14 Karat Gold-Filled
Solid 14 karat gold beads are, not surprisingly, EXPENSIVE! And they are not exactly "solid". Because gold is soft and expensive, karated gold beads tend to be very vulnerable to damage and can crush or lose their shape easily. 14 karat "gold-filled" may just be the perfect solution to both of these problems.
Gold filled beads are not 'filled' with gold, but rather are 14 karat gold, 'filled' with a stronger base metal. Since what meets the eye, and touches your skin, is solid 14 karat gold, those with sensitivities to other metals can usually wear gold filled as they can solid gold. So, given the durable beauty of 14 karat gold-filled, it has real advantages over solid 14 karat gold beads... beyond the obvious advantage of vastly more affordable pricing.
Gold-filled (also called "rolled gold") should most certainly not be confused with "gold plated" components! Gold plated jewelry is considered "costume jewelry, " while gold-filled is FINE JEWELRY. Gold filled has approximately 100 times more 14 karat gold than gold plate. To be designated "gold-filled", components must be at least 1/20 karated gold... 5% 14k gold by weight! With normal wear and care, gold filled beads and components will not flake, peel or wear off and can be enjoyed for generations.
Gold Vermeil
Gold vermeil is, quite simply, solid .925 sterling silver heavily plated with high-karat gold - usually 22 karat. This makes gold vermeil often a deeper yellow colour than 12 or 14 karat gold. It is more affordable than gold-filled and comes in lots of designs and shapes. Vermeil is still made entirely of fine jewelry materials.
Thai Karen Hill Tribe Silver
Over 100 years ago, nomadic hill tribes migrated from China into southeast Asia where Burma (now Myanmar), Laos, and Thailand 'meet.' The Karen (pronounced Ka-REN) Hill Tribe is the largest hill tribe in Thailand. They are skilled farmers, using elephants to clear their land, and often live in bamboo houses built on stilts.
In the early 1960's, King Rama IX and Queen Sirikit sent their silver experts to teach their craft to the Karen farmers as an alternative livelihood to their traditional cash crop - opium. These gifted artisans carefully handcraft each design, using high-content silver of 97% or more, which makes them less susceptible to tarnish than regular sterling silver. Each artisan gives their designs a unique appearance. The first generation of Karen silversmiths have now passed their tradition of skilled artistry down to their children. Karen Hill Tribe silver designs represent centuries of Karen culture and art. It is often engraved with plant, animal, or geometric designs, symbolizing the central importance in their lives of the land and water.
Karen Hill Tribe Silver brings the inspiration of this rich history and artistry to some of our most special Bead Sisterhood designs.
Argentium Silver
For all its unique beauty (some consider it more beautiful than white gold) sterling silver has the 'down side' of tarnishing. Sterling silver is .925 silver, with the remaining 7.5% consisting mainly of copper. It is primarily the copper that causes tarnishing. A relatively new alternative is "Argentium Sterling Silver". This material uses a substance called "germanium" instead of copper - which is very resistant to tarnish. In addition, when setting, the germanium tends to migrate to the outer part of the component, giving it even more tarnish-resistance. To preserve that benefit, it should be cleaned very gently without the use of chemicals or other harsh methods. The bright side is that cleaning may not even be needed. As if this were not wonderful enough, germanium also has the same crystal structure as diamonds, making it bright and durable. Not surprisingly, Argentium silver can be considerably more expensive than regular sterling. Not all bead types are available in Argentium.
Argentium will be a new addition in some of Freyja's Jewels' designs. I invite and encourage you to contact me if you would like a piece specially made - or remade - with Argentium, and I will do my best!
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