GOLD JEWELLERY

Alexandra Dodds works in 9ct, 14ct & 18ct yellow gold.

9ct gold contains 37.5% pure gold
14ct gold contains 58.5% pure gold
18ct gold contains 75% pure gold

Pure 24ct gold is alloyed with other metals such as Silver, Copper, Palladium & Zinc, which makes up the different carats of gold & changes the colour.

COLOUR DIFFERENCE

Pure gold is very rich yellow in colour. The higher the carat of gold, the higher the gold content and therefore richness of colour.

18ct Yellow Gold is a lush warm golden yellow colour, compared to 9ct Yellow Gold which is a pale, light golden colour. 9ct has a slight pink-brown undertone due to the higher copper content. 14ct Yellow gold is a medium yellow golden colour.

White Gold is a mixture of gold, palladium, silver or zinc. White gold naturally has a warm gold undertone to it. Traditionally white gold jewellery is rhodium plated which gives it a flashy bright white shine. We don't rhodium plate our white gold as we love the natural golden tones which come through, and also doesn't require the maintenance of replating the ring every 1-2 years.

DURABILITY & LONGEVITY

Pure gold doesn’t tarnish or corrode, but the metals alloyed with the gold can. Therefore the higher the carat of gold & less alloyed metal present, the more durable & tarnish resistant over time.

As wedding & engagement rings are intended to be worn everyday for a lifetime, 14ct and 18ct is recommended for wedding & engagement ring jewellery due to its added strength, durability & longevity.

9ct gold is a more economical option upfront, although as it has a high copper content this can cause your jewellery to tarnish faster that a higher carat gold & will show more wear & require more cleaning & maintenance over time.

People with sensitive skin or allergies to alloys are recommended to opt for a higher carat gold.

SILVER JEWELLERY

Sterling silver is an alloy made up of 92.5% fine silver & 7.5% copper.

Sterling silver is a soft alloy which is prone to oxidising. Sterling silver is recommended for fashion jewellery which is not intended to be worn everyday, therefore we don't recommend silver as a suitable alloy for wedding & engagement rings.

Gold plated sterling silver consists of a thin layer of 18ct gold electroplated over a sterling silver base. Our jewellery is plated with a minimum of 2-3 microns. Gold plating does fade with wear, and is not recommended for items that you will wear everyday.