WHAT WE USE AND WHY
OUR MATERIALS
Materials are the first decision we make. From how a chain feels on your skin to how long it holds its finish: all of it traces back to what the chain is made of. At GAIA, that means precious metals and natural gems only. Whether it's our 18K Gold Vermeil or Rhodium Plated pieces, they are all stones from the earth, never a lab.
18K Gold Vermeil
Gold vermeil is a technique that lets us create pieces at a price that makes sense, without cutting corners on what's underneath. At GAIA, every 18K Gold Vermeil piece is made of 4 layers:
925 Sterling Silver Core: Every GAIA chain starts here. It's what gives our chains its weight in the hand and its fall against the collarbone.
Palladium Plating: Corrosion-resistant, hypoallergenic, and roughly thirty times rarer than gold. We use palladium between the silver and gold as a barrier, stopping the silver beneath from migrating into the gold above so the finish stays bright.
18K Solid Gold: 2.5 microns minimum. Thickness is what separates a finish measured in years from one measured in seasons. We only use 18K Gold so your chain reads richer and deeper in the light.
Nano-coating: Every GAIA piece is sealed with an invisible nano-coating that guards against humidity, moisture, and daily wear.
Four layers. That's what lets our chains be worn every day, which is the only kind of jewellery worth making.
Rhodium Plated
Rhodium is a silvery-white precious metal from the platinum family. It's harder than silver, and it doesn't tarnish. Our rhodium plated pieces are built the same way as our vermeil, four layers, all of them working to protect the sterling silver core underneath:
925 Sterling Silver Core: The same core as our vermeil. It's what gives our chains its weight in the hand, and its fall against the collarbone.
Palladium Plating: Corrosion-resistant and hypoallergenic. Palladium sits between the silver and the rhodium as a barrier, keeping the silver from tarnishing.
Rhodium Plating: A bright, hard surface that doesn't tarnish. It's the reason our silver chains stay bright instead of dulling in a drawer.
Nano-coating: Every GAIA piece is sealed with an invisible nano-coating that guards against humidity, moisture, and daily wear.
Four layers again. Built so your silver keeps its shine through everyday wear, not just the first few months.
JEWELLERY CARE
How to Keep Your Pieces at Their Best
The nano-coating does most of the work. These four habits do the rest.
Dry is still better: Our pieces are made for sweat, rain and a long day in the heat, but it will always love being kept dry. Chlorine, salt and hot water will slowly work away at any finish, so take your chain off before you swim or shower.
Apply first, wear last: Make your jewellery the final touch. Apply your perfumes, lotions, and hairspray before putting your pieces on to protect the finish from harsh chemicals.
Polish gently, polish often: A few seconds with a soft cloth is enough to lift the oils that build up over a day, and doing it regularly is what keeps the warmth in the gold.
Store it on its own: Chains tangle when they are left together, so keep yours in the GAIA pouch it arrived with, one piece to a pouch. Store it in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight.
When it needs us: Daily wear leaves marks, and that is the trade we would rather you made. When your chain has collected a few, send it back and we will restore it.
Yes. Gold vermeil uses a thick layer of 18K Gold over sterling silver making it significantly more durable and valuable. Standard gold plating puts a thin layer of gold over a cheaper base, usually brass or copper. Both look similar on day one. They do not stay that way.
At least 2.5 microns. Standard gold plating sits at 0.5 microns. At five times thicker, gold vermeil gives a richer, deeper colour, a harder-wearing surface, and a chain that survives the daily wear GAIA is built for.
Yes. That was brief we designed for. Every layer, every coating exists so you can wear our pieces every day, not kept back for the right moment.
Yes, all our pieces are nickel-free, lead-free, and cadmium-free.
It can, though over many years. Gold and silver are precious metals. They scratch, and they dull with exposure to skin and air. Our nano-coating slows this down considerably by sealing the surface against moisture, oxygen, and contact.
When a piece needs attention, send it back to us. Restoration is complimentary for the first two years. After that a small fee applies, per restoration, per piece.