925 silver, gold plating and rhodium – what they are and how to care for your jewellery

Most Dremana jewellery is 925 sterling silver with an 18K gold or rhodium finish, set with cubic zirconia. A few pieces have a brass base. Each piece lists its exact material. This page explains what these terms mean, how gold-plated and rhodium-plated silver differ, and how to care for your jewellery so you can enjoy it for a long time.

925 sterling silver: what it is

925 silver, also called sterling silver, is an alloy containing 92.5% pure silver. The remaining 7.5% is other metals, usually copper. The number 925 gives the fineness in parts per thousand: 925 parts of every 1,000 are silver.

Why not pure silver? Fine silver is soft and bends and scratches easily. Adding copper makes the alloy stronger, so it can be used for slim ring bands, earring fastenings and fine chains that stand up to normal wear.

Why silver tarnishes

Silver reacts with sulphur compounds in the air, in sweat and in some cosmetics, forming a thin dark layer of silver sulphide on the surface. It forms faster in damp conditions, such as a bathroom. Tarnish does not mean the silver is not genuine; it is a natural property of the metal. Plain silver without plating can be polished again; on plated pieces, tarnish can only appear where the layer has worn away.

A surface layer of another metal protects silver from tarnishing. Most of our pieces have a layer of gold or rhodium over the silver.

Gold-plated silver

A gold-plated piece has a silver base with a thin layer of gold on the surface. On our jewellery this is mostly 18K gold, an alloy containing 75% gold. The silver gives the piece its shape and strength, the gold its colour. The piece looks like gold but costs less than solid gold.

The gold layer is thin and gradually wears away with friction, fastest where the piece rubs against something: the inside of a ring, the clasp and the edges. How quickly depends on how often you wear it and how you look after it. Where the plating has worn, the silver starts to show through.

Rhodium-plated silver

Rhodium is a rare metal from the platinum group. It is silvery white, shiny and harder than silver. Rhodium-plated silver has a thin layer of rhodium on the surface, which gives it a bright white shine and protects it from tarnishing. White gold is also commonly rhodium-plated, which is why rhodium-plated silver looks similar.

Rhodium can also wear away over time on the most exposed spots. Care is the same as for gold-plated jewellery.

Gold or rhodium: how to choose

• Gold-plated silver is the choice if you wear a gold watch or other gold jewellery. Our gold-plated pieces are grouped in the Golden Muse collection.
• Rhodium-plated silver goes with a silver watch, white gold and cooler colours. Browse the Grace in Motion collection.
• Mixing both is common today. If you combine gold and silver, repeat each colour at least twice so the look feels intentional.

What cubic zirconia is

In jewellery, cubic zirconia is a lab-made crystal of zirconium dioxide. It is hard, at 8 to 8.5 on the Mohs scale, and refracts light strongly, which is why it sparkles so much. It can be clear or coloured. It is not a diamond, nor the natural mineral zircon, with which it is often confused because of the name. In our product descriptions it is also abbreviated to CZ.

Brass

Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. A few of our pieces have a brass base with gold or rhodium plating. Brass is not a precious metal, so these pieces are more affordable. Care is the same as for plated silver. You will always find the material in the product description.

How to clean silver jewellery

1. After wearing, wipe the piece with a dry, soft cloth, ideally microfibre, to remove sweat and traces of cosmetics.
2. If it is dirtier, rinse it briefly in lukewarm water with a drop of mild soap. You can carefully use a soft toothbrush around the stones.
3. Rinse in clean water and dry thoroughly straight away. No water should stay under the stones or in the clasp.

Do not use silver polish, silver dips, toothpaste, baking soda or aluminium foil on gold- or rhodium-plated jewellery. These are abrasive or harsh chemical methods that damage the gold or rhodium layer. Plain silver without plating or stones can be buffed with a silver polishing cloth.

What damages jewellery and when to take it off

• Soapy water, shower gel and shampoo, chlorinated pool water and sea water.
• Perfume, hairspray, creams and hand sanitiser.
• Sweat during sport and in the sauna.
• Cleaning products when cleaning or washing up.
• Knocks and friction, for example when gardening or at the gym.

So take your jewellery off before showering, bathing, sport, cleaning and bed. Put it on last, once cream and perfume have dried.

How to store jewellery

Keep it somewhere dry, not in the bathroom. Put each piece in its own pouch or jewellery box compartment so the pieces do not rub against each other. Store chains fastened so they do not tangle. A resealable bag limits air contact, so silver tarnishes more slowly. Do not leave jewellery you are not wearing lying on a windowsill or by the sink.

If a piece gets damaged

Jewellery is covered by the statutory 24-month liability for defects, and we settle complaints within 30 days. The steps are on our complaint form page.

Choosing jewellery for someone else? See our jewellery gift guide. To find a ring size, use our ring size guide.