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Know what you're wearing
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
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
92.5% pure silver, 7.5% copper. Hallmarked. Tarnishes over time — that's chemistry, reversible in 30s with the included cloth. Cool-toned, sculptural, ages beautifully.
Pearls
Grown in mussels, hand-selected per pair for luster and symmetry. Each one is unique. Organic material — no chemicals, no ultrasonic, no perfume.
Stones
For colored stones (opal, sapphire, topaz) we default to lab-grown. Chemically identical to mined, lower environmental and human cost.
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
capsule
The minimum viable jewelry wardrobe: 5 pieces that work for 5 years of daily wear.
brand
What separates a fashion jewelry brand worth buying from one that isn't — the 7 signals.
guide
A pearl size guide with millimeter-by-millimeter visuals and styling notes for each.