Materials Guide

18K Gold Plated

Our 18K gold plated collection is made with a base metal of brass or sterling silver (s925 - more below), coated in a layer of real 18 karat gold; and e-coated to protect your jewelry and keep it looking new for longer.

18K plated jewelry carries the same luster and appearance as real gold jewelry, but comes at a price that you will love. It's important to note that gold plated jewelry is likely to oxidize when exposed to water, sweat, perfumes, lotions etc. These elements can make the gold plating wear off, exposing the base layer of metal—so remember to take off your jewelry before you go for a swim, shower or workout to keep it looking new for longer.

Sterling Silver

Sterling Silver, also known as s925, is a precious metal made with 92.5% silver and blended with other metals to make it stronger. Like all our jewelry, our sterling silver jewelry is nickel, lead, and cadmium free making it suitable for anyone with sensitive skin. Explore to see how this precious metal works in harmony with every CULTURE REPUBLIC design; our sterling silver jewelry is stylish, and safe for sensitive skin.

18K Gold

18K Gold (i.e 18 parts pure gold and 6 parts alloy) has a rich tone and look that makes this a must-have material in your jewelry box. Our most premium offering, solid 18K gold jewelry, is the ideal mix of purity, durability, and value for your money. These are heirloom pieces that will last a lifetime, for you and the ones you love.

Cubic Zirconia

Cubic zirconia, also known as CZ, is a material similar to a diamond in its appearance, brilliance and crystal clarity, but it is a synthesized (i.e. man-made) crystalline material that is clear, hard, and flawless.

Just like real diamonds, Cubic Zirconia is also measured by the 4 Cs—Cut, Clarity, Color and Carat. All our jewelry has the highest grade (AAAAA) cubic zirconia. This means these stones are crafted and polished to perfection making them shine just like real diamonds, with no polish marks or grain lines.

Pearls

We use the highest quality of pearls in all our jewelry; freshwater and shell pearls. Shell pearls are made from the inner lining of oysters i.e. mother of pearl. This substance is ground down to a powder and coated on for a beautiful, lustrous finish that you will find across our earrings, necklaces and bracelet collections. Similarly freshwater pearls are real pearls that are harvested in lakes and are used in our most popular styles like our Freshwater Pearl Hoops, Freshwater Pearl Necklace and more.

Opals

Opals add the perfect touch of color to our 18K gold plated jewelry. Opals used in CULTURE REPUBLIC jewelry are synthetically made in laboratories and contain 80% silica, making it a high-quality, long lasting and a great addition to all all-gold jewelry stack.

Opal is a form of silica, chemically similar to quartz but containing water within the mineral structure. Precious opal generally contains between 6 - 10% water and consists of microscopic silica spheres arranged in a regular pattern.