Know Our Jewellery
925Sterling Silver- Anti-tarnish Rhodium Plate finish
- 18ct Gold Plate finish (where featured)
- Hypoallergenic (AnchorCert Protect)
- Original designs with or
- Hallmarked in the UK (
7.78g& over) - Award-winning British design
- Two-Year Consumer Product Guarantee
Specifications
Necklaces
Unless otherwise stated, our standard necklaces are on an 18” chain, including a 2” adjuster. Extender chains are also available.
Rings
- We measure our ring sizes against the UK Wheatsheaf standard sized to the centre of the ring. If you are choosing a ring design that is wider in style, you may benefit from opting for a larger size for a more comfortable fit.
- By nature of their design, open-style rings can accommodate 2–3 sizes.
Open-Style Designs
- Our open-style rings, bangles, cuffs, and earcuffs are not designed to be adjustable. The forceful manipulation of these pieces may cause damage.
Wearing
- Like any delicate, wear all jewellery carefully — last on, first off. Always remove any jewellery before high-impact activities.
- Avoid jewellery coming into contact with cosmetics, such as perfume, hair- and make-up products, as well as household cleaning products.
- Always remove jewellery before bathing and swimming.
- Gold-Plated pieces are recommended for occasional wear only to maintain the plating finish.
Finishes
All our current jewellery is Rhodium Plated, a rare white metal from the Platinum group, known for its hardness and corrosion resistance. It helps maintain the silver, whether worn, stored, or displayed.
We use both Rose Gold and Yellow Gold to detail selected pieces with an 18ct Gold Plate Finish.
Please see the product specification details for further information.
Aftercare & Cleaning
Cleaning Rhodium- or Gold‑Plated Sterling Silver
- Always clean our jewellery with a soft, non-abrasive cloth
- Do not use harsh abrasives, chemical dips, or ultrasonic cleaners — they can permanently damage your jewellery and void the Two-Year Customer Product Guarantee
Pearls
- All our pearls are carefully sourced and selected cultured Freshwater Pearls.
- While we endeavour to select our pearls for the best balance when supplied in pairs, a mismatch in appearance is natural due to the Pearl’s organic origin.
- Our Baroque Pearls are unique by nature. Inherently irregular in shape, they come in various shapes, sizes, and surface quality and deserve to be loved as they come — perfectly imperfect.
Aftercare & Cleaning
Pearl Jewellery
- Avoid contact with perfume, cosmetics, and creams.
- Do not expose them to excessive heat, as this can dry out the Pearls.
- Wipe gently to clean, using a soft, non-abrasive cloth or a specialist Pearl cleaner.
- Always store Pearls in a soft pouch and away from other jewellery to prevent scratching.
Gemstones
- We use a variety of natural semi-precious and synthetic mineral gemstones in our jewellery. Differences in size, colour and inclusions should be expected.
- Any synthetic or reconstituted gemstones used will be described as such. Some gemstones may have been heat‑treated or dyed to enhance and maintain their colour.
Aftercare & Cleaning
Gemstone Jewellery
- Strung, beaded gemstone pieces should be gently cleaned with a non-abrasive cloth. Avoid immersing them in water to extend the lifespan of the string.
- Gemstones set into silver can have their sparkle restored by soaking the piece in warm, soapy water; use a soft brush to clean, and rinse with clean water. Dry thoroughly.
Jewellery Storage
Always store jewellery separately, preferably in a soft pouch or sealed bag in the presentation box. This prevents jewellery from scuffing or tangling.
Two-Year Consumer Product Guarantee
We have confidence in our manufacturing and quality control standards and are pleased to offer a Two‑Year Consumer Product Guarantee commencing from the date of purchase from your store. Jewellery that develops manufacturing faults or defects during this time will be replaced. Any designs no longer available may be replaced by a comparable design/price point at the discretion of Kit Heath Ltd. This guarantee does not cover any damage due to wear and tear, mistreatment (contravening our care and wear guidelines) or natural variations in gemstone colour.
For more information, visit our page.
AnchorCert Accredited
All our jewellery is AnchorCert Pro UKAS-accredited and has passed testing for metallic elements that may cause Allergic Contact Dermatitis, making us compliant with REACH, Nickel and General Product Safety Regulations for jewellery.
This means complete freedom from metal allergies and sensitivities for the majority. No other testing standard offers this distinction.
Kit Heath Ltd Gold Plate Factsheet
- All jewellery designs are 925 sterling silver.
- All gold plate used is real 18ct gold.
The Céleste collection, as an exception, is flash gold plated to maintain its collection price banding.
- All items are 925 sterling silver.
- All gold plate used is real gold in either 9ct, 14ct or 18ct.
- All gold plating is a flash plate.
Only designs of higher gold fineness standards will be marketed as such.
Gold Plating Standards
| Flash Plating | Gold Plating | Vermeil (ver-may) | |
| Base | Any metal alloy | Any metal alloy | Sterling silver |
| Thickness | ≥0.175μm (micron) | ≥1μm | ≥2.5μm |
| Fineness | 9ct | 14ct | 18ct | 9ct | 14ct | 18ct | 14ct | 18ct |
| Price | £ | ££ | £££ |
Testing
We regularly test pieces from each range and supplier to ensure that all jewellery complies with these standards and legislations.
FAQ: All About Gold Plate
What is Gold Plate?
Gold plate/plating is used to describe the covering of an item with a fine layer of gold. The plating can be full coverage over a base metal or sterling silver alloy or partial details to provide contrast in a two- or three-tone design.
Is Gold Plate “Real Gold”?
Yes. The same standards apply to real “solid” gold and the gold used for plating jewellery.
In the UK, to use gold plate/gold plating in describing an item of jewellery, the gold fineness must be at least 375 parts per thousand, i.e., a minimum standard of 9ct gold.
Additionally, when the word “gold” is used to describe a gold-plated silver piece of jewellery, it must be described as silver in the first instance, with the word “gold” immediately followed by “plated” (or permitted term), e.g., “18ct gold plated/bonded/clad silver ring”.
NB. The plating on an item does not qualify for any Hallmark to signify its quality so any item will be hallmarked as the main alloy underneath the plating.
What is the difference between 9ct, 14ct and 18ct gold?
The “carat” is the fineness of gold and refers to the proportion of gold used in the alloy. These proportions are measured in parts per thousand (ppt). The other metals used to make up the 1000 parts can be any mix of other precious or base metals, and their combination is what is referred to as an alloy.
The lowest standard gold legally recognised in the UK is 9ct. It must contain at least 375 parts gold. The lowest standard recognised in the US is 10ct (or “10K” as it’s known in the US.)
14ct contains at least 585ppt gold.
18ct gold must be at least 750ppt gold.
Other metals constituting the alloy do not have to be precious metals. The metals in the alloy can affect the colour appearance of the gold, e.g., more copper for a rose gold alloy and more silver for a whiter gold alloy.
Both 14ct and 18ct are widely recognised standards internationally.
What about 10K gold?
10 carat (10ct, or 10K) gold is an internationally used fineness of gold that is not legally recognised in the UK. 10ct gold is 417 parts gold to a thousand. Because it falls under the required fineness for 14ct gold, this would become classified as 9ct gold in the UK.
Caring for Gold Plated Jewellery
Like any delicates, wear all jewellery with care—last on, first off. Always remove any jewellery before high-impact activities, e.g., housework, swimming, or showering.
All gold-plated pieces are recommended for occasional wear only to maintain the plating finish.
Always clean with a soft, non-abrasive cloth.
Do not use chemical jewellery dips—they can cause permanent damage to your jewellery, and remove the plating.
What is Flash Plating?
The term “flash plating” describes items plated with a fine layer of gold, usually under 1 micron but at least 0.175 microns in thickness.
Is “gold plate” different from “flash plate”?
Both are legally classed as “gold plating.” Flash plating is generally thinner and not as long-lasting in wear and is recommended for occasional wear only.
Gold plating over 1 micron in thickness is not referred to as flash plating.
So, what is gold vermeil?
Vermeil (pronounced ver-may) originates in 19th century France and is a term that has come to mean a premium “gilding” standard and can only be used to describe gold-plated items that are—
- made in sterling silver,
- gold plated with a minimum 14ct fineness (10K minimum in the US), and
- the gold plating is a minimum of 2.5 microns in thickness.
How Long Does Gold Plate Last?
All gold plate will eventually wear off in use. The thicker the plating, the longer it will last, but ensuring care is taken, the plating can last indefinitely.
