Two materials. One standard: actually chosen for your skin.
Much affordable fashion jewelry is a brass or copper alloy with a thin gold layer on top. We use 18K or 24K PVD gold on 316L stainless steel, and ASTM F-136 titanium. Both are chosen for low skin reactivity and everyday wear.
Gold applied in a vacuum, on a steel base.
PVD vaporizes 18K or 24K gold in a vacuum and deposits it onto 316L stainless steel as a thin layer. It's made for everyday wear, showers and sweat. Highly durable compared to traditional plating.
Two ways of getting gold onto metal.
Both can be called gold plated. How the gold is applied, and what's underneath it, can differ a lot.
What's different under the gold.
| Traditional electroplating | Flaire PVD gold on 316L |
|---|---|
| Often a nickel or copper layer under the gold | Contains some nickel, bound in the alloy. Published lab tests on 316L show very low nickel release |
| Thin plating can wear through. Thickness varies by maker | Vacuum-applied gold finish on stainless steel |
| If the base metal is exposed, it can react with sweat | Made for showers, swimming and sweat |
| Brass or copper base can react with sweat | 316L stainless steel, a corrosion-resistant steel |
| Copper or nickel underneath can touch skin as plating wears | If the finish wears, steel is what touches skin |
| Often uses chemical baths, including cyanide-based ones | Applied in a vacuum chamber, with no plating bath |
Three things we refuse to compromise on.
Every material decision comes back to one question: will this still be good after a year of daily wear?
A 316L stainless steel base, which has shown very low nickel release in published lab tests. If the finish wears through, it's steel underneath, not brass or copper.
316L stainless steelPVD deposits 18K or 24K gold onto the steel in a vacuum chamber. It's a thin layer, and like any coating it can wear down with friction over time.
PVD gold processStainless steel and titanium are corrosion-resistant metals, so showers, pools and sweat are fine. Rinse off chlorine and salt water afterwards to keep the finish looking its best.
Corrosion-resistant metalsJewelry made for everyday wear.
Corrosion-resistant · Made for water · Affordable