Demi-Fine Jewelry Dictionary

9/29 is defined as a demi-fine jewelry brand. We also sell high quality costume jewelry. This is a new niche market that bridges the gap between costume jewelry and fine jewelry. As this niche market continues to grow you have probably seen many terms come up while shopping for new jewelry pieces. In this post, we want to help educate readers on what all the terms you are seeing mean and which options are best for you based on your wardrobe needs.

Base Metals- Base metals are what a jewelry piece is made of. Types of popular base metals:

• Brass: A mix of zinc and copper. Typically, has a more bronze finish when plated with gold.
• Stainless Steel: A mix of chromium and other metals. It is considered tarnish resistant and hypoallergenic.
• Sterling Silver : A mix of silver with other metals. The most used version is .925 silver, which is 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals. It is considered tarnish resistant and hypoallergenic.
• Alloy : An alloy is an admixture of metals, or a metal combined with one or more other elements. Most costume jewelry is a mixture of different metals. 

Gold Plating: Gold Plating is a process in which a base metal is dipped in a thin layer of gold. Gold Plating is the most popular offering in the market. It is high quality and lasts long with proper care.

Rhodium Plating : Rhodium plating is a process in which a base metal is dipped in a thin layer of Rhodium. Rhodium is a precious metal that is in the family of platinum. It is high quality and lasts long with proper care. It is considered tarnish resistant and hypoallergenic.

Gold-Filled: Gold-filled is a solid layer of gold mechanically bonded to a base metal mentioned above. This is the most popular jewelry process in the demi-fine market. It is high quality and lasts long with proper care. Gold-filled jewelry can get wet, is tarnish resistant and hypoallergenic. 

Gold Vermeil: Gold Vermeil (vehr-may) is a term to describe a specific plating process. The term is legal and in order to be called vermeil in the United States, the jewelry piece must meet the following conditions: 

1. Sterling silver as its base material.
2. Be plated in gold that is at least 10k.
3. Have gold plating that is at least 2.5 microns thick. 

Source: Federal Trade Commission

Gold Vermeil is high quality and lasts as long as real gold. It can also get wet, is tarnish-resistant,  and hypoallergenic.

 

Other terms:

Hypoallergenic: minimal risk of causing an allergic reaction due to no lead/nickel in the base metal as well as high quality plating or fill

Tarnish-resistant: minimal risk of tarnishing due to purer precious metal alloys in the base metals as well as high quality plating or fill 

E-coated: Electro-coating uses an electrical current to cover a metal surface typically with a mix of epoxy or resin. This process provides a coating that makes a jewelry piece hypoallergenic and tarnish resistant.

 

All 929 Brand vendors are lead and nickel compliant.