Product facts

BASE METALS AND PLATINGS

The base metal of most our jewellery is brass, which is an alloy of copper and zinc. Adding aluminum makes brass stronger and more corrosion resistant. We use brass as our base metal for our jewellery for its unique properties. Brass receives the top plating in stainless steel very well. Freshly polished brass is similar to gold in appearance, but becomes more reddish within days of exposure to the elements, which is why a top plating process is required. Brass is relatively resistant to tarnishing, and is often used as decoration and for coins. In antiquity, polished brass was often used as a mirror. Brass is nickel and lead free and anti-allergenic.

Let us try to explain the great advantages of our technically advanced plating technique. Most of our plating is not done by traditional wet-plating, but by the use of a highly technical IP plating technique which is normally used in the watch industry.

Only our antique silver finish is wet-plated. IP or ion plating in technical terminology is more stable than wet-plating, because it is not so much affected by fluctuation of precious metals. Exposed to oxygen, all non-precious metals (including silver) will tarnish. This is why we plate our jewellery. Depending on climatic conditions and how the jewellery piece is being worn, the plating gradually goes off – we call it wear and tear. By using IP instead of traditional wet-plating, it takes much longer before the colored plating wears off and the base metal is visible.

It is hard to give an estimate about the durability – it depends on how and where the jewellery piece is being worn. One of the numerous advantages IP plating has over wet-plating is its environmental friendliness. IP does not rely on water and contamination through waste water for production process, is avoided or kept at an absolute minimum. Colour change or tarnishing of the IP plating rarely happens.

 

METALS

 

SHINY SILVER
A base of brass is IP plated with stainless steel targets. Until now, palladium was used in electroplating to obtain a silvery color. As stainless steel is harder than palladium, jewelry pieces can be subjected to longer wear and tear.

SHINY GOLD
The plating composition is as follows: a base of brass is IP plated with TiN (titanium nitrate as it is called) which is achieved through the physical reaction of titanium metal and nitrogen, followed by a thin layer of genuine 23 ct. gold.

GUN METAL
Gun metal is an ion plating, looking like darkened black metal, matching the fashions of the season.

IP BLACK
IP black is an IP plating, looking like darkened black metal, matching the fashions of the season.

 

NATURAL STONES

 

CARNELIAN
The Con Amore Theme features the charming burned red stone Carnelian. This clear-to-translucent reddishbrown variety of chalcedony has been used and treasured in centuries. Carnelian was recovered from Bronze Age Minoan layers at The Knossos Palace on Crete in a form that demonstrated its use in decorative arts; this use dates to approximately 1800 BC. Carnelian was used widely during Roman times to make engraved gems for signet rings. The word carnelian is derived from the Latin word caro, carnis meaning flesh, in reference to the flesh color sometimes exhibited. (Con Amore)

 

SWAROVSKI CRYSTALS 

 

CRYSTALS
Made with CRYSTALLIZEDTM - Swarovski Elements from the Austrian manufacturer Swarovski in our jewellery. The Xilion Chaton has 14 unique facets, all machine-cut with utmost precision. The cutting technique used to create the Xilion Chaton makes the crystal stand out from any other cut.

Made with CRYSTALLIZEDTM - SwarovskiElements is the luxury brand name for the range of precision-cut lead crystal glass chatons we use for our jewellery. In 2004 the company released the Xilion, a new copyrighted cut designed to optimize the brilliance of the diamond cut chaton that we use in abundance. The crystals are either crystal clear, solid coloured, or effect coated to imitate natural or recreate never before seen stones.

THE FANCY HEART
The Con Amore theme is made with CRYSTALLIZEDTM - Swarovski Elements in a classic heart shape, cut in nine sparkling facets. We keep coming back to the everlasting allure of a romantic heart shape, and for this season we offer seasonal colours as deep red, amethyst purple and deep jet black – and classic crystal, off course. (Con Amore)

THE FANCY OVAL
To contrast the smooth rounded glass cabochons of the Byzantium theme, we feature a classic facetted fancy oval in four sizes. The theme has been made with CRYSTALLIZEDTM - Swarovski Elements ranging from very petite to extreme oversize.

The fancy oval stone has been cut in nine sparkling facets to enhance the lustre of each crystal. Apart from the ever classic transparent crystal colour, which resemble the shine of diamonds, we offer seasonal colours as wine red, grey, jet black, blue and sand. (Byzantium)