The difference is in the metal
Every Mystigrey silver piece is solid .925 sterling silver, plated with rhodium, the finish fine jewelers use on white gold. Our gold pieces are 18K Gold Plated with a 3-micron layer of 18K gold, many times thicker than the flash plating on typical fashion jewelry. Every piece is nickel-free and hypoallergenic.
925 Sterling Silver Plated Rhodium
Our silver starts as .925 sterling silver: 92.5% pure silver with a little copper for strength, all the way through. We then plate it with rhodium, a rare, highly reflective metal from the platinum family. Rhodium gives a brighter, whiter shine than silver alone and protects it from tarnish.
- Core92.5% pure silver
- FinishRhodium, platinum family
- ShineBright white, tarnish-resistant
- SkinNickel-free, hypoallergenic
18K Gold Plated
Our gold pieces are plated with a 3-micron layer of 18K gold, which is 75% pure gold. Much fashion jewelry uses a "flash" plating only a fraction of a micron thin. A 3-micron layer is many times thicker, so the color lasts far longer with everyday wear. 18K gold also gives a deeper, warmer yellow than lower-karat gold, and it layers beautifully with our silver pieces.
- Gold layer18K, 75% pure gold
- Thickness3 microns
- ToneWarm yellow gold
- SkinNickel-free, hypoallergenic
Mystigrey compared with typical fashion jewelry
| Mystigrey | Typical fashion jewelry | |
|---|---|---|
| Silver pieces: what's inside | Solid .925 sterling silver, 92.5% pure silver | Brass, copper or zinc alloy |
| Silver finish | Rhodium, a platinum-family metal used on white gold | Silver-tone coating or lacquer |
| Gold finish | 18K gold plating, 75% pure gold | "Gold-tone" color or unstated karat |
| Gold plating thickness | 3 microns of 18K gold | Flash plating, a fraction of a micron, often unstated |
| Clear labeling | The exact finish is listed on every product page | "Silver-tone", "gold-tone" or no material listed |
Typical fashion jewelry describes common materials in the category, not any single brand. 1 micron = one thousandth of a millimeter.
How to tell real sterling silver
Check the product page
We name the exact metal on every Mystigrey product page, so you always know what you are buying.
Try a magnet
Sterling silver is not magnetic. Many base metals painted silver are.
Feel the weight
Solid silver has a cool, substantial feel compared with light, coated alloys.
Stainless steel and natural stones
Our men's and bead bracelets use stainless steel, which won't rust or tarnish. Stone-set pieces use cubic zirconia for sparkle, or natural stones such as black agate, rose quartz, amethyst, green aventurine, moonstone, sodalite and turquoise.
Questions about our materials
What does 925 Sterling Silver Plated Rhodium mean?
The piece is made of .925 sterling silver, which is 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals, usually copper, for strength. It is then plated with rhodium, a rare platinum-family metal that gives a bright white shine and protects the silver from tarnish.
Is Mystigrey jewelry hypoallergenic and nickel-free?
Yes. Mystigrey jewelry is nickel-free and hypoallergenic, so it is comfortable to wear every day, even for sensitive skin.
How is Mystigrey different from cheaper fashion jewelry?
Much fashion jewelry at similar prices is brass, copper or zinc alloy with a thin silver-tone or gold-tone coating. Mystigrey silver pieces are solid .925 sterling silver underneath the rhodium, and our gold pieces carry a 3-micron layer of 18K gold, many times thicker than a typical flash plating.
Is 18K Gold Plated jewelry real gold?
Yes. Our gold pieces are plated with a 3-micron layer of real 18K gold, which is 75% pure gold. That is many times thicker than the flash plating used on much fashion jewelry, so the color lasts far longer.
How thick is your gold plating?
3 microns of 18K gold. Much fashion jewelry uses a flash plating that is only a fraction of a micron thick. A 3-micron layer is many times thicker, so it stands up far better to everyday wear. See how it compares.
How can I tell real sterling silver?
Sterling silver is not magnetic, and it has a cool, substantial feel in your hand. At Mystigrey, every product page names the exact metal, so you always know what you are buying.