What material is right for earrings depends on what you want: earrings are made from precious metals such as gold, silver or platinum, from stainless steel, and from alloys such as brass or copper alloy. Fashion jewelry is usually an alloy with a plated or colored surface, and the right choice for you comes down to budget, look and how often you wear them.
Maybe you have two product pages open right now. One says "rhodium-plated", the other says "gold-tone", and you are wondering what that means once the pair is in your ears. Here is what the words mean: first in general, then in a box of its own, what our earrings are made of. If you are still deciding on a shape, What types of earrings are there? is the place to start.
What do the words on a material label mean?
Product page labels sound more technical than they are. As a general rule, a word describes either the material a piece is made of or its color. The table sorts the two.
| Term | What it means | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Copper alloy | A mix of metals in which copper is the largest part. A common base in fashion jewelry generally. | What the piece is made of at its core. The color usually comes from the surface. |
| Brass | A copper alloy with zinc, warm and yellowish in tone. | The name of one specific copper alloy. |
| Stainless steel | A steel alloy with chromium, often used in jewelry for smooth, simple shapes. | A material of its own, with its own color, usually light gray. |
| Gold, silver, platinum | Precious metals. Jewelry made from them usually carries a hallmark for the fineness. | The metal the piece is made from. |
| Rhodium-plated | The piece has a thin layer of rhodium, a bright metal from the platinum group. | A bright white shine. |
| Silver-tone | The color of the surface: bright, cool, whitish. | How the piece looks. The material is named next to it on the same label. |
| Gold-tone | A warm, yellow surface color. | How the piece looks. The material is named next to it. |
| Rose gold-tone | A warm tone with a soft pink cast. | How the piece looks. The material is named next to it. |
| Cubic zirconia | A lab-made stone, clear and highly refractive. | Which stones are set. |
| Stones | A general word for small set stones. | That the piece is set with stones. |
With plated fashion jewelry in general, the shine sits on the surface. How long it stays bright depends on friction, perfume, moisture and care. A small reading trick: when you see a color word, look for the material named right beside it. Then you have both in one line.
What is the best material for earrings?
The best material is the one that fits your day. Three situations help you sort it out:
- Every day: tone and shape matter most. Whether you go silver-tone, gold-tone or rose gold-tone is mostly decided by your closet, the things you already put on in the morning.
- Evenings: what counts is how a piece catches the light. Rhodium-plated surfaces have a bright white shine, and cubic zirconia sparkles in candlelight.
- Budget: fashion jewelry made from alloy lets you try lots of shapes and tones. Precious metals are a choice when the metal itself matters to you.
Most of us end up with both: one pair that almost never comes out, and a few others that change with your mood.
What are Theia earrings made of?
Our earrings are fashion jewelry with an alloy base, and every product page names the exact material.
Silver-tone: Esme is rhodium-plated copper alloy with a bright silver-tone finish. The rhodium gives her two links their white shine. The Clara heart necklace is also rhodium-plated copper alloy, silver-tone, with a small polished heart. You can read more about Esme in drop earrings with cubic zirconia.
Gold-tone: Mia is gold-tone copper alloy, a slim triangle with softly rounded corners. The warm tone works with a turtleneck and coat as well as with a T-shirt.
Rose gold-tone: Zoe is rose gold-tone copper alloy, small owl studs with zirconia accents.
Stones: Esme has pavé-set cubic zirconia, Zoe has zirconia accents, and Mia lets the shape do the work.
We name every material on the page, so you know exactly what you're buying.
Esme - Linked Drop Pavé Earrings with Zirconia
Rhodium-plated copper alloy, silver-tone, pavé-set cubic zirconia, hook closure. €24.95.
Mia - Geometric Hoop Earrings
Gold-tone copper alloy, a slim triangle with softly rounded corners. €19.95.
Questions about the material of a piece? Message us and we'll tell you what we know.
What does this mean for care?
Because the shine on plated fashion jewelry sits on the surface, it does well with a soft cloth after wear, a dry spot overnight, and perfume first, earrings second. For the step-by-step version, read how to clean earrings.
- What types of earrings are there? Every shape at a glance
- Caring for fashion jewelry: how to clean your earrings
- Drop earrings with cubic zirconia
- Why do earrings turn black? Causes and what helps
FAQ
What does "rhodium-plated" mean?
The piece has a thin layer of rhodium over another metal. It gives a bright white shine.
What does "silver-tone" mean on a material label?
Silver-tone describes the color of the surface, bright and cool. The material is named on the same label, for example "rhodium-plated copper alloy, silver-tone finish".
What are Theia earrings made of?
An alloy, usually copper alloy, either rhodium-plated and silver-tone, gold-tone or rose gold-tone depending on the piece. The exact material is on every product page.