This guide covers everything you need to know about the precious metals we use across our jewellery collections, including gold, silver, and platinum, plus a little background on hallmarking and carats.

What is Yellow Gold?

Yellow Gold is pure gold alloyed with metals such as copper and zinc, giving it its warm, classic colour. It remains the most popular gold colour for fine jewellery, followed by white and rose gold.

What is Rose Gold?

Rose Gold combines pure gold with a higher proportion of copper alloy, creating its signature pink-toned finish. It has grown significantly in popularity in recent years thanks to its warm, romantic appearance and versatility across skin tones.

What is White Gold?

White Gold is yellow gold alloyed with white metals such as silver, palladium, or nickel, then typically finished with a rhodium plating to enhance its bright, silvery-white appearance. White gold can be mistaken for platinum due to their similar colour, but platinum is denser, more durable, and naturally white without needing rhodium plating.

What does Carat mean?

Carat (ct) measures the purity of gold, expressed as parts out of 24. Pure gold is 24ct. To find the percentage of gold in an item, divide the carat number by 24 and multiply by 100 — for example, 18ct gold is 75% pure gold, which is why 18ct jewellery is stamped with "750".

What is 22ct Gold?

22ct Gold contains 22 parts pure gold out of 24, or 91.7% pure gold. The remaining 8.3% is typically made up of silver, copper, and zinc. Jewellery in this carat is stamped "916".

What is 18ct Gold?

18ct Gold is 75% pure gold, with the remaining 25% made up of alloy metals such as copper, silver, or palladium depending on the colour. It offers an excellent balance of durability, value, and rich gold colour, and is stamped "750".

What is 9ct Gold?

9ct Gold contains 37.5% pure gold, alloyed with 62.5% other metals. It's a popular, affordable, and durable choice for everyday jewellery and is stamped "375".

What is Gold Vermeil?

Gold Vermeil is sterling silver plated with a layer of gold at least 2.5 microns thick and a minimum of 10ct gold purity, meeting standards set by bodies such as the FTC. It offers the look of solid gold at a more accessible price point, though the plating may wear over time with regular use.

What is Sterling Silver?

Sterling Silver is an alloy of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals, usually copper, which adds strength while retaining silver's bright lustre. Genuine sterling silver jewellery is stamped "925".

What is Oxidised Silver?

Oxidised Silver is sterling silver that has been deliberately darkened through a controlled chemical process, giving it an antique, tarnished-look finish often used to add depth and contrast to detailed designs.

What is Platinum?

Platinum is a naturally white, dense, and hypoallergenic precious metal, prized for its durability and resistance to tarnish. It's typically used at 95% purity (stamped "950") and is a popular choice for those with sensitive skin or for pieces meant to last a lifetime.

How should I care for my precious metal jewellery?

Store pieces separately to avoid scratching, remove jewellery before swimming, exercising, or applying perfume and lotions, and clean gently with a soft cloth or mild soapy water. Sterling silver and oxidised pieces may need occasional polishing to maintain their finish.

What does Hallmarking mean?

A hallmark is an official mark applied by an Assay Office certifying the precious metal content of an item, required by UK law for gold, silver, platinum, and palladium items over a certain weight. It guarantees the metal is exactly as described.

All our jewellery is fully hallmarked and certified, and we offer a Hallmark Guarantee