Gold pearl ring

A ring takes more contact than any other piece of jewelry you own. Door handles, keyboards, coat pockets, hand washing. Solid 18k gold is what makes a pearl ring survive that, because there is no plating to wear through at the shank.

What is a gold pearl ring?

A gold pearl ring sets a cultured pearl 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, with the remaining alloy giving the metal the hardness a setting needs.

Under the FTC Jewelry Guides, gold below 24 karat must be described with its karat fineness. Every piece here is labeled 18k rather than simply gold.

Why does solid gold matter most in a ring?

The shank, the band underneath your finger, is where a ring wears fastest. It rubs against adjacent fingers all day and takes the pressure of anything you grip. On a plated ring this is where the base metal shows through first, usually within two or three years of regular wear.

Solid gold has no layer to lose. It develops surface marks over the years, which can be polished, but it does not change color or expose another metal underneath.

Solid gold, vermeil or plated?

• Solid 18k gold — gold throughout, shank included. Cannot wear off. This is what we use.
• Gold vermeil — a thick gold layer over sterling silver. Acceptable on a pendant, less suited to a ring because of the contact a ring takes.
• Gold plated — a thin layer over brass or steel. On a ring this is the shortest-lived option of the three.

How should a gold pearl ring be set?

Low. Pearls rank 2.5 to 3 on the Mohs hardness scale, softer than almost anything else in a jewelry box, so a raised setting takes more impact than nacre comfortably absorbs. Our settings sit close to the band and clear a keyboard, a door handle and a coat pocket.

Note that most pearl rings cannot be resized after purchase, because the heat and solder used in resizing damage nacre. Check the size guide before ordering.

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, cream and golden pearls.

Every pearl is a real cultured pearl, with type, origin, bodycolor, overtone, shape, size, grade and treatment stated on the product page.

Why buy a gold pearl ring 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 too soft for a ring?

It is softer than 14k and picks up fine surface marks over years, but those marks are surface only and can be polished. What it will not do is wear through to another metal, because there is not one underneath.

Can a gold pearl ring be resized?

The gold could be, but the pearl cannot survive the process. Heat and solder damage nacre, so most pearl rings are not resizable. Check the size guide before ordering, or choose an adjustable open cuff style.

Can you wear a gold pearl ring every day?

Yes, with two habits. Take it off before hand washing, cleaning and lotion, and store it away from harder stones. The gold is the durable part. The pearl is what sets the routine.

Does solid gold tarnish?

No. Gold does not oxidize, which is why it has been used in jewelry for thousands of years. What tarnishes is silver, and what wears off is plating.

How do I clean a gold pearl ring?

Wipe it 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 without issue.