Product Care

 

ARE THEY REAL GOLD?
Yes, at ILLUMI JEWEL, all of our jewelleries are available in either 14k, or 18K, gold-plated or gold filled metal.

WHAT IS GOLD-FILLED AND GOLD-PLATED I KEEP SEEING IN THE DESCRIPTION?
Generally speaking, gold-filled pieces are more durable than gold-plated due to the thicker layer of gold alloy, hence the price is reflected by this difference. And of course, nothing is as durable as solid gold, but gold-filled is a solid layer of gold (minimum 5%) mechanically bonded to a base metal. In theory, you can get gold-filled jewelry wet, you can wear it every day, and it will still last for 10 to 30 years. In terms of durability, gold plated cannot stand up to wear, water, or heat over time, and would wear off quickly if you expose to those mentioned elements often.

Base metal for the gold-filling or gold-plating matters too. Most commonly used are copper or brass as base metal, which some of our pieces are, but we also have options for something even more durable, using stainless steel or sterling silver to ensure even longer lasting colour.

I AM NOT SURE WHETHER TO GET A GOLD-FILLED OR GOLD-PLATED PIECE?
Gold plated pieces, are a better option for “in the moment” occasions. Because they don’t cost a lot, you can buy them without having to sweat and second-guessing whether your purchase was "worth it". Gold plated jewellery is great for trendy pieces, blingy party pieces, and simple accessories for work or play.

Gold-filled jewellery, on the other hand, is best used where durability and return on investment are top priorities or as a keep sake. It makes for great gifts for graduations, anniversaries, and other similar events. Gold-filled jewellery is also an excellent choice for classic pieces that you wear daily or novelty pieces that you can flaunt for the rest of your life.

CARING INSTRUCTIONS:

Giving the above reasons, for gold-plated jewelleries especially, we would advise:

  • Avoid coming into contact with perfume or perfumed lotions.

  • Avoid direct contact with water (salt or fresh), excessive perspiration, and chemicals such as chlorine, sulfur, detergent and lotion.

  • No need to clean it if it is not dirty.

  • When needs cleaning, use warm water to wash and a soft cloth to pat dry. Do not rub or scrap.

  • Avoid wearing your gold-plated jewelleries in the ocean or swimming pools.

  • To properly store your gold-filled or gold-plated jewelleries, it is best to place it in an airtight container or bag.

  • Never put a damp or wet piece into a sealed bag - this will cause rapid tarnish to gold-plated pieces.

 

DOES YOUR JEWELLERY TARNISH OR CHANGE COLOUR?
Because of the thin layer of gold that wears off after a while, gold-plated jewelry will begin to tarnish once the base metal is exposed. Gold-filled jewelry, on the other hand, will only tarnish under unique circumstances. Pure gold pieces barely tarnish, and even though they’re an alloy, the heavy layer on gold filled jewelry protects against tarnishing. We recommend that wearers clean gold filled pieces with luke warm water on cloth. For gold-plated jewelry, clean only if it’s an absolute necessity. Clean it as gently as you could, and avoid scrubbing your gold items.

SKIN ALLERGIES AND SENSITIVITY
It’s important to have an idea about the sensitivity of your skin before you invest in a gold-filled or gold-plated piece. Are you allergic to metals like copper, rhodium, silver or brass? If that’s the case, you might want to buy a gold-filled jewellery piece as you won’t need to worry about any allergic response.

 

DURABILITY
As mentioned above, gold-filled jewellery is more resistant to wear and tear than gold-plated items due to the thicker layer of the alloy. However, the overall longevity of both is dependent on the environment and exposure to wear. As long as gold-filled pieces are well cared for, they can last a lifetime. Gold-plated pieces, on the other hand, can last up to a year if kept away from water, wear, and heat. It’s also worth mentioning that gold-filled pieces with lower karat weight (9-14k) are more durable than pieces with greater gold content.


HOW CAN I TELL IF MY PIECE IS GOLD-FILLED OR GOLD-PLATED?
At ILLUMI JEWEL, only gold-filled pieces carry a stamp to indicate whether it is 14K or 18K gold-filled, you will find it usually comes in the form of a tag near the clasp, or on the clasp itself. You might need a magnifying glass, as the stamp is usually quite small, and will be shown either as 14GF, or 18GF. All the gold-plated pieces are not marked, but full information is available on our website in the product description.