Gold. Silver. Diamonds.
What each piece is made of, explained clearly — so you know exactly what you are choosing.
Silver
Sterling silver is an alloy of 92.5% pure silver with a small proportion of other metals, usually copper, for strength. It is often marked 925. Where a piece is sterling silver, its product page says so.
Silver can darken over time through natural tarnish; gentle cleaning restores its brightness.
Gold over silver
Gold plating is a layer of gold bonded over a base metal. Where the base is sterling silver, we describe the piece as gold-plated sterling silver.
'Vermeil' has specific requirements in some markets — typically a sterling silver base with a gold layer of a minimum fineness and thickness. We use the word only where a piece meets the applicable standard.
Each product page states the base metal, gold fineness and layer thickness where these have been verified. Over time, and with wear, a gold layer can soften; replating may be possible.
Solid gold
Gold purity is measured in karats, out of 24. The remaining metals in the alloy set the colour and add hardness — yellow, white or rose.
Only the karats and colours AB actually offers appear on each product page.
Diamonds
Natural diamonds formed deep in the earth over a very long time. Diamonds are commonly described by the 4Cs — cut, colour, clarity and carat weight.
Where a piece holds natural diamonds, its product page says so clearly. Grading and certification are shown only where they genuinely exist for that piece.
Diamonds
Lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds, with the same chemical, physical and optical properties as natural diamonds — created in a laboratory rather than mined.
AB always identifies lab-grown diamonds as lab-grown, on the product page and at checkout.
Care
Put jewellery on last, after perfume and creams. Take it off before swimming, exercise and cleaning. Store pieces separately so they don't scratch one another, and clean gently with a soft, dry cloth.
Transparency
The metal and its purity. The finish. The stone, and whether a diamond is natural or lab-grown. Grading where available. Whether a piece is made to order, with its estimated lead time.