Material

925 Sterling Silver

A timeless metal. Silver possesses a particular warmth and brilliance that no other metal achieves naturally. 925 refers to the purity: 92.5% silver with 7.5% copper added for strength and durability. Fine silver (99.9%) is too soft for functional jewellery — the copper addition creates a metal that holds its shape while retaining the colour and weight that make silver distinctive.

Properties: naturally antimicrobial, highly reflective, relatively soft so it develops character over time — fine scratches and a soft patina that many wearers value as evidence of the piece's history.

Care: tarnishes when exposed to sulphur compounds in air, but tarnish is completely reversible. Regular wiping after wear and dry storage almost eliminate it. See our Care Instructions for detailed guidance.

18k Gold Vermeil

A thick layer of 18k gold bonded to a 925 sterling silver base. Vermeil is not the same as gold plating — the gold layer is significantly thicker (minimum 2.5 microns at Orvelli32, compared to 0.5 microns for standard plating) and is bonded using an electrolytic process that creates a more durable attachment.

The result is the colour and warmth of gold at a fraction of the cost of solid gold, with significantly greater durability than standard plating. With proper care, vermeil maintains its appearance for 1–3 years of daily wear before professional re-plating is needed.

Composition: 92.5% silver core with 18k gold (75% pure gold) surface layer.

316L Stainless Steel

An industrial-grade steel alloy with specific advantages for jewellery. The 'L' denotes low carbon content, which improves corrosion resistance. 316L is the grade used in surgical instruments and marine applications for its resistance to saltwater and chemicals.

For jewellery, this means a metal that is virtually maintenance-free: no tarnishing, no corrosion, no special storage requirements. It is harder than silver, which makes it excellent for pieces that need to hold their shape under stress — clasps, chain links, structural components.

Nickel content: trace only. 316L contains 10–14% nickel, but the metal is so tightly bonded that nickel release is negligible. It is classified as hypoallergenic for most wearers, and Orvelli32 uses it precisely for this reason.

Amethyst

Description: A semi-precious gemstone, a variety of quartz coloured by iron impurities within the crystal structure. The colour ranges from pale lilac to deep violet. The stone has been valued for over 3,000 years across Mediterranean cultures.

Properties: hardness 7 on the Mohs scale (durable for daily wear), crystalline structure that takes a high polish. The colour is stable but can fade with prolonged direct sunlight exposure over years.

Used in: Fiore Viola Pendant.

Onyx

Description: A banded variety of chalcedony, cryptocrystalline quartz. The black onyx used in Orvelli32 jewellery is the most prized variety — deep, uniform black with a vitreous (glassy) lustre when polished. It has been carved into jewellery and artefacts since ancient Egypt and Rome.

Properties: hardness 6.5–7 on the Mohs scale. Durable and stable. The colour is natural and permanent. It does not fade, react with water, or degrade under normal conditions.

Used in: Quattro Bracelet.

Malachite

Description: A copper carbonate mineral with distinctive concentric banding in shades of green. No two pieces of malachite are identical — the banding pattern is formed by mineral deposition over thousands of years, creating unique visual signatures in every stone.

Properties: hardness 3.5–4 on the Mohs scale (softer than other stones in the collection). Requires more careful handling. Sensitive to acids and prolonged water exposure. The softness is not a flaw — it is part of the stone's character, and the care it asks for is part of the relationship.

Used in: pendant designs featuring this distinctive green stone.

Cubic Zirconia

Description: A synthetic crystalline form of zirconium dioxide. It is optically similar to diamond — high brilliance, fire, and clarity — but produced in laboratories rather than mined. The production process allows precise control over colour, clarity, and cut.

Properties: hardness 8–8.5 on the Mohs scale (harder than most natural gemstones, making it extremely durable for daily wear). Chemically inert, does not react with skin oils, water, or common chemicals. Does not cloud or lose brilliance over time.

Why synthetic: Identical visual properties to mined stones without the environmental and ethical concerns of mining. The stone is produced in controlled conditions with consistent quality.

Enamel

A glass-based material fused to metal at high temperature. Enamel creates colour with a depth and luminosity that paint cannot achieve — the colour is literally embedded in glass, not sitting on top of the surface.

At Orvelli32, enamel is used on the Due Gatti pendant — a white and black finish that provides the visual definition of the design. The glass layer is durable but can chip on impact, so the piece should be treated with the care appropriate to a glass surface.

Blackened Silver (Oxidised Finish)

A deliberate darkening of the silver surface through controlled oxidation. This is not tarnish — it is an intentional surface treatment that creates contrast and depth in detailed designs.

The blackened finish is superficial and will wear gradually in areas of highest contact, revealing the bright silver beneath. This is expected and part of the piece's evolution. The contrast between dark and bright areas actually increases the visual interest over time.