Jewelry Education & Guide
Metal Guide
What is Sterling Silver?
To produce stronger and more durable products, pure silver is often combined with other metals. Sterling silver is the most popular alloy.
Fine silver (99.9% pure) is generally too soft for producing large functional objects; therefore, the silver is usually alloyed with copper to give it strength. Sterling silver is an alloy of silver containing 92.5% by weight of silver and 7.5% by weight of other metals, such as copper. The sterling silver standard has a minimum millesimal fineness of 925. This alloy preserves the elasticity and beauty of the precious metal.
Other metals can also replace the copper, most often with the intent to improve various properties of the basic sterling alloy such as reducing casting porosity, eliminating firescale, and increasing resistance to tarnish.
What is Gold Tone or Silver Tone?
Gold or silver tone refers to the gold-colored or silver-colored base metal used to finish jewelry. These base metals are usually brass or copper. There is no real gold or silver included.
What is Gold Plating or Gold Electroplating?
Gold plating is a method of depositing a thin layer of gold onto the surface of another metal (such as silver or copper) by chemical or electrochemical means.
What is Rhodium?
A member of the platinum group, rhodium is a shiny, white metal that is highly reflective, durable, and expensive. It is often used as a hardening agent for platinum. In jewelry, it is plated on other metals to increase luster and eliminate tarnishing.
Stone Guide
What is Cubic Zirconia?
Cubic zirconia (also known as CZ) is a synthetic crystalline substance used as an alternative to diamonds. The man-made material is colorless, hard, and flawless. Its popularity stems from its similarity to diamonds in brilliance and crystal clarity while still being affordable.
Historically cubic zirconia began being produced in the 1970’s due to its diamond-like qualities, low cost, and overall durability. Read more.
Cleaning and Care Guide
Will Sterling Silver tarnish?
Chemically, silver does not react with oxygen or water at ordinary temperatures, meaning it does not tarnish easily. However, the other metal in the alloy (usually copper) may react with oxygen in the air. As the silver's purity decreases, it is more likely to corrode or tarnish.
Even though sterling silver does tarnish, our rhodium-plated jewelry provides maximum durability. Our jewelry is also easy to care for and clean.
What will make sterling silver tarnish?
Common chemicals in perfume, hair spray, soap, and lotion will make rhodium tarnish permanently. Stay away from chlorine and other bleaches, including swimming pools. Rhodium-plated jewelry will turn quickly if it meets those chemical substances.
When should I not wear my jewelry?
Do not wear your jewelry while doing housework, washing dishes, working out, lifting weights, swimming, showering, gardening, or using any chemical substances.
How should I clean and take care of my rhodium-plated jewelry?
For regular cleaning, it is recommended that you use our signature jewelry polishing cloth that is infused with a special jewelry cleaner. You can also use a soft, 100% cotton cloth. It is recommended that you have one cleaning cloth for gold and a separate one for silver.
DO NOT use silver liquid cleaner to clean rhodium-plated jewelry. It is too harsh and can dull or harm the rhodium plating.
How should I clean and take care of my rose gold plated or gold plated jewelry?
Maintain the beautiful shine by polishing BERRICLE gold plated and rose gold plated jewelry with a soft cloth. Dampen the cloth with lukewarm soapy water and rub the cloth gently on jewelry. Rinse with clean water and pat dry with a soft cloth. If jewelry requires extra cleaning, soak it for 5 to 10 minutes before rubbing.
DO NOT use liquid silver cleaner, ultrasonic cleaning or a tumbler. Please take off jewelry when swimming or doing other physical activities. Put on jewelry after applying lotion, hair spray, perfume or other chemicals. Kindly be advised that it is normal for the gold plated and rose gold plating to wear off over time.
Kindly be advised that it is normal for yellow/rose gold plating to wear off over time.
How should I clean my dull/cloudy stones?
Although our cubic zirconia stones are high quality, the nature of the stones can result in them appearing dull over time due to the build up of lotions and other oils from the skin. Easily clean the stones by soaking the jewelry in a small bowl of warm water that is mixed with dish detergent; you can also gently brush the stones with a soft bristle toothbrush.
How should I store my jewelry?
To keep tarnishing to a minimum, it is strongly advised that you store your silver jewelry in a dry and air-tight area, such as a jewelry box or zip-lock bag. Keep your jewelry pieces from rubbing against other items when you are not wearing them. Although silver jewelry is scratch resistant, it isn't scratch proof.
Why did your jewelry turn my finger green?
All of our silver jewelry is made of 925 sterling silver, which includes 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals, including copper. When the copper alloy comes in contact with moisture (such as sweat, water, humidity) or certain acids in products (such as lotions, household cleaning products, perfumes, soaps) it may create chemical reaction that can turn your finger green. This reaction is harmless. People with high body acidity are more likely to experience this green finger reaction. "Green finger" does not indicate that the jewelry is not sterling silver.