Our Materials
Precious Gemstones
South Sea pearls
Historically a symbol of fortune, protection, wealth and longevity, the South Sea pearl is a good luck charm and revered across the globe. The largest and most valuable of all pearls, The South Sea pearl is a labour of love, spending 2 years growing in some of the world’s most pristine waters. As with all things, true beauty comes from within, and the inner glow of a South Sea pearl is its most powerful virtue.
AUTORE MODA sources all South Sea pearls used in their jewellery from their affiliated AUTORE farms located in the crystal clear oceans along the coastlines of Australia and Indonesia and are MSC certified sustainable. The AUTORE Group’s pearl farms are located in Broome, WA and Elizabeth Bay, NT in Australia and in Lombok, Sumbawa and West Java, in Indonesia.
An organic gemstone and a gift of mother nature herself, the South Sea pearl is a priceless and unique addition to any jewellery box, with every pearl slightly different from the next.
Diamonds
A symbol of strength and love since the beginning of time, diamonds have been one of the most sought-after gems frequently adorning decorative items and precious jewellery. AUTORE MODA uses natural diamonds in their jewellery pieces to compliment the iridescence of the South Sea pearl. Diamonds are found in an array of colours but are most popular in white.
Sapphires
A prized gemstone throughout the ages, the sapphire is a symbol of wisdom, truth and virtue and was commonly seen in ancient royal jewellery. AUTORE MODA uses natural sapphires in their jewellery pieces to compliment the iridescence of the South Sea pearl. Sapphires come in every colour of the rainbow except for red.
Metals
9k Gold
9k Gold is composed of 37.5% pure gold and 62.6% of alloy metals. To create 9k Yellow, Rose or White Gold, different alloy metals are combined with Pure Gold.
9k Yellow gold: Pure gold is combined with a higher percentage of Silver or Palladium and a lower percentage of copper. 9k Rose Gold: Pure gold is combined with a higher percentage of Copper and a lower percentage of Silver or Palladium. 9k Rose Gold: Pure gold is combined with Silver or Palladium.
Pure gold on its own is not suitable for jewellery as it is a soft metal and can easily bend, however when combined with alloy metals it becomes much stronger and durable. 9k Gold will have a soft colour, as the higher the purity of gold, the more intense the colour; the highest purity of gold is 24k. The abbreviation ‘k’ is for karats and it refers to the unit of gold purity. 9k Gold jewellery will often be stamped with ‘375’ which signifies the purity of gold.
18k Gold Vermeil
Vermeil is a gold-finished material which is a combination of Sterling Silver covered in a layer of gold and is popular due to its long-lasting wear. Gold vermeil is the best quality material you can purchase if you do not wish to buy solid gold jewellery and is becoming increasingly popular as it is the perfect balance of quality and value. All AUTORE MODA pieces which are 18k Gold Vermeil have an 18k gold plating with a thickness of 3 microns.
Gold Plated Brass
Gold Plated Brass is a great material to use as it is lightweight and durable, it is the perfect material for the heavier and chunkier style pieces. Gold plating isn’t as durable as gold vermeil however with proper care, your AUTORE MODA gold plated piece will maintain its shine! AUTORE MODA pieces are plated in 18k gold.
Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver is commonly used in jewellery and is composed of 92.5% Pure Silver and 7.5% of other metals. Sterling Silver is popular in jewellery items as it is more durable and cost effective. Tarnishing easily occurs on un-plated Sterling Silver due to the way the moisture in the air reacts with the alloy. All of our AUTORE MODA Sterling Silver pieces are Rhodium plated for long-lasting wear. Rhodium is the most valuable metal and it is plated on Sterling Silver through an electroplating process which fuses them together. Rhodium plated Sterling Silver jewellery is hypoallergenic, and with proper care it will maintain its lustre and colour.
If the plating begins to wear off due to everyday wear and tear, that’s not a problem – we can re-plate it for you for AUD $100.00. To re-plate your piece of AUTORE MODA jewellery, please contact us at hello@autoremoda.com.
To see how to look after your piece of AUTORE MODA jewellery, view our care guide here.