Our Materials & Craftsmanship 925 Sterling Silver Every silver piece in our store is made from 925 sterling silver — 92.5% pure silver alloyed for strength. Silver pieces carry an S925 mark. Sterling silver naturally develops a soft patina over time; a quick polish with the included cloth brings back the bright finish. To slow tarnishing, store pieces in the pouch provided and keep them away from perfume and salt water. Cultured Freshwater Pearls Our pearls are cultured freshwater pearls from China's pearl-farming regions. "Cultured" means the pearl formed around a nucleus placed by pearl farmers — the same process behind virtually all fine pearls sold worldwide today. We hand-sort for luster first, surface second, shape third. Because pearls are natural, expect gentle variation in shape and overtone; that variation is the signature of a real pearl, not a flaw. Moissanite A small selection of our pieces is set with moissanite. Moissanite is a lab-created gemstone that measures 9.25 on the Mohs hardness scale (diamond: 10) and is prized for its fire. We describe it exactly as it is: beautiful, durable, lab-created — and never as a diamond. 18K Gold-Plated Sterling Silver Our gold-finish styles are plated in 18K gold over a 925 sterling silver base. We always state the base metal, because "gold" alone can mean anything from gold vermeil to plated brass — and you deserve to know which one you're buying. Plated finishes will gently wear with years of daily wear; keep them dry, put them on after perfume, and they'll stay golden far longer.