Our Materials

DiaFifth is fine jewelry made to be worn every day and kept forever. Here is exactly what goes into every piece.

Solid gold vs gold vermeil vs gold plated

These three terms are used loosely across the jewelry industry, and the difference decides how long a piece lasts. Solid gold is gold all the way through. Vermeil and plating are a layer of gold over another metal, so what sits underneath, and how thick the gold layer is, determines whether the piece survives daily wear or fades within months.

On a phone, scroll the table sideways to see every column.

	Solid 10K & 14K gold	Gold vermeil	Gold plated	Sterling silver
What it is	Real karat gold throughout, no core of another metal	A thick layer of real gold bonded over solid 925 sterling silver	A very thin gold coating over brass or another base metal	Solid 925 silver throughout
Does it tarnish	No	Not while the gold layer is intact; the silver beneath can tarnish once it wears through	Yes, the coating wears off and the base metal below discolors	Tarnishes over time, and polishes back to bright
Safe in water	Yes, including showers and swimming	Best kept dry to protect the gold layer	No	Yes, though it will tarnish faster
Will it turn skin green	No, it is hypoallergenic	No while the gold layer holds	Often, once the base metal is exposed	No, though some skin reacts to the copper in the alloy
How long it lasts	A lifetime, and it can be passed on	Years with care, and it can be re-plated	Months of regular wear	A lifetime with occasional polishing
Best for	Pieces you never take off, and milestone gifts	Building a collection, and trying a trend	Costume jewelry only	Mixed metal looks alongside gold
At DiaFifth	Most of the collection	Rings and earrings	We never use it	A small number of pieces

Solid 10K and 14K gold

Our solid gold jewelry is real karat gold throughout, never plated or gold filled. The karat number tells you how much of the metal is pure gold: 14K is 58.3% gold, 10K is 41.7%, and the rest is an alloy that gives the piece the strength to survive daily wear. Pure 24K gold is too soft to hold a stone setting or a thin band, which is why fine jewelry is rarely made from it. Because the gold runs all the way through, there is no coating to wear off: the color stays as it is, it does not tarnish, and it is safe to keep on in the shower or the sea. It is also hypoallergenic, so it will not leave a green mark on your skin. Choose from yellow and white gold.

Solid gold vs gold vermeil

Gold vermeil is a thick layer of real gold bonded over solid 925 sterling silver. That silver base is what separates vermeil from ordinary gold plating, where the same thin gold sits over brass or another base metal. Because the layer is thicker and the metal underneath is precious rather than cheap, vermeil holds its finish far longer than plating and will not turn your skin green while the gold is intact. It does wear eventually: friction at the points a piece rubs against skin or clothing will thin the layer over years, and the silver beneath can then tarnish, though it can be re-plated. Solid gold is the investment piece that lasts a lifetime; vermeil is the smart way to try a trend or build a collection at a more accessible price.

Lab grown diamonds

We set premium lab grown diamonds, which are chemically, physically and optically identical to mined diamonds. They are real diamonds: the same crystal structure, the same hardness, the same fire and brilliance, and they are graded against the same cut, color and clarity standards by the same laboratories. The only difference is origin. A lab grown stone is created in weeks in a controlled environment rather than over millions of years underground, which avoids the environmental and social cost of mining and puts a larger, cleaner stone within reach at the same budget. No jeweler can tell the two apart by eye, and neither can a loupe: it takes specialist equipment reading trace growth patterns.

Sterling silver

Our sterling silver is solid 925 silver, meaning 92.5% pure silver with the balance alloyed for strength. It is bright and durable, and easy to pair with gold for a mixed metal look. Silver tarnishes with exposure to air, which is normal and reversible: a polishing cloth brings the shine straight back.

Frequently asked questions

Is DiaFifth jewelry real gold? Yes. Our solid gold pieces are real 10K and 14K karat gold throughout, with no core of another metal, and every piece is stamped with its karat mark. Our vermeil pieces use real gold too, bonded as a thick layer over solid 925 sterling silver rather than over brass. What we never sell is gold plating over base metal, the material that accounts for most jewelry that fades or turns skin green within months. The metal of every piece is stated on its product page, so you always know which of the three you are buying before you order.

Are lab grown diamonds real diamonds? Yes. A lab grown diamond is chemically, physically and optically the same material as a mined one: identical crystal structure, identical hardness at 10 on the Mohs scale, identical fire and brilliance. Gemological laboratories grade them against the same cut, colour and clarity standards. The only difference is how the carbon crystallised, in a controlled chamber over weeks rather than underground over millions of years, which avoids the environmental and social cost of mining and puts a larger, cleaner stone within the same budget. Telling them apart takes specialist equipment reading trace growth patterns, not a jeweler's loupe.

Will solid gold turn my skin green? No. Solid gold is hypoallergenic and will not discolor your skin. Green marks come from base metals such as copper and brass in plated jewelry, which react with skin and sweat. There is no base metal in a solid gold piece for that reaction to happen.

Does gold vermeil tarnish? Not while the gold layer is intact. Vermeil is real gold over sterling silver, and gold does not tarnish. Over years of wear the layer can thin at the points that rub most, exposing the silver beneath, which does tarnish. Keeping vermeil dry, storing it away from air, and removing it before swimming or showering all slow this down considerably, and a worn piece can be re-plated rather than replaced.

What is the difference between 10K and 14K gold? The karat number is how much of the metal is pure gold. 14K is 58.3% gold and 10K is 41.7%. More gold means a richer color and a higher price; less gold means a harder, more scratch-resistant alloy. Both are solid gold, both are hypoallergenic, and both are safe in water. 14K is the standard for fine jewelry because it balances color against durability.

See our care guide to keep every piece looking its best, or read our ring size guide before choosing a ring.