OUR WISH FOR YOU is the same wish we have for your new adornments; we want you both to live your best life. The jewelry you purchase from Nashelle is crafted from high quality metals and is intended to last you many years. In this guide we will go over each of the gold metals that we offer and share lifestyle tips and tricks to best care for your jewelry to keep them looking gorgeous for years to come.

Let’s begin with favorite metal, 14k GOLD.

14K OR 18K GOLD

For many of us, gold is the creme de la creme of metals. With it’s gorgeous sun like luster, it is resistant to rust, tarnish, and corrosion. Since pure 24k gold is too soft for everyday wear it’s alloyed with a mixture of silver, copper and a trace of zinc to give it strength and durability. This hardens your jewelry, making it possible for you to pass these precious pieces down the generational line.

We offer two options for “pure gold”: 14 and 18 karat. 18 Karat is 75% gold, while 14 Karat is 58.3% gold.  The karatage that’s right for you is a matter of personal preference or budget. What is important to note when choosing which is the right choice for you keep in mind that 14k Gold offers a fantastic balance of durability and price because of the higher percentage of alloys used. 18k Gold is a more luxurious option with an increased precious appeal. Remember 18k is softer and less durable than 14k because of the higher amount of malleable pure gold in the alloy.

CARE:

The Quick Breakdown: Keep your adornments away from chemicals and wash them when they are exposed. Remove your jewelry when you sleep and exercise, and give them a good cleaning every now and then using this simple method.

1. Soak your piece in a mix of gentle soap and warm water.
2. Use a soft cloth or a super soft toothbrush to get into smaller spaces.
3. Rinse ALL the soap off.
4. Dry thoroughly with a soft cloth or air dry.
5. Wear or store in an airtight space. Be sure your piece is completely dry before storing.

14K GOLD FILL OR “GOLD FILLED”

Yes, They both mean the same thing.

Gold Filled is 2nd only to solid gold. This metal offers the beauty and luster of 14K gold at an affordable price point making it an extremely popular alternative to 14K gold. Contrary to it’s name “Gold Filled”, this metal is not “filled” with gold. The gold is actually on the outside and is made with a process that involves mechanically pressure bonding multiple layers of solid 14K gold with extreme heat over a core of high quality brass. This metal is a strictly regulated US industry standard that legally requires 5% (1.20th) pure gold by weight . So basically imagine a very resilient exterior of pure 14K gold exterior layer with a brass interior and you have “Gold Filled”.

This metal will not flake, rust, or peel off. Skin sensitivity is extremely uncommon. Since the exposed layer is 14K Gold you should have the same experience as if your skin is exposed to pure gold. Now, will it stand the test of time like 14K gold, no. However, it can come pretty close if you choose to take good care of it.

14K ROSE GOLD FILL

Another popular metal we offer is 14K Rose Gold Fill. As the name implies, this is is a 14K gold exterior with a rosy hue achieved by mixing the gold with copper.  This option follows the same specifications as yellow gold, with a thick layer of 14k gold over a jeweler’s brass core. Both 14k yellow gold and 14k rose gold alloys contain the same amount of 14k solid gold. It’s the combination of metals that are added to the pure, 24k gold that changes the color—the pure gold part is that constant 58% of the alloy.

The thing I will note about this metal is that it does seem more susceptible to tarnish and needs to be cleaned more frequently to maintain its’ shine. You will care for this metal the same way you care for 14k gold fill.

14K GOLD FILL CARE

The Quick Breakdown: Keep your adornments away from chemicals and wash them when they are exposed. Remove your jewelry when you sleep and exercise, and give them a good cleaning every now and then using this simple, yet highly effective method.

1. Soak your piece in a mix of gentle soap and warm water.
2. Use a soft cloth or a super soft toothbrush to get into smaller spaces.
3. Rinse ALL the soap off.
4. Dry thoroughly with a soft cloth or air dry.
5. Wear or store in an airtight space. Be sure your piece is completely dry before storing.

LIFESTYLE IS KEY

If cared for properly this metal can potentially last for a really long time. Some say it can last a lifetime.  Can and will are not the same thing. Speaking from personal experience, I have literally lived in three 14K Gold Fill bangles and rings for over 5 years and they are still almost as golden as they were the day I got them. This said, lifestyle plays the biggest role in the longevity of your jewelry so let’s go over the main elements of care and what can get in the way of your gold living its best life.

1: Exposure: What your jewelry is exposed to, or not exposed to, will be the number one player in how gracefully your adornment ages. You definitely want to keep your gold filled jewelry away from any kind of harsh chemicals found in soaps, cleaning products, pools, Jacuzzis, perfumes, lotions, sunscreens, salt water, makeup etc. Exposure to these products will very likely compromise the quality of your gold and you will notice the color of your gold will darken over time. One of the best things you can do to care for your jewelry is remove it before you expose it to any of these elements. If your jewelry is exposed to these things, no big deal, give them a thorough clean. The sooner you get to cleaning it, the less damage the exposure will do. Again, lifestyle is the key here; be mindful of what you put your jewelry through on a regular basis..

2. The Shower + Water: People always ask if they can shower in their gold filled jewelry.  The answer is yes if you use gentle soaps, and no if you don’t. Frequent exposure to fresh water will cause no harm.  Showering in your gold filled jewelry should not compromise the quality as long as you are not exposing it to any of the harsh elements mentioned above, or scrubbing with a rough brush which could result in scratch. This is a really important thing to note. If you prefer more conventional personal care products containing sulfites and parabens, you may want to remove your jewelry before showering to prolong the life of your gold.

2: Sleep: We recommend removing your jewelry before sleeping. Sleeping in your jewelry won’t necessary compromise the quality of your gold, but it could greatly decrease the longevity of the design. Some of our dainty earrings and chains are not made to be lived in and are more likely to break if worn during sleep. It can also be noted that you will likely sleep more soundly without jewelry on.

3. Sweat + Working out: Even though it looks cute to workout in your jewelry, its not the best thing for either of you. One, it can be distracting and really get in the way of your focus. Two, you can damage your jewelry more easily during a workout (remember this is a soft metal). And three, sweat builds up on you jewelry. Though your sweat won’t damage gold filled jewelry, you’ll want to clean it after. So when it comes to risk v’s reward, we recommend to remove your jewelry before a workout.