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Everyone is talking about gold vermeil right now as the latest trend in gold jewellery. But what exactly is it? What does it mean and how is it different from other types of jewellery? Let’s find out. Tell me about gold vermeil Gold vermeil is essentially a thick gold coated layer that covers a silver base metal, usually sterling silver, according to jewellery blog ShinyRefinery. You might also hear vermeil referred to as silver gilt as the two terms are interchangeable. At Aquila Jewellery, our gold items are made with a 9ct vermeil gold, covering a 925 sterling silver base with a 2 Micron gold thickness. As a reference point, well known contemporary jewellery brand Missoma also uses 2 Microns for their vermeil jewellery. Are gold plated and gold vermeil the same thing? No. But they are often mistaken to be! There are actually three main differences that we’ll cover below. The first difference is the thickness of the layer of gold. Ethical London jewellery brand MoodGood goes into detail about this in their article ‘How To Recognise Good Quality Jewellery’ explaining how gold plated jewellery can be as little as 0.5 Microns thick. With such a thin coating, the gold plated layer can easily fade, wearing off in a matter of weeks and showing the base metal below. In comparison, gold vermeil has a much thicker gold layer. Our Aquila thickness is 2 Microns, meaning our gold vermeil coating is 4x thicker than its gold plated counterparts. The result? You can enjoy your Aquila handmade jewellery for longer! Make sure to follow our care tips at the end of this article to keep your jewellery looking as fresh as the day you bought it. The second difference is the base or core metal. The base metal used for gold plated jewellery can be anything from nickel to stainless steel; occasionally it is silver. But gold vermeil is always made with sterling silver as the base metal, as this is one of the classification standards for vermeil. If you want to learn more about sterling silver and what the 925 sterling silver stamp means, check out our post about it here. The final difference is how they are made. Gold plated jewellery is made via a process called flash plating where the metal jewellery is placed into an electroplating solution containing gold. Next, a positive electrical charge is applied on the jewellery for a little time in order to gain the desired gold plated thickness, as stated in ‘Gold vermeil vs Gold plated: What’s the Difference?’ by sustainable jewellery brand MonicaVader. In contrast, gold vermeil jewellery is made by micron plating which involves the gold layer being applied using gold powder or leaf, with the microns measured too. Is gold vermeil expensive? It depends. Gold vermeil jewellery isn’t expensive compared to solid gold jewellery but it can be more expensive than gold plated jewellery because of the sterling silver base metal. To make it more confusing, gold plated jewellery sometimes has silver as the base metal too, resulting in a higher price. It’s worth noting too that both the karat and thickness of the gold layer have an effect on the price of gold plating and gold vermeil, so it really depends on the specifics of the individual jewellery piece. Why Aquila uses vermeil We use gold vermeil for a number of reasons. Firstly, it is hypoallergenic just like our entire jewellery collection, including our 925 sterling silver collection. Gold plated jewellery includes nickel in the process which can cause allergic reactions on your skin. Secondly, it doesn’t tarnish easily, which means it is the perfect choice for everyday wear. Thirdly, it’s great quality. Oh, and last but not least we love the glow of gold vermeil. How to care for gold vermeil Cleaning and caring for your gold vermeil pieces is the same as cleaning and caring for your sterling silver pieces. As we always say, do not wear your jewellery pieces in the sea, bath, shower or swimming pool. Remove them for exercise and when you go to bed. Take them off if you are going to be using any creams and perfumes. Remember to put your jewellery on last when you are getting ready and lastly, make sure your hand sanitiser is dry before you wear your rings. When it comes to cleaning your gold vermeil pieces, it’s very easy. Just apply a gentle polishing cloth on your pieces taking care to rub in one direction only. Don’t be tempted to use cleaning liquids though. Store your jewellery in a dry place, inside a soft fabric bag or pouch (your Aquila organic cotton bag or pouch are perfect for this). Ideally store your pieces separately so there is no chance of them rubbing on each other. A vermeil convert? We hope that we have answered any questions you have about gold vermeil and that you are sold on what a wonderful alternative it is to other gold jewellery types. If you fancy dipping into the gold vermeil trend then why not check out our new gold items for inspiration!

925 Sterling Silver 1.2cm hoop diameter 6mm width Hinged back closure Designed in Brighton UK, handmade in Thailand Essential everyday silver hoop earrings for the discerning silver lover. These chunky, mini 925 sterling silver earrings are named after the dramatic Saba volcano found on the small island of Saba, West Indies, Netherlands where thick grooves run down the volcano from its peak to base.

Huggie earrings are increasingly popular with those who like stylish and minimal everyday jewellery. But what are huggies exactly? And how do they differ from regular earrings? Let’s find out. What are huggie earrings? Huggie earrings take their name from their design. Most often they consist of small, metal hoops that ‘hug’ the ear, very close to the earlobe. They are also known as huggie hoop earrings. Huggies are designed with two different back closures, lever or hinged back (latch) closings. How do I wear huggie earrings? Wearers tend to put in one pair in their lobes for an understated, minimal look or stack them in various ear piercings up the ear for more of a layered boho look. What is the difference between hoop earrings and huggie hoop earrings? As discussed, huggies are a type of small hoop earring that hug closely to your earlobe. Hoop earrings can be a variety of sizes but they never measure as close to the ear as huggies do. Hoops range as much in hoop diameter as they do in design. From big statement hoops like our extra large hammered hoops with a 6cm hoop diameter to ourextra small hammered hoops, with a 1.5cm hoop diameter, the distance from the earlobe is always greater than with huggie hoop earrings. Huggie hoop earrings also range in diameter but their range is much smaller. Some can be as small as 5mm, fitting totally flush against the skin. Our Tanna huggie hoops have a 10mm hoop diameter to ensure they are wearable for all of our customers. This size also takes into consideration when certain parts of our body carry extra water or expand slightly when we’re hot and/or in a hot country. Our coming-soon range of 925 sterling silver and 9k gold vermeil huggies will measure around 7-8mm so will fit neatly in the ear and be the ideal travel companion for no hassle earrings. Huggie hoop earrings tend to have a lever or hinged back (latch) closing. They don’t have butterfly backs or screw backs as it is a little fiddly given their size. Huggies are all about putting them in and blissfully forgetting they are there. Are huggie earrings and ear cuffs the same thing? No, for a few reasons. Ear cuffs do not require an ear piercing - huggies do. To be worn, ear cuffs are pushed onto the ear and adjusted as needed. Their open cuff design grips around the flesh of the ear. Huggies clip into place with back closures. Ear cuffs tend to be worn in piercings further up the ear than just the lobe. Huggie earrings can be worn almost anywhere in the ear and are not limited to one or two places. What are the benefits of huggie earrings? It’s near impossible to catch them on your clothes as you take them off as they are so close to your skin. You can’t lose the backs (something we all know too well). They can make as big, or as small of a statement as you want - worn as one pair or multiple stacked pairs. Huggies are lightweight so no dragging down of your upper ear or earlobe. It’s possible to wear huggies for a longer period of time than studs or hoops (we aren’t recommending constant wear without cleaning, but if you are off travelling they are the kind of earring you travel in and sleep in due to their size). Easy to clean. Aquila Jewellery’s silver and gold huggie hoop earrings are hypoallergenic which makes for happy ears. Which ear piercings can huggies go in? Typically used in the ear lobe, huggies can also be used in the tragus (located in front of the ear canal), the helix (at the top of the ear) or in the forward helix (the top front part of the ear). How do you clean huggie earrings? Like any precious metal piece of jewellery, a little bit of upkeep and cleaning along the way will make a big impact on each piece’s appearance – and life span.Take a look at our cleaning guide for sterling silver and gold earrings for quick, actionable advice. Aquila’s Huggie Hoops Currently we have two sets of huggies in our Tanna collection (with more soon to come). First is the 925 sterling silver hoop huggies. These 925 sterling silver hoops are popular for that minimal, clean look (which pair particularly well with a tropical tan). They are also a fave of our founder Stacey who loves rocking them on her travels. Next are our 9ct gold vermeil huggie hoops. Strong and simple to put in, you can sleep peacefully next time you’re on a beach knowing you won’t need to sift through the sand trying to fit your earring backs. We're also pleased to show some of our new collections dropping in June - just in time for summer! How much do you love huggies? Let us know in the comments below. Sign up below and be the first to know when our huggie collection launches. Subscribe Email Address * First Name Last Name

925 Sterling Silver Hand-hammered 5mm silver width Adjustable open cuff design to suit most wrist sizes Designed in Brighton UK, handmade in Indonesia This hand hammered solid sterling silver cuff bracelet is from the Agonda family of jewellery. This piece reminds us to spend time in far off lands with our feet sinking into warm sands, staring out to sea. What does it mean to you? Like it? Take a look at the rest of the Agonda collection which we think you'll love!