Free shipping across the US & Canada on orders over $100. Shop new →

Know what you're wearing

The materials we use, in plain English.

Fashion jewelry is full of fuzzy marketing terms. This page is the opposite — the specific chemistry, the micron thicknesses, the actual lifespan. Scroll through, or skip to what matters to you.

Side by side

Gold options, compared.

The three main ways to get a gold-color piece. Vermeil is our standard; we think it's the right trade-off between lifespan and price.

Plated 18K Vermeil Solid 18K
Material Electro-plated gold Solid 18K gold over silver/brass Solid 18K gold (75% pure)
Gold thickness 0.5-1μ 2.5μ (5× typical plating) 100%
Base Brass / copper Recycled sterling silver or brass N/A
Daily-wear life 3-12 months 3-5+ years Lifetime
Water-safe No Yes (no chlorine) Yes
Hypoallergenic Often not (nickel) Yes Yes
Lifetime re-plating No Yes, free N/A
Starting price (ring) $10-40 $148-500 $600+

Other materials

Silver, pearls, stones.

What we don't use

Three materials you won't find on Coralie Lu.

Sub-2.5μ plating (won't last), nickel (skin reactions), unmarked ‘mystery’ alloys (we stamp every piece). If it's in a Coralie Lu piece, it's named on the product page.

Deep dives

Materials articles

View all ›