Solid gold jewelry is a piece of jewelry made entirely of gold, inside and outside. Solid gold items will have a different percentages of gold base on karat. 18k gold has 75% pure gold and 25% alloy. It is a high quality option and commonly used in Asian Culture. Requires special care because it is more malleable.

14k gold has 58.3% pure gold and 41.7% alloy. It is a high quality and durable option, meant to last a lifetime with good maintenance.

14k gold fill contains 5% of 14 karat gold. This thick layer is bonded or pressed with the base metal of brass. This is a more affordable alternative to 14k gold, and is more durable than gold plate. With good maintenance, gold fill can last years.

Sterling silver contains 92.5% of pure silver and it is mixed with alloys. All metals can oxidize given certain environments, so sterling silver can be maintained by keeping it dry and using a polishing cloth to consistently clean it.

Gold vermeil uses a high pure amount of silver or sterling silver to electroplate with 2.5 microns of gold. The gold is the outer layer.

Gold plated items uses a very thin layer of gold to electroplate with brass or other base metals. This is one of the most affordable options. Because the gold layer is thin, no matter the karat level, keeping it away from consistent moisture and acid will help retain the gold color.

Stainless Steel is an affordable waterproof option and doe not oxidize easily.