Every Sera Marea piece is made from the materials below, and each product page lists exactly which ones it uses. Nothing here is solid gold or sterling silver, except the 925 posts on earrings where listed.
18K gold-plated copper and brass
18K gold-plated copper or brass is a base-metal wire or fitting with a thin layer of 18-karat gold bonded to its surface; the karat describes the purity of that layer, not its thickness. It has the warm yellow of gold and the light weight of copper, and it is not solid gold and not gold-filled. Used on the base of the Pearl Blossom Brooch, the Olive Kelp Leaf Earrings, the Gold Sunflower Studs and the band of the Pearl Flower Ring. Care: on last, off before water, a dry cloth only; plating in general wears with friction, moisture and perfume.
Silver-plated and palladium-plated metal
Silver-plated metal is copper or brass with a thin layer of silver over it; palladium-plated metal carries a layer of palladium, a white metal of the platinum family. Both are bright and cool-toned, and neither is sterling silver. Silver-plated wire shapes the Camellia Brooch, the Ruffle Collar Necklace and the Woven Pearl Band Ring; palladium-plated fittings appear on the Blue Butterfly Studs and the Silver Mosaic Shell Studs. Care: silver plate can darken with air, wool and skin; wipe with a soft, dry cloth, no dips or polish.
Colored copper wire
Colored copper wire is fine copper wire colored at the surface, in olive, blue, pink, yellow-green and other shades, so the wire itself can be the petal or leaf. It is light, slightly springy, and matte or softly bright depending on the color. Used in the Olive Calla Brooch, Indigo Fan Earrings, Morning Glory Earrings and the Pink Petal Drop Earrings. Care: rubbing and solvents can dull the color; ease bent loops back with fingers, never pliers.
925 sterling silver posts
925 sterling silver is an alloy of 92.5% silver, and on our earrings it is used for the posts, the part that passes through the ear, on the pairs where the product page lists it. The flower or leaf itself is plated or colored wire; only the post is sterling. Pairs with 925 posts include the Kelp Leaf Earrings, Midnight Flower Earrings, Twin Bloom Pearl Earrings and Wildflower Stud Earrings; a few pairs list silver posts without the 925 mark, so check the spec list. Care: sterling can darken over time; a dry cloth brings it back.
Freshwater cultured pearls
A freshwater cultured pearl is a real pearl grown inside a freshwater mussel, started by a farmer and built up by the animal in layers of nacre. Ours are white, cream or bronze, from near-round to irregular baroque shapes, slightly uneven the way real pearls are, and cool for a moment in the hand. Set in the Pearl Blossom Brooch, Pearl Charm Bracelet, Twin Bloom Pearl Earrings and Baroque Pearl Flower Brooch. Care: pearls are soft and dislike chemicals; no perfume or spray on them, wipe with a damp cloth and dry, do not soak.
Glass pearls
A glass pearl is a glass bead with a pearlescent surface, uniform in size and color, lighter than a cultured pearl and quicker to warm in the hand. We use glass pearls where a piece needs many matched pearls, and we never call them freshwater. Found in the Lilac Flower Pearl Earrings, Silver Star Flower Set, Silver Bud Set and Coral Bloom Set. Care: the surface can scratch or chip at the drill hole; store apart from harder pieces and wipe dry.
Cubic zirconia, crystals and rhinestones
Cubic zirconia is a lab-made crystal cut to flash like a diamond; faceted crystals and rhinestones are cut glass or lab crystal with a similar sparkle. All three are hard, bright, clear or colored, and they are what catches the light at the center of a flower or along a hoop. Used in the Silver Calla Brooch, Beaded C-Hoop Earrings, Olive Bead Hoops and Beaded Fan Earrings. Care: a dry cloth; avoid knocking stones against hard surfaces, which can chip the edges.
Natural stones
Natural stones are cut and polished minerals, each with its own color and grain: amazonite, a soft blue-green; tiger's eye, banded gold-brown; amethyst, a purple quartz; and the stone we list as turquoise-blue, named for its color. They are cool and heavier than glass for their size, and no two match exactly. Found in the Amazonite Cord Necklace, Sunflower Studs, Woven Stone Bracelet and the Amethyst Pearl & Stone Bracelet. Care: stones chip if knocked and some fade in strong sun; keep dry and wipe with a soft cloth.
Abalone shell and mother-of-pearl
Abalone shell is the iridescent inner shell of the abalone, blue-green with shifting color; mother-of-pearl is the white nacre lining of a shell, softly lustrous. Both are natural, light and thin, cut into small mosaic pieces or drops. Used in the Mosaic Shell Studs, Abalone Leaf Earrings, Mother-of-Pearl Drop Earrings and the Star Pearl & Stone Bracelet. Care: shell is soft; no chemicals, no soaking, and keep it from knocking against metal.
Natural wood
Natural wood in jewelry is a small piece of shaped, smoothed wood, warm to the touch and very light, with visible grain that differs from piece to piece. We use it in one design so far, the Wood & Pearl Drop Earrings, paired with 18K gold-plated copper and, on the open square style, freshwater cultured pearls. Care: keep wood dry and out of direct sun, which can warp or fade it; wipe with a dry cloth.
Also listed on some pieces: knotted cord (Amazonite Cord Necklace), gold-tone beads and chain, glass seed beads, steel (Pearl Cluster Set) and white fringe drops (White Fringe Set). For how to keep any of these, see care.