What is Hypoallergenic Jewellery?
Hypoallergenic jewellery is a term of reference given but not limited to gold- plated and silver plated jewellery to indicate that they are safe-to-wear, this is because generally according to the purity of the metal of Silver/ Gold, amounts of Nickel present can cause allergic reactions.
Hypoallergenic jewellery simply means that the amount of Nickel in these pieces of jewellery are well below what is considered the unsafe limit.
Is there a difference between Hypoallergenic jewellery and Nickel-free jewellery?
Yes! And this is where it gets important. While Hypoallergenic jewellery can be considered safe-to-wear, they still MAY contain trace amounts of Nickel, enough to cause allergic reactions to some wearers. Hence, it is always important that the jewellery you are buying specifically mentions the term 'NICKEL-FREE'
But, why is it necessary?
A great question! Almost 15% of all jewellery users are allergic to the metal, Nickel and the reaction can be shown in the lighter forms such as redness and rashes around the area where jewellery is worn and to more severe cases - itching & blistering that could leave permanent scarring on your skin.
How do I identify safe jewellery?
Always ensure that your retailers are specifically using the terms 'Hypoallergenic' and 'Nickel-free'. There are many brands that claim that since they use 925 silver or 24k gold their jewellery is safe, but this is not always true! To understand more about Gold-plated or Silver-plated jewellery, check out these blogs.
Where can I find Hypoallergenic Jewellery?
Well, all the jewellery at Silvia Gnecchi is both, hypoallergenic and Nickel-free, guaranteeing the highest level of safety. Needless to say, when wearing a Silvia Gnecchi you don't just feel beautiful but also be rest assured that you are safe!
]]>What is Silver-Plating?
Silver plating is the process of layering a thin-plate of gold onto a base metal. This base metal can be Nickel, Brass, Copper, Stainless- steel and more. Based on the type of metal, there might also be a layer in between the base metal and silver in order to ensure that the silver-plating is perfectly done and lasts long.
Does Silver-plated jewellery have different levels or categories based on the type of silver?
Since, Silver by itself is too soft to be used for making jewellery, 92.5% of pure Silver is mixed with 7.5% of other metals such as Copper or Zinc. In order to create a hallmark, the certification of 925 is added. At Silvia Gnecchi, all our products are plated with the highest quality certified 925 Silver
Does the thickness of the plating matter?
Silver-plating ranges in thickness between 0.17 to 2.5 microns. The thickness is considered based on the kind of accessory that is gold-plated. For extremely lightweight earrings and bracelets a coating around 0.17 microns is applied.
Usually, silver plating of 0.5 to 1.0 microns is coated on commonly- used accessories while the heavier plating of 2 - 2.5 microns is used for bigger pieces that could be more prone to fading due to the weight of the piece.
Are there any other checks I should keep in mind when buying Silver-Plated Jewellery?
Some of the base metal and layering used may cause allergies and be quick to oxidation. It is important to ensure that the seller specifies that the jewellery is Nickel-free and Hypoallergenic, as Nickel is the base metal that mostly commonly causes allergic skin reactions. Here's a guide to understanding more about Hypoallergenic Jewellery
Will the shine on Silver-plated jewellery last?
In order to ensure that the silver-plated jewellery retains its shine for a longer period of usage, a safe polish coating can be applied. This satin finishing prevents the jewellery from corrosion.
Check out some of our Bestselling Silver-plated jewellery here
]]>What is Gold-Plating?
Gold plating is the process of layering a thin-plate of gold onto a base metal. This base metal can be Nickel, Brass, Copper, Stainless- steel and more. Based on the type of metal, there might also be a layer in between the base metal and gold in order to ensure that the gold-plating is perfectly done and lasts long.
Is it real gold?
Yes, the plating applied on the metal is real gold.
Does Gold-plated jewellery have different levels or categories based on the type of gold?
The purity of the gold in gold-plated jewellery is classified exactly the same as solid gold jewellery. The purity ranges from 10 karat and the highest is 24 karat, it is this purity that gives the jewellery the beautiful golden shine. At Silvia Gnecchi, all our products are plated with the highest quality 24k gold.
Does the thickness of the plating matter?
Gold-plating ranges in thickness between 0.17 to 2.5 microns. The thickness is considered based on the kind of accessory that is gold-plated. For extremely lightweight earrings and bracelets a coating around 0.17 microns is applied.
Usually, gold plating of 0.5 to 1.0 microns is coated on commonly- used accessories while the heavier plating of 2 - 2.5 microns is used for bigger pieces that could be more prone to fading due to the weight of the piece.
Are there any other checks I should keep in mind when buying Gold-Plated Jewellery?
Some of the base metal and layering used may cause allergies and be quick to oxidation. It is important to ensure that the seller specifies that the jewellery is Nickel-free and Hypoallergenic, as Nickel is the base metal that mostly commonly causes allergic skin reactions.
Will the shine on gold-plated jewellery last?
In order to ensure that the gold-plated jewellery retains its shine for a longer period of usage, a safe polish coating can be applied. This satin finishing prevents the jewellery from corrosion.
Check out some of our Bestselling gold-plated jewellery here
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