Gold plated, matte, antique: what the finishes mean

Every piece in this store starts the same way, as a brass or copper-alloy casting, and ends in one of a handful of finishes. The finish is most of what you see, so it is worth knowing what each one is before choosing.

Gold plated

The bright, polished finish: a gold-coloured plating on a polished base, sealed with lacquer. It is the closest in look to new gold and suits everyday chains, studs, pendants and anything worn with modern clothes. It also shows wear first, because a bright surface shows every scratch.

Matte gold

The same plating left soft and even, without the high polish. It reads as expensive, hides small scratches well and suits office wear and the quieter functions. Matte pieces are the ones customers come back for.

Antique gold

A darker plating rubbed back on the raised figures so that Lakshmi, the peacocks and the beading glow against a matted ground: the finish of temple jewellery. It is the most forgiving of all three, because the darkness in the hollows is the point, and it is what nearly all bridal sets are made in.

Rose gold, rhodium, oxidised

Rose gold is a pink-toned plating for AD pieces and stackable bangles; rhodium is a bright silver-white plating that makes American diamonds look their best for receptions; oxidised is a deliberately blackened silver look for anklets and the bohemian end of the range. All three sit on the same base and need the same care.

What to ask before you buy

• Which finish is it, and does it match what I already have?
• What are the stones (kemp, AD, pearl), and are they set or glued?
• Is it in stock or pre-book, and how many working days to dispatch?
• What is the size (bangle, ring, chain length), and can it be exchanged?

Every product page answers these in its specification section; if it does not answer yours, the WhatsApp button on the page goes straight to the counter.