MATERIAL INTEGRITY & STUDIO STANDARDS
Solid .925 Sterling Silver
Every RyKier piece is cast in solid .925 sterling silver — no brass, no nickel, no hollow backs. The silver is the structure, not a substrate.
Gold: 18K Vermeil
Our gold pieces are 18K gold vermeil over .925 sterling silver · 2.5 microns.
Vermeil is a defined standard: gold of at least 10 karat, at a minimum thickness of 2.5 microns, over a sterling silver base. Anything thinner, or over brass, cannot be called vermeil.
Gold vermeil is a surface layer. Over years of wear it thins on the raised areas of the relief. That is expected, and it is why we publish the thickness rather than the word "gold".
Rhodium
Rhodium is a member of the platinum group, harder than gold and highly tarnish-resistant. Our white pieces are rhodium plated over .925 sterling silver. Nickel-free.
Why We Cast in Silver First
The surface is the product. Every ridge, recess and fade is sculpted before anything is applied to it. So the piece is cast solid in silver first, and the gold goes on afterward — the sculpture stays intact.
Gold-filled is a mechanical bond, made by rolling sheet and wire. It works for flat and simple shapes, and it cannot hold a cast texture with depth.
What This Means Against the Alternatives
Why We Publish Numbers
"Gold finished," "gold tone" and "18K gold" without a base named are terms that describe nothing.
Care
Never use silver dips, chemical cleaners or ultrasonic cleaning — they strip the oxidized recess permanently. Vermeil and rhodium: soft dry cloth only, no treated polishing cloths. Full instructions: Jewelry Care.
