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Gold Filled
In 14/20 gold-filled, 5% of the total weight of the metal is 14-karat gold.
In single-clad sheet, the gold layer is bonded to one side of the sheet of brass.
In double-clad sheet, discs and other findings, the bonded gold is distributed to both sides of the brass (or base metal) sheet. In findings, the gold is distributed so as to cover all sides of the finding.
PLEASE NOTE: The weight of the gold will be the same percentage of the total weight of the sheet in either case; on the single-clad sheet, all the gold is bonded to one side and on the double-clad sheet, the gold is distributed so that half is bonded to one side and half to the other side.
Gold-filled, or gold overlay, is made by heat- and pressure-bonding a thin layer of 14K or 12K gold to a brass core. The "14/20" or "12/10" notation refers to the ratio of karat gold to brass core by weight and indicates the karat value of the gold. "14/20" gold-filled material is made with 14-karat gold and the gold represents 1/20th (or 5%) of the total weight of the material. You may occasionally see other notations, too; each will inform you about the material's make-up. For example, "14/40" gold-filled is composed of 14-karat gold that represents 1/40th (or 2.5%) of the weight of the material.
• Karat gold covers the brass surface, making it tarnish-resistant.
• The value of gold-filled is greater than gold-plated because gold-filled has an actual layer of karat gold, not just a microscopic film. • All of Superjewelry.com gold-filled products meet federal quality standards.
• Gold-filled jewelry is economical. You'll enjoy the warm tones of gold at a fraction of the cost of pure gold.
Sterling Silver
Sterling silver is often characterized as pure silver, when in fact it is a silver alloy. Pure silver, also called fine silver, is defined as 99.9% pure silver, but is too soft for most uses. Sterling silver contains 92.5% silver, with the remaining 7.5% being another metal, most often copper. The addition of the less costly metal - often called a base metal - serves to harden the resulting alloy so that the metal can be cast into shapes that it will retain with use. Sterling silver is marked with a stamp on the bottom of the piece. The shape of the stamp varies from country to country, and in the US from manufacturer to manufacturer but usually stamped with " .925 " SuperJewelry.com only offers Sterling Silver Products that are .925 Sterling silver tarnishes simply by being in contact with the air. Pure silver is, like gold, impervious to tarnish, or oxidation on the surface. It is the alloy metal which attracts the tarnish. Rub your thumb over an apparently shiny piece of sterling silver. You may find a dull smudge on your skin that indicates that the sterling silver is beginning to tarnish. When storing your silver jewelry it is best kept in a ziplock bag with air squeezed out of it. Over time the jewelry will tarnish and eventually turn black if left out in the air, the moisture in the air will cause oxidization on the surface of the jewelry. After wearing simply rub a polishing cloth over the surface, or if you have used a jewelry cleaning solution be sure to dry the jewelry completely before storing your jewelry in a ziplock bag, the small snack sizes are good for keeping many pieces separate. Do not store sterling silver in the open air ! Polishing Clothes Ziplock bags More Jewelry Cleaning Tips
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