Will Gold Filled Jewelry Turn My Skin Green?

I get asked this question all the time: "Will gold filled jewelry turn my skin green?"

As someone who wears my own 14k gold filled jewelry, my honest answer is Absolutely NOT! Unlike gold plated jewelry, 14k gold filled jewelry will not turn on your skin. This is because gold filled is comprised of many many many more layers of real gold than gold plated metal. Gold plated jewelry has the reputation of turning on skin because it is made from a thin layer of gold which is electroplated to alloy metals. With gold filled metal, however, there are many thousands of solid gold layers which are heat bonded to the alloy metals, making a much more solid bond.

I honestly have not gotten one single email or message from a customer complaining that their gold filled jewelry turned their skin green or any other color or that it stained their clothes. You will also notice that this is why generally gold filled jewelry is more expensive than its gold plated counterpart.

So... why is 14k gold filled so much cheaper than 14k solid gold then?
The straight answer is because even though it will not turn on your skin, it will tarnish over time. It may take years or decades but if its not stored properly and not lightly polished instead of vigorously polished, it will tarnish a lot quicker. Gold filled is also cheaper because unlike with solid gold, it is not intended for wear everywhere all the time. It is not intended for daily wear at the gym, while playing sports, in the shower or pool.

14k solid gold on the other hand can withstand hard polishing, being worn in the shower and pool and it can withstand wearing while playing sports, although I DO NOT recommend doing any of these while wearing jewelry. While you can wear 14k solid gold in harsh environments, jewelry can still loosen over time and accidentally slip down a shower drain or down a sink drain or pool drain. While playing sports, or doing any kind of rough activity while wearing jewelry, chain links, clasps and catches can easily break or become damaged. This is even more true for delicate chains or fine jewelry set with prongs or in tension settings, etc.

All jewelry needs a chance to breathe and I never recommend any piece of jewelry be worn 24/7 as this will lead to the breakdown of the jewelry item much quicker. Even if just taking it off overnight, your jewelry will get a break from the natural oils produced by your skin and from friction caused by tossing and turning at night.

So, whats better...gold filled or solid gold? Well, the color of the metal is usually the same for both, but the benefit of gold filled is that its cheaper but will tarnish over time and solid gold is much more expensive but will pass the test of time and generally not tarnish as quickly. Solid gold also will not corrode but it will patina over time which will make it a slightly darker or richer gold color.

I hope this article was helpful in your jewelry buying decision. And, as always, you can purchase my 14k gold filled jewelry and 14k solid gold jewelry in my shop here

Happy Shopping!

xo!

Aziza

Peridot to Attract Love and Wealth

Peridot, the birthstone for August is also said to attract love and wealth. Other healing properties of this gemstone include:

-enhances growth, change, confidence
-helpful in resolving matters of the heart
-boosts motivation
-increases vitality

Maybe you're shopping for someone who has a Birthday in August, or just loves the gemstone and its properties. Either way, here are some new pieces in my shop featuring this brilliant gemstone.

A custom gemstone name necklace in sterling silver:

A custom loved bracelet in 14k gold filled surrounded by peridot:

Lovely worn as stacking bracelets in two's:

Or threes...

This wine glass necklace features a peridot grape cluster

A fun pair of emerald, chalcedony, peridot mixed gemstone earrings 

This is just a portion of whats available in my shop and, as usual, I am always open to custom requests. Happy Shopping! :) 

xo

Aziza

Jewelry Repair Service Q+A

Hi All!

Did you know I offer jewelry repair? Yes, I do! Many customers have either delivered their cherished jewelry to me over the years or mailed it in to me for repair. I can help with both options!

To help streamline this process, or if you're just thinking about having me repair something for you, I created a FAQ below. If you have any questions that haven't been answered below, feel free to email me

Q. What kind of jewelry repair do you offer?
A. Restringing, wire wrapping, re-glueing, changing a clasp, adding a clasp, adding charms, changing an elastic band to a regular cord, re-knotting pearls, malas, repurposing old jewelry and I am open to work with you to create a custom design from something that was broken, damaged, etc.
I restring semi-precious gemstones, pearls, metal beads, glass, wood beads, plastic, etc. I repair earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and ankle bracelets. I also offer a polishing, cleaning and detangling service. Although, please be forewarned, detangling can get quite expensive as I charge by the hour for this one! If you want more information on how to prevent chains from tangling, check out this blog post that I wrote a while back or this short video
**Also a quick note about polishing; certain metals should not be polished professionally such as silver plated, gold plated, or gold filled. Why, you ask? Because the top layer(s) can quickly erode or be polished right off, leaving the base metal exposed and ruining your gorgeous jewelry. Instead, I suggest a light gentle polish with a soft cloth at home and proper storage to prevent these specific metals from tarnishing. More info about that is available here in this short video I made recently. :)

Q. What kinds of jewelry repair do you NOT offer?
A.  I  do not solder metal or work with fine gemstones such as diamonds, rubies, emeralds, etc. in prong or band settings. Generally speaking, I usually do not repair or re-size rings, as this usually requires cutting and soldering (metalsmithing). If you have a thicker chain like a snake chain or wheat chain where the chain is soldered directly and the clasp needs to be re-soldered, I cannot repair it for you.

Q. I lost an earring and am wondering if you can make the other half, even though you didn't design these earrings. Can you help me?
A. Hmmm... thats a tricky one, but definitely email me and I'll see if I can help :) It will depend on how it was made and if I carry the materials in my inventory or have access to them. Unique hand cut gemstones will be extremely difficult for me to try and match. Be ready to send a clear picture taken in natural daylight of the 1/2 you have on hand.

Q. Where are you located?
A. I live in the US, in Coastal North Carolina on a small island, called Topsail Island.

Q. How can I get my jewelry to you?
A. If you live in the area, we can arrange for drop off and pickup, however if you live farther away, you can mail your jewelry to me and once I repair it, I will mail it back. You will need to pay for return shipping including insurance in addition to the cost of the repair.

Q. How much do you charge?
A. Restringing for small jobs starts at $5 and up.
Q. Seriously?
A. Yes, seriously!! :) However, this is not including the cost of the cord or elastic, string or wire I will use. Thats a very modest estimate, btw. :) Email me, for more info about your specific piece or project. Re-designing, re-knotting and other custom jobs are more expensive and I can give you a more detailed estimate once we've talked a bit more about your specific project.

Q. Can you re-create something that another designer made?
A. Out of artistic integrity, I try not to copy another designers work, however, if you have 1/2 of a lost pair of earrings or something else thats incomplete because you lost part of it, I am open to working with you to complete a project or re-create that missing half.

Q. How can we streamline the process so its super easy for you to quickly repair something for me?
A. Please have access to email, be able to check email regularly and have access to a camera or camera phone if you have something specific you would like me to repair. Please be aware that once we have agreed that you will send me items to be repaired, I will expect payment to be made online via PayPal, VenMo or Cash App. I cannot accept cash or checks in the mail as we will finalize the cost once the item(s) have arrived and are in my possession. Payments will be expected before work has begun.

Q. Do you offer refunds?
A. Once I have started working on your repair or re-design, I cannot offer a refund. If however I have not begun working on it, I can definitely issue a refund. If you decide that you no longer want something repaired after you have sent it to me and before I have started working on it, I can send it back to you and you will not be responsible for any cost except return shipping which will always be via USPS Priority Mail unless you prefer UPS, Fed Ex, or a similar insured carrier.
Q. What if I get the item you repaired back in the mail and hate it?
A. I'm sorry, I still cannot offer a refund.

Q. What if I still want to get something repaired but I'm not sure I want to mail it to you? Or if I live internationally, can you still help me.
A. Feel free to do a google search for a local jeweler in your area that can help you :) International packages take longer to be delivered unless you use an international shipping service like UPS, FedEx or DHL and I require insurance be added onto your package in case anything happens to it during transit. However, if you live outside of the US, I strongly recommend you find a local jeweler to help with your jewelry repair to save cost, time and efficiency.

Q. You did an AMAZING job repairing my jewelry and I want to leave a tip? How can I?
A. You can tip me via this link: paypal.me/azizajewelry oh and a Big THANK YOU in advance!

Any other questions, please email me here :)

xo!
Aziza