand-made quality makes each bead slightly different from the next.

Hand-made and quite durable, cane and lampwork glass beads are a particular favorite of mine. Here's the clif-notes version to creating cane and lampwork beads: The designer melts layers of glass color (in the cooled form of long sticks) onto a steel welding rod using a tabletop blow torch. Spinning the steel rod while applying the glass colors, the lampwork artist creates a round ball. After applying the desired amount of glass, the molten glass is taken out of the fire and shaped into the final bead. Then, the approximately 1500F bead is placed into a kiln for the final annealing process. Slow and consistent cooling in the kiln is, above all else, the most important step to ensuring a high-quality bead (besides the quality of componentry). If a bead is cooled too quickly, it will develop stress cracks, and ruin the beads durability and quality. After it is done annealing, the bead center is filed with a diamond bit to clean out and shape the middle of the bead for stringing.

Made in Czechoslovakia, fire-polished and pressed glass beads are among the highest quality and most uniform glass beads in mass production. Carefully manufactured and containing no white reside in the center of the beads, Czech glass beads are highly sought after for jewelry due to their reasonable prices, diverse shapes, and great clarity.

Originating from hot magma, gemstones are formed through tens of thousands (even millions) of years of cooling, continual geologic displacements, dust, sand, chemicals, and invisible acids. The constant pressure, temperature fluctuations, and weathering create the astonishing array of gemstone colors, clarity, porosity, and brilliance. Evidence from archeologists show that gemstones have been an important part of nearly all civilizations since the infancy of the human race, either as a status of wealth or used for therapeutic healing. Gemstones are valued based on a number of different properties: degree of hardness (Mohs scale), clarity, abundance, cut, and luster. Diamonds are a 10 on the Mohs scale, being the least porous and resistant to scratching. Gypsum and soapstone are a 1 on the Mohs scale; soft enough to scratch with your fingernail.

When a small foreign object (usually tiny animals or a grain of sand) enters the shell of an oyster or mussel, a liquid secretion called nacreous aragonite is emitted to protect the flesh inside from harm. The secretion covers the object in layers and hardens into a luminous coating. The more freedom of movement the pearl is given inside the shell, the more spherical the pearl becomes. If movement is restricted, then any number of shapes can form.

In cultured pearls, a small bead is injected into the shell to being the process. Natural pearls are rare, as most pearls on the market are cultured. Fully grown pearls take an average of 3 to 3.5 years to grow and pearls can form in either freshwater or saltwater conditions. Pearls from saltwater are grown in oysters and freshwater pearls come from either oysters or mussels.

The preponderance of pearls on the market are from freshwater, as they are easier to cultivate. Saltwater pearls are prized for their rarity, consistent shape and larger size, as most range from 8 to 18mm.

Hello Alexandra!

Plated jewelry will eventually go green or brown despite maintenance, since it is only a fine layer of gold or silver over a brass core (sometimes it's only a chemical coating that resembles a gold or silver tone).

However, to keep it as new looking as possible, avoid having the plated jewelry come into direct contact with your skin, perfume, lotions, or oils.
Also, try wiping it with a moist cloth after every use, but don't be surprised if it only lasts a short while.

I once made a beautiful necklace from gold-plated rings but it lasted all of one Madonna concert before it turned a nasty shade of greenish-brown. Bummer...really liked that piece.

Other than wiping it down and avoiding your skin, there's really not much else you can do. Earrings usually have less exposure to the skin, so gold-plated chandeliers or drops last longer than necklaces or bracelets.

Hope this helps
Linda