The materials
Choosing the material for your future jewelry is not trivial and must be in line with your lifestyle. But which one should you choose?
We give you all our advice to find the one that will meet your expectations.
100% recycled money
At Aphaëla, all our metals come from recycling carried out by our European supplier.
Brilliant white and offering unique creations at a very attractive price, silver has something to seduce!
Contrary to popular belief, if you take care of your jewelry, it can definitely last a lifetime. However, it has a few specific features that will require precautions on your part:
- It is prone to oxidation when exposed to moisture and air. Don't panic, it's very easy to clean! It will simply require more maintenance than a 750 (18k) gold jewel.
- Due to the composition of its alloy, it is by nature softer than 750 gold and therefore more prone to scratches and dents. As our jewelry is handcrafted, this allows us to increase its hardness and resistance. However, we still recommend that you remember to remove your jewelry during manual activities (gardening, DIY, cleaning, etc.) or aquatic activities (swimming, showering, etc.) in order to protect it as much as possible.
100% recycled 750 yellow and red gold
At Aphaëla, all our metals come from recycling carried out by our European supplier.
Their warm color will flatter many complexions and warm the heart. We chose to work with red gold rather than traditional rose gold for its more pronounced hue.
Durable, easy to maintain, and revived by a simple polish, gold is a safe bet. We only work with 750 (18k) gold, but do you know why?
- By definition, 750 gold is composed of 75% pure gold and 25% alloy. It is this addition that gives it its strength and resistance.
- Contrary to what one might think, the ideal for a piece of jewelry is not necessarily pure 999 (24k) gold because, when shaped, it is too malleable and therefore subject to scratches and deformations.
- And what about 375 (9k) gold? This is composed of 37.5% gold and 62.5% alloy, which is half as much gold as its counterpart, 750 gold. This is why you can find jewelry called "gold" at bargain prices. However, the change in its composition is not without impact on the quality of the product. This makes the jewelry more brittle, prone to cracks, its color is also duller (and therefore requires plating), it tarnishes quickly, or even oxidizes.
100% recycled 750 palladium white gold
At Aphaëla, all our metals come from recycling carried out by our European supplier.
750 (18k) palladium-plated white gold has a unique color. Far from the bright white of silver or rhodium, its hue is a softer, deeper gray.
- It is composed of 75% pure gold to which a mixture of copper, silver and palladium is added. The addition of the latter element further increases its hardness and resistance to wear.
- Unlike classic white gold, which can yellow and requires a rhodium surface treatment to give it shine, the color of palladium-plated white gold is stable and consistent.
- It is guaranteed nickel-free, which is not always the case with white gold despite its ban on jewelry.
It is therefore a sustainable, responsible and qualitative choice.
Namely
None of our jewelry has any surface treatment (such as plating)
In traditional jewelry, many pieces of jewelry receive a surface treatment:
- The silver is plated with rhodium to protect it from natural oxidation.
- Silver, copper or brass can be gilded or gold-plated to provide pieces with a visual appearance very close to gold.
- 375 (9k) gold is plated to counteract its more bland natural color (due to the presence of gold divided by two compared to 750 (18k))
- White gold is very often plated with rhodium to give it a more "polar white" and radiant appearance than its natural color.
While these treatments may be aesthetically pleasing, they are particularly polluting. Furthermore, since plating isn't durable, it will eventually fade over time, leaving you with two options: re-plating (which is expensive) or relegating your favorite piece to oblivion...
We don't judge, our first collections were also offered in gold plate... However, it seemed important to change direction once we became aware of the reality behind this practice.
Inspirations
Inspired by sensoriality, the models created resonate with a mood, an emotion . Their ultimate goal is to help you transcribe what is happening inside...outside. Whether you want to make an impression, show your sensitivity or simply enhance an outfit, the creations are designed to accompany you and shout to the world who you are . In short, here you will find unique and stylish pieces, intended to reveal you. Because you deserve it!
" We will call emotion a sudden fall of consciousness into the magical " - Jean-Paul Sartre
Be magically you,
With passion, Melanie
Aphaëla
