18ct GOLD & ROSE GOLD VERMEIL
We predominantly produce our jewellery in 18ct Gold Vermeil. It sounds fancy and it is fancy (it’s pronounced ‘ver-may’, by the way). But what does it mean, and how is it different to ‘gold plated’?
Whilst not a commonly known phrase, you should learn to love Gold Vermeil. To be classed as such, the piece must have a base of sterling silver, and the thickness of the gold must be a minimum of 2.5 microns. All gold UK vermeil pieces are stamped with the 925 mark to indicate the sterling silver purity and we have our pieces tested by the Assay Office where required by law. The plating process is different too - Gold Vermeil is plated with a process known as ‘electrolysis’, making the jewellery very durable.
18ct GOLD PLATED
Missoma’s statement pieces are produced in 18ct gold-plated brass metal with a layer of 18ct gold in a 2 micron thickness. There’s also a layer of anti-tarnish on top for good measure.
Traditionally, Missoma has always used 18ct Gold Vermeil, which has allowed us to develop pieces which are fashionable, durable and affordable. But when we started designing some more playful statement collections in 2017, we realised producing them in 18ct Gold Vermeil would be much more expensive. We are sensitive to the affordability of our jewellery, so we made the decision to gold-plate our statement pieces to keep the price point at an affordable level. They are still incredibly durable - plated with exactly the same process as our Gold Vermeil.
STERLING SILVER
All Missoma’s sterling-silver pieces are rhodium plated. This luxurious member of the platinum family provides an extremely tough and protective layer against tarnishing for durability. Missoma’s sterling- silver pieces are stamped with the 925 mark - indicating the purity of the metal - and are also tested at the Assay office.
STERLING SILVER PLATED
Our sterling-silver plated pieces are plated with sterling silver on brass with a layer of anti-tarnish on top. These pieces are still incredibly durable and plated with exactly the same process as our sterling silver, however will not be marked with a 925 stamp as they are not 92.5% pure silver.
BLACK RHODIUM PLATED
These pieces are plated with black rhodium on brass with a layer of anti-tarnish on top. Black-rhodium plated pieces are still incredibly durable and plated with exactly the same process as our sterling silver, however will not be marked with a 925 stamp as they are not 92.5% pure silver.
MISSOMA GEMSTONES
We source semi-precious gemstones and crystals for their clarity and depth of colour. Our team work to create our own special shapes and hand cuts to make all Missoma gemstones unique. Each gemstone has a special colour, birthplace and story. Some are believed to have special powers, but all of them share a common beauty.
CUBIC ZIRCONIA or ‘CZ’
At Missoma, we use Cubic Zirconia, offering a durable and affordable alternative to diamonds. You get the look without the price point!
SOURCING METALS AND GEMSTONES
We are committed to ensuring that our stones and metals are responsibly sourced and our suppliers and factories audited.
