Today more than ever, there are countless brands that produce jewelry quickly and cheaply, resulting in disposable pieces. They may seem like convenient purchases—pretty pieces, something you can buy in a rush or with little money, almost a bargain. But the reality behind them is very different. Not only are these jewelry pieces made with materials that aren’t the best for your skin, especially if you have sensitive skin, but behind each piece there is a poorly paid, exploited person, forced to complete processes that produce thousands or millions of pieces quickly, generically, and without good quality. This type of product is known as fast fashion, which quickly goes out of style or breaks and becomes unusable in a short time.

On the other hand, there is the opposite case: extremely expensive pieces that, although original, are made with materials for which people were exploited or even killed so that the ring could be made—like the well-known “blood diamonds.”

This is a long and complex topic, but it is important and necessary to reflect on it in order to change the way we consume toward more ethical and fair practices, while still obtaining beautiful, durable objects with meaning behind them. Materials play a very important role in this change. A necklace or earrings made quickly and cheaply generally contain very low-quality materials, which are perishable and can harm the skin. They soon become waste, trash that isn’t recycled, ending up in landfills or the ocean, polluting the world. What’s the takeaway? Material is as important as the product itself.

Between the two types of production mentioned above, there are other alternatives—brands like ours—that, by encouraging the creativity of the artisans who make them, produce ethically sustainable and fair products, using durable and non-harmful materials. In this case, we’re going to talk about one of those materials: layered gold.

So, what is layered gold?

Layered gold, also known as gold-filled, is not solid gold, but it is considered a precious metal because it consists of a solid gold layer—usually 10k or 14k—that is mechanically bonded to another metal (like silver, nickel, or brass, for example) using pressure and heat. This creates a material with an excellent price-to-quality ratio, ideal for jewelry.

The layered gold process coats the base metal with a thick gold layer, which is very different from gold plating. Gold plating is a chemical process that only covers the piece with a very thin, microscopic layer of gold (0.05% or less), whereas the layered gold process covers pieces with at least 5% gold by total weight. This results in much finer, longer-lasting pieces with an excellent price-quality-durability ratio.

All layered gold pieces are hypoallergenic, because the part that touches the skin is gold. Layered gold jewelry is highly durable and easy to care for. With basic care, it can last up to 30 years with little wear and no damage.

How to care for your layered gold jewelry

Caring for your layered gold pieces is very simple and quick:

To clean your pieces, rinse them with warm water. You can also use a little diluted mild soap, then rinse again. (This is only for layered gold.)

Gently dry your jewelry with a soft cloth.

Remove your pieces before sleeping. This keeps them safe overnight and allows you to sleep comfortably.

Store them in a dry, cool box or pouch.

Perfumes, makeup, lotions, and deodorants can damage or dull layered gold. Put your jewelry on at the end of your routine.

Remove your jewelry during exercise or activities that cause heavy sweating. Sweat can also damage your pieces and reduce their lifespan.

Avoid wearing jewelry while swimming. Pool chemicals, hot tubs, and seawater can deteriorate your pieces.

Finally, protect your pieces by not wearing them while handling or working with chemicals.

That’s it! Take care of your jewelry and enjoy wearing it for many years!

If you want to check out our brand, the impact of your purchase, collections, or the meaning behind our pieces, don’t forget to take a look at our online store.

Hi! I’m Lía :) I’m a product designer, and I work at Nunayú building and guiding creative spaces so that we can all develop the design of the pieces we produce and sell.