Materials and Care
All Kind Karma pieces are handcrafted using high quality materials so you can actually enjoy your jewelry instead of worrying about it. Pieces are fabricated with either 14KT gold-filled or 925 sterling silver chains, components and pendants.
Here are some of common questions we typically hear about our pieces:
Is the term "gold-filled" the same as "gold-plated"? What's the difference?
Gold plating is a very thin layer of gold applied to a brass base or other metal/alloy through an electroplating process. Gold plating is estimated to contain only 0.05% or less of gold which causes it to wear off rather quickly and expose the brass base product. Furthermore, gold plating does not stand up to heat, water or wear over time.
Gold filled items contain over 100% more gold than gold plated items and is constructed of 2-3 layers. Either 12KT of 14KT gold is permanently bonded to the core metal and since all the gold is on the surface, it protects the product from tarnish and wear. Gold-filled is usually a lifetime product because the gold layer bonded to the brass core is quite thick.
What is gold vermeil?
Gold vermeil is a term that is becoming increasingly popular in jewellery and refers to a high end type of gold plating that is regulated in both Canada and the U.S. for quality assurance. Unlike traditional gold plating which typically only has a layer of gold that is 0.5 microns thick (1 micron = 1/1000 milimetre), vermeil plating is 1.0-2.5 microns thick. Roughly translated, a lot thicker of a plating means a lot longer lasting!
Also unlike traditional costume jewellery plating, gold vermeil must use sterling silver as a base material (as opposed to brass or copper).
Since gold-filled is a highly specific process, not all pendants can be manufactured this way so gold vermeil provides a great high quality alternative that produces similar results!
Can gold-filled or sterling silver tarnish?
Gold-filled does not typically tarnish due to every day wear but it can happen under extreme and rare circumstances. In certain instances of extreme sulfide exposure, gold-filled items can blacken, although this has only occurred a handful of times over our decades of gold-filled use. Other rare documented instances have occurred when the gold-filled products have been transported through extremely polluted foreign shipping docks in a few countries or when these products were stored in nail salons with high levels of chemical sulfide fumes and were exposed to subsequent fire and smoke. These are extreme conditions that are unlikely to happen to most end users.
Sterling silver jewelry typically gets brighter the more it is it worn! This is because the oils in your skin naturally clean sterling silver so it appears more magnificent with wear. However, if not worn, sterling silver can sometimes oxidize which makes it look like it has tarnished - but don't worry, it hasn't! Let us know if you haven't worn your sterling silver in a while and would like to clean it - we would happy to give you some tips and recommendations to bring your pieces back to their natural beauty.
How do I care for my jewelry?
Kind Karma jewelry should be cared for in the same manner as other precious jewelry items. Although Kind Karma jewelry is tarnish and fade resistant, we do not recommend wearing the pieces in water to prolong the longevity of all items. It is important to remove pieces if you are coming into contact with chlorine (i.e. before swimming in pools, entering hot tubs, etc) as chlorine will damage the materials.
Here are some additional tips to help prolong the life of your jewelry and to keep your pieces looking brand new:
- Clean your jewelry only with warm water and a mild soap-based detergent. Soak your jewelry pieces for no more than a minute in the water and if you have to scrub, use a soft baby toothbrush and be gentle! Always pat the jewelry dry with a soft cloth after washing and before storing.
- If you have a jewelry cloth handy, feel free to give your jewelry a wipe to bring back the sparkle!
- Air dry your jewelry overnight before you put it away. Excessive moisture when stored can lead to jewelry that is corroded and discolored. Also, when storing your jewelry, try to wrap each piece of jewelry in tissue before placing in a box. Constant rubbing against other pieces of jewelry can make it lose its sheen.