How do we make it?
We get asked often how we make our jewelry and what all the terms mean. We are all about transparency here at F&S so here is all the information on how we do what we do!
What is Electroforming?
Most of the jewelry on our website was created using a process called electroforming. This process can be done in either copper or silver. This process creates the very organic look because it deposits metal to the stone and base one particle at a time. That’s how it gets in all the tiny nooks and crannies of the stone and creates a very sturdy setting.
All our copper-formed pieces are plated in:
- Rhodium (a silver colored metal that is both stronger and rarer than Silver providing a longer-lasting plated finish)
- 18k Rose Gold
- 24k Yellow Gold
We have all our pieces plated as thickly as possible, but over time the plating will wear off. You can choose to have it re-plated at any local jewelry or contact us! If you allow a copper-based piece to lose its plated finish entirely, it won’t hurt the ring at all, but copper commonly oxidizes on the skin turning it green.
What is Vermeil?
Vermeil (Silver base plus gold plated) is a great option for budget conscious people who like versatility but does require a lot of maintenance if you want to keep the gold finish. Any plated piece will eventually be rubbed bare through wear so we usually estimate every 6-12 months between having it re-plated which can cost anywhere from $25-45 per ring and take 1-4 weeks each time depending on where you have it plated. The benefit to this is that the initial cost is lower and you can just let the plating wear off and wear it as a silver ring or switch up the color of the gold (go from Rose to Yellow) as you choose.
You make Solid Gold Pieces?
Last year we officially added casting to our repertoire and have spent the year perfecting our technique that allows us to keep our organic style in solid 14k gold. If you opt for solid gold, it requires no maintenance. Our rings are made in such a way that you don't really need to clean them, and they're made to wear 24/7. The initial cost is higher ($925 per ring) but once you put it on, you're done.
