Gold pearl earrings
Solid 18k gold on the ear, where the difference from plated is easiest to see. The color is deeper, it does not turn, and it stays that way through everything you put it through. Studs, hoops and drops for the woman who is done replacing earrings.
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Gold pearl earrings
Solid 18k gold pearl earrings are where the difference between real gold and plating shows up fastest. Earrings sit against skin for hours, meet sweat and hair products daily, and get handled every time they go in or come out. Plating gives up here before it gives up anywhere else.
What are gold pearl earrings?
Gold pearl earrings set cultured pearls in gold rather than in silver, steel or a plated base. In this collection that means solid 18k gold, an alloy of 75 percent pure gold by weight. The remaining alloy gives the metal the hardness it needs to hold a post and a setting.
Under the FTC Jewelry Guides, any gold below 24 karat must be described with its karat fineness. Every piece here is labeled 18k rather than simply gold, because that is what the rule requires and what a buyer needs.
Solid gold, vermeil or plated?
- Solid 18k gold — gold throughout, including the post. It cannot wear off because there is nothing else underneath. This is what we use.
- Gold vermeil — a thick gold layer over sterling silver. Better than plating, but still a coating with a different metal beneath.
- Gold plated — a thin layer over brass or steel. On earrings it usually wears through at the post first, which is also the part that sits inside the piercing.
Why does the post matter more than the front?
The post is the part inside your ear. When plating wears through there, the base metal underneath makes direct contact with broken skin, which is the most common cause of a reaction to earrings people have worn happily for years.
Solid gold has no layer to lose. Our posts and fastenings are nickel-free, lead-free and cadmium-free throughout, in gold as in every other metal we use.
Which pearls do we set in gold?
Gold picks up the cream and rose tones already present in nacre and pushes them forward, so the pearl reads warmer rather than sitting beside the metal as a separate object. That works particularly well with white and golden pearls.
Our gold earrings carry freshwater pearls from Zhuji, China, alongside selected Akoya, Tahitian and South Sea pearls. Every pearl is a real cultured pearl, with type, origin, bodycolor, overtone, shape, size, grade and treatment stated on the product page.
Which style should you choose?
Gold pearl studs
The pair worth buying in solid gold before any other, because studs are worn the most hours per year. Between 7 and 8 mm suits most ears and most occasions.
Gold pearl hoops
A pearl at the curve of a gold hoop, catching light every time you turn your head. Small huggies take the most daily wear and benefit most from solid metal.
Gold pearl drops
A pearl suspended below a gold setting, adding length without movement. The warmest reading of the three, since more metal is visible against the skin.
Why buy gold pearl earrings from Grande Lilith
- Karat fineness stated on every product page, as required for any gold below 24 karat.
- Eight provenance markers on the pearl as well as the metal, including grade and treatment.
- Sourcing named to place: Zhuji, Japan, French Polynesia.
- Partners vetted by our GIA-certified pearl specialist, on working conditions as well as quality.
- Designed in Paris. Thirty days to change your mind, and every order arrives in a magnetic pouch.
Frequently asked questions
Is 18k gold good for sensitive ears?
Solid gold is one of the safest metals for pierced ears, because there is no plating to wear through and expose a base metal underneath. What causes most reactions is nickel, and our pieces are nickel-free in every metal.
Does 18k gold scratch easily?
It is softer than 14k because it contains more pure gold, so it picks up fine surface marks over years. Those marks are surface only and can be polished. They do not expose another metal, because there is not one.
Can you sleep in solid gold pearl earrings?
The gold will be fine. The pearl is the limiting factor, since nacre is soft and constant pressure against a pillow shows over years. Button pearl studs are the most comfortable option if you rarely take earrings out.
Are solid gold pearl earrings worth it?
For a pair you wear most days, yes. Plating on an earring post typically fails within a few years of regular wear and cannot be restored without replating the whole piece. Solid gold has nothing to lose.
How do I clean gold pearl earrings?
Wipe them with a soft damp cloth after wearing. Never use an ultrasonic cleaner, jewelry dip or polishing compound, since all three damage nacre even though the gold would tolerate them.