Materials & Quality
We tell you
what lies beneath the gold.
In this price range you rarely hear what jewelry is actually made of. We tell you — the material, the plating, how long it lasts and where the limit is.
The difference
Why fashion jewelry tarnishes — and this doesn't
Fashion jewelry isn't badly made. It's made to be cheap — and you only notice months later. We made different choices.
The foundation
Steel, because it doesn't give way
Jewelry that still looks good a year from now doesn't start with the gold layer, but with what's underneath.
Every piece has a core of stainless steel, usually 304. No brass, no zinc. Steel doesn't bend out of shape and doesn't react to sweat or moisture.
You notice the difference in a fine ring: in brass it loses its shape within a season, in steel it doesn't.
The basis of the entire collection. Slightly heavier than you'd expect at this price.
The plating
Two kinds of gold, and why that matters
The practical difference: with one type you stop thinking about it, with the other you take it off before showering. Both are beautiful — they just ask something different of you.
Cross-section of a PVD-plated piece. The gold layer doesn't sit on top — it's bonded in.
Why PVD lasts longer
Most of the collection is 18K PVD plated. The gold is vapour-deposited onto the steel in a vacuum chamber and bonds with the metal — the finish is harder than the steel beneath it.
So it doesn't wear away inside a ring or along a sleeve edge — exactly where cheaper plating gives out first.
And the rest of the collection
The remaining pieces have a thinner, electroplated layer. Beautiful, but less hard: take off when showering or swimming, store dry.
Every product page states which of the two you're buying.
Most of the collection. Bonded to the steel, made for daily wear.
In daily life
What water-resistant does and doesn't mean
Most PVD pieces are water-resistant and tarnish-resistant. Washing hands, rain, a dip in the sea: no problem.
What we don't say: that you can keep everything on at all times. Chlorine, soap, lotion and perfume are harsher than water. Take your piece off before the pool and before applying lotion, and it stays beautiful for years.
Our rule of thumb: jewelry goes on last and comes off first.
Stones & inlay
We don't use gemstones, and don't pretend otherwise
What we do use is listed below. Every product page tells you what's in that specific piece.
Zircon
Clear and hard, with the sparkle you expect. In our pavé pieces.
Glass crystal
Warmer in shine than zircon, with less fire.
Pearl
Freshwater pearl or imitation — stated per product.
Resin
In the marbled pieces. Light, and each one has its own pattern.
Turquoise & malachite
Natural stone with colour variation per piece. Not a flaw, but the material.
Rhinestone
Glued rather than set. Wear these dry.
Our limits
What we don't claim
It's easier to buy from someone who also tells you what it isn't.
- No precious metal Plated steel, not solid gold or silver. 18K refers to the gold layer, not the whole piece.
- No lifetime guarantee Plating is a layer, and layers are finite. How long depends on your skin and your habits.
- No promise about skin reactions Steel is well tolerated by most, but we don't know your skin.
- No rush No countdowns, no artificial scarcity. What it costs, it costs.
Care
How to keep them beautiful
PVD pieces
Water is no problem. Take off before the pool, rinse after a day at sea.
Standard plated
Take off when showering, swimming and exercising. Store dry.
Resin, pearl & rhinestone
Clean dry only.
Another question about a specific piece?
Email us at hello@rachelscorner.nl. You'll get a reply from someone who selected the collection themselves.