Jewelry and costume jewelry: what are the differences?
Is it better to buy rings with natural stones at a costume jewelry store or a jewelry store ? The fundamental difference between jewelry and costume jewelry lies in the materials used to create the desired items, both in terms of quality and cost.
Jewels are produced using precious materials , such as metals or precious stones, and therefore have a medium-high cost.
Examples of precious metals are gold, silver, platinum... these are very often accompanied and enriched by equally precious stones such as diamonds, rubies and sapphires.
In particular, sapphire is used because it is the only type of gemstone that is found in all possible colors.
Meanwhile, costume jewelry is a subcategory of jewelry characterized by the use of cheaper materials .
Examples of the latter include glass, plastic, shells, and metals, which are certainly less demanding than the materials used to make jewelry.
Very often, a galvanization process is used in the production of jewelry products , through which a metal layer (nickel or zinc) is applied in order to protect the jewel from corrosion and to make it appear of higher value.
Vivyinrosa: handcrafted designer rings with natural stones
The ring is certainly a symbol of perpetuity and fidelity. It's an excellent anniversary gift, an icon of eternal love.
Giving or buying a ring is always a good idea, it's a small accessory that can enrich a simple outfit or the wearer's hand in general, making it more refined and distinctive.
Vivyinrosa rings are all made on a base of 18k gold plated bronze and natural stones .
examples are:
- the Taylor ring featuring a gemstone resembling the red pomegranate seed, the Garnet and fresh water pearls
- the Morgan ring made with the help of moonstones or tourmaline, available in the various available colors of the gems
- the Brody ring with two simple fresh water pearls or also called river pearls, cultured in the East.
18k gold plated bronze rings
Vivyinrosa rings are crafted from bronze and then dipped and plated in 18k gold . This creates a result that's as close to an all-gold piece as possible, but with the difference in the raw material.
This certainly gives lightness to the plated jewel and long life due to the plating that covers them.
The latter is like a real protection for the jewel itself, making it last longer over time and thus also making it rustproof and resistant to everyday living conditions.
The plating process involves completely immersing the product in a tub filled with 18k gold (melted, of course), and then draining off the excess so that it perfectly fits the shape of the immersed jewel (rings, earrings, or necklaces).
The product is immersed in molten gold at 90 degrees for about 25 minutes; the longer it is immersed, the thicker layers of gold will be deposited.
Before immersion, the bronze must be degreased and then proceed.
The various types of natural stones used in jewelry
- The Garnet is a stone that symbolizes strength, victory , and vitality . It comes in many different varieties: green, red, violet, purple, yellow, and orange.
It also has some therapeutic qualities for those who wear jewelry with this stone.
It is defined as the stone of heroes because it is able to help them win, it accompanies them in the discovery of true love and is a symbol of strength in overcoming crises with great confidence.
It is a stone originating from Austria , Bohemia or South Africa and is the reference stone for the zodiac sign of Aries (birth period from March 21 to April 20), a fire sign.
Those born under this sign are characterized by creativity and energy ; they are independent and highly competitive, thanks in part to the large amount of courage they possess. Therefore, this stone will strengthen all these character traits, making them truly invincible.
Garnet stones should be cleaned with running water and dried well with soft cloths.
- The pearl is the symbol of the moon , in fact it symbolizes a teardrop from the moon. It is a stone linked to the sea by its birth process: from a simple grain of sand that enters a shell and, thanks to the mollusk inside and its secretions, the pearl is created.
Nowadays, natural pearls are very rare or at least mostly come from farms.
Being a stone linked to the moon, it is endowed with magical and lucky properties; in fact, the pearl is called " the stone of feelings" precisely because it symbolizes love and friendship.
There are various types of pearls and various colors: blue, red, black and the classic and most common white.
It is the reference stone for the zodiac sign of Cancer (birth period from June 22 to July 22), a water sign.
Those born under this sign are characterized by shyness , introversion , and a great dreaminess . Cancerians always need constant reassurance due to their hypersensitivity in all types of situations.
The pearl is able to help us abandon and leave sadness behind to find joy and a new balance in our emotional state.
- Moonstones or moonstones, also known as Andularia , are characterized by a mother-of-pearl reflection tending towards white or blue, also known as adularescence.
It is a stone, as the name suggests, which has the moon as its reference and is suitable for all those passionate about the spiritual dimension .
The use of moonstone is recommended for pregnant or menopausal women.
There are several colors: black, red, pink, green and orange.
Cancer is their star sign ; it's capable of always turning situations on the bright side for those born under the sign of Cancer, who are often characterized by sadness and melancholy.
- Tourmaline is a stone found in nature in various colors and shapes . Furthermore, it is characterized by its ability to change color depending on the perspective of the gem. Tourmaline allows for grounding and recharging energy, combating melancholy and depression.
It's the birthstone for the Scorpio zodiac sign (born October 23rd to November 22nd), a water sign. Those born under this sign are characterized by intelligence, intuition, and the ability to attract others.
Scorpios have a very strong and impulsive personality; tourmaline helps them approach others and find the right balance.
How to preserve gold-plated jewelry
Cleaning is essential for all types and materials of jewelry to make them last as long as possible and preserve them properly.
You should store your gold-plated items in jewelry boxes or jewelry storage facilities to prevent dust and dirt from accumulating and wearing away the gold-plated jewelry.
Another precaution is to avoid contact between the jewelry and perfumes , cosmetics , detergents , soaps , and creams as much as possible; otherwise, the chemicals in these products will damage the gold-plated jewelry or even cause it to break.
It is important not to wear gold-plated jewelry at the beach or in the pool , both because they could simply get lost and because sea water or the possible presence of chlorine could damage the materials used for the plating and the stones set in it.
Cleaning jewelry is recommended once a week . This involves soaking it in warm water with a mild soap, gently scrubbing the surface with a toothbrush, and then drying it: first air-drying and then with a soft cloth. This process must be performed 100% of the gold-plated jewelry's surface.
Click here to discover all the natural stone rings on Vivyinrosa.com