Chances are, you've already heard of the fine jewelry brand Mejuri. They're everywhere on social media, and you might have seen their ads around town urging you to buy their fine jewelry "for your damn self." Clever marketing strategy aside, I appreciated their dainty, minimalist designs, and I visited their Toronto store to check out their pieces in person.
Mejuri is a direct-to-consumer brand, which means there is no middleman markup. A few pieces caught my eye, so I placed an online order because what I wanted wasn't in stock in the store.
Although Mejuri has more stores in the US, they are actually a Canadian-based company. For Canadians who are wondering, the orders ship from within Canada so they won't incur any cross-border custom fees.
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Mejuri Gold Vermeil Jewelry I Purchased
My first order was for the Tarot Star Necklace and the Twin Necklace. They're both made from gold vermeil, which is why they are relatively affordable.
Each item came in a gift-friendly cardboard box, complete with a black branded travel pouch and care instructions inside. The boxes came in a big white drawstring bag, also branded with their logo.
After wearing my gold vermeil pieces for a few months, I decided that I would rather invest in real gold going forward. Recently, I purchased the 14k yellow gold Croissant Dôme Ring, which I chose over their gold vermeil version.Read on to learn why I stopped buying gold vermeil jewelry.
Mejuri's Gold Vermeil vs. 14k Gold Jewelry
Mejuri's gold vermeil is made from a thick layer of 18k solid gold on sterling silver. It has a much thicker layer of gold than regular gold plating. Vermeil still tarnishes, so the pieces need to stay away from sweat and water.
After wearing the necklaces on my bare skin last summer, both pieces quickly began to oxidize. My Mejuri customer service rep recommended that Ibuff them with the black pouch that came in the box. It worked to a certain degree, but my Twin necklace was still in pretty bad shape, and they offered to replace it with another one, which came in the mail pretty quickly.I have to say, Mejuri's customer service is excellent. Their jewelry has two-year warranties. The reps are prompt with emailing back, and they will find a solution for your issue.
Recently, I took out the Tarot necklace after not wearing it for months and noticed that the oxidization got worse. It wouldn't buff away. I did a little Googling and read that toothpaste is a good jewelry cleaner in general. I don't know the science behind this, but it worked!
What I did was squeeze some toothpaste on the surface I wanted to clean, let it sit for a minute, then scrubbed it with an old toothbrush.
I am a little concerned that if I keep scrubbing the necklace this way, I'll eventually wear off the gold plating. Both necklaces are very cute and layerable, but I decided that gold vermeil is too high maintenance for me.
Even the chain turns darker after a while. The dark patches didn't go away even after I tried the toothpaste trick.
Conversely, I'm very happy with my new 14k yellow goldCroissant Dôme Ring, which is a great statement piece. Even though it cost way more than their gold vermeil version, I don't have to worry about oxidization when I wash my hands or put on hand cream.
Conclusion
If you have a limited budget, don't mind being extra careful with your jewelry, and don't plan on wearing them all the time, then gold vermeil jewelry would be fine to buy.
I would avoid gold vermeil for pieces you'd wear often, which is a shame because Mejuri has a lot of chic and timeless designsonly available in vermeil, such as their Dome Hoops. But I simply don't want to worry about accidentally exposing them to water, sweat, skin creams, and sunscreen. From my experience, they definitely tarnish.
So whenever possible, invest in real gold.I'm currently considering other 14k gold pieces from Mejuri, such as their single studs. To see all their 14k gold jewelry, filter by metals.
However, gold vermeil jewelry does need to stay dry and away from other harsh chemicals, lotions etc. If you don't want to worry about taking off your jewelry and know you will wear day and night, then 14k gold might be better option.
What to know about wearing gold vermeil jewelry. Vermeil will naturally tarnish over time, especially when exposed to environmental factors like air pollution, moisture, and items that contain sulfur, however it is easy to restore the shine of gold vermeil jewelry with proper care and maitenance.
Solid gold is a precious metal that will not oxidize or discolor. 14k gold has a higher percentage of alloyed metal making it more durable and resistant to everyday wear than 18k gold. Our 14k white gold pieces are finished in rhodium plating, which gives them extra shine and durability.
Mejuri was accused of selling imitations of products from David Yurman's “Pure Form” and “Sculpted Cable” collections, with side-by-side photo comparisons included in the lawsuit to support David Yurman's allegations.
Like the other plated options, gold vermeil still only uses a thin outer layer of gold and will eventually wear down to metal underneath - it's not suitable for everyday, long-term wear.
Gold vermeil jewelry consists of a layer of gold applied to a sterling silver base. The base is always sterling silver, and just like you wouldn't want to wear sterling silver jewelry in the shower due to the risk of tarnishing, gold vermeil jewelry is likewise not suitable to wear in the shower.
Can You Wear Gold Vermeil Everyday? Yes, you can. As the item is manufactured with a thick layer of gold, at least 2.5 microns thick, this means that it takes much longer for the gold to wear away.
No! You can rest easy knowing that Gold Vermeil won't turn your fingers or skin green. This is because vermeil is 14k gold gilded over sterling silver, while that greenish hue caused by low-quality jewelry is due to an abundant portion of copper in the metal alloy of the base material.
is gold vermeil worth it? Next to solid gold, gold vermeil is the most superior gold jewelry on the market and a go-to option for the quality-conscious consumer. Its thick gold-plating makes it more durable than gold-plated jewelry and accounts for a lower price tag than solid gold pieces.
Our non-recycled 14k gold comes from responsibly mined sources that support communities dependent on the industry. This gold is traceable to suppliers who are certified by international sustainability standards and best practices such as the Responsible Jewelry Council.
Sterling silver jewelry will oxidize when exposed to the elements, so remove your silver jewelry before exercising, washing your hands or showering. Always apply perfumes, creams and hair care products before wearing your pieces. To clean tarnished sterling silver jewelry, polish gently with a silver cloth.
Using a dry microfiber cloth, like a lens or screen cleaning cloth, wipe down your piece, using light pressure, focusing on any areas of discolouration. Do not apply water or other chemicals to your vermeil to clean them.
Sure, Mejuri is technically an affordable jewellery brand, but there are some spennier styles to shop, too. Had I not come across the brand, there's no way I would have been able to afford such luxuries.
The answer depends on how often you wear it. If kept for special occasions or weekly wear, you will get years of enjoyment from your gold vermeil jewellery before wear and tear begins to show. If your piece becomes a staple everyday wear, especially when next to other jewellery, wear and tear will show quicker.
Over time, the plating can wear off significantly if the jewelry frequently exposes to water or chemicals. However, on average, with proper care, gold-plated vermeil can last anywhere from six months to a few years. It's essential to avoid exposing it to harsh chemicals or wearing it in the shower or while swimming.
If you can't afford to avail pure gold, then the next best option is to buy gold vermeil. Although they're less valuable compared to pure gold, they're still a good investment nonetheless because of their silver metal base.
Introduction: My name is Patricia Veum II, I am a vast, combative, smiling, famous, inexpensive, zealous, sparkling person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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