14K Gold, 925 Silver, and Grade A Jade: What's Actually in Your Jewelry (And Why It Matters)
You've probably seen the terms "gold-plated," "sterling silver," and "real jade" thrown around by jewelry brands. But what do they actually mean, and how do you know if what you're wearing is worth what you paid for it?
As the founder of Crowned™, I think about materials every single day. The choices I make about what goes into each piece affect how it looks on your wrist, how long it lasts, and whether it's safe for your skin. So I want to pull back the curtain and explain exactly what's in your Crowned jewelry, and why we chose each material.
What Does "14K Gold Plating" Actually Mean?
When you see "14K gold" on a piece of jewelry, it can mean very different things depending on how it's applied and what's underneath.
Not all gold plating is created equal
Most cheap gold-finished jewelry uses a flash coating of gold as thin as 0.05 microns, applied in a basic electroplating bath over a low-cost metal base that can tarnish, corrode, and irritate sensitive skin.
At Crowned, we use premium finishing methods depending on the base metal.
Our stainless steel pieces are finished with PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition), a process that bonds real 14K gold to the surface at a molecular level inside a vacuum chamber. The result is a finish that’s harder, more scratch-resistant, and more color-stable. It’s the same technology used in aerospace components and surgical instruments.
Our sterling silver and brass pieces are finished with 1 full micron of 14K gold electroplating, 20x thicker than the flash coatings used by mass-market brands. At that thickness, the gold functions as both a beautiful finish and a genuine protective barrier.
Every gold piece in our collection (whether the base is stainless steel, brass, or sterling silver) is finished with real 14K gold. Not gold-colored paint. Not gold-tone coating. Real 14K gold.
Why surgical-grade stainless steel matters as a base metal
The metal underneath the gold matters just as much as the gold itself. With cheap jewelry, once the thin gold layer wears off, whatever is underneath is what touches your skin, and that's when tarnishing, discoloration, and irritation can happen.
The majority of Crowned pieces are built on surgical-grade stainless steel, the same steel used in medical instruments. It's corrosion-resistant, hypoallergenic, and built to maintain its structural integrity over time. It won't tarnish, corrode, or irritate your skin. When you pair our stainless steel with 14K gold, you get a piece that genuinely holds up to daily wear, not one that looks great for a month and then starts to tarnish.
Different pieces, different materials, by design
Crowned uses different base metals depending on the design’s requirements. Our gold Happiness & Wealth, Full Blessing, and Beauty & Affluence bracelets use surgical-grade stainless steel for its durability and lightweight stackability. Select pieces in our collection use brass or sterling silver materials because of their warmth, density, and the way they take on detail in our manufacturer’s casting process.
The important thing is understanding what you’re getting and why. We’re always transparent about which materials go into which pieces, because we believe you should know exactly what you’re wearing.
What Is 925 Sterling Silver?
The number "925" refers to the composition of the metal: 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals (usually copper) for added strength. This is the standard for sterling silver as defined by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.
At Crowned, our Red String Good Luck Bracelets are crafted with 925 sterling silver chains and clasps, finished with 1 micron of 14K gold plating. Our silver/rhodium-plated pieces, like the Silver Love & Grace Necklace and Empress Necklace, use 925 sterling silver as the base metal, then receive a professional rhodium coating for a bright white gold finish. Since the base metal is already precious silver, the rhodium layer is there to add extra shine and luster.
Sterling silver vs. stainless steel: both are quality, for different reasons
These are two very different materials at two very different price points, and we use both intentionally.
Sterling silver is a precious metal. It's "softer," has a natural warmth and weight in hand, and has been used in fine jewelry for centuries. It's also more expensive, which is why our sterling silver pieces are priced accordingly. And like all fine jewelry made with precious metals, they deserve a little care. We recommend avoiding prolonged contact with pool water, lotions, and perfumes to keep the finish looking its best.
Surgical-grade stainless steel is a metal that's pretty much maintenance-free. It doesn't tarnish, doesn't corrode, and doesn't react with skin. It's lighter than sterling silver and extremely durable. For everyday pieces you never want to take off, surgical-grade stainless steel with 14K gold PVD coating is an exceptional choice.
We use different base metals because different pieces call for different materials.
The Red String bracelets are rooted in cultural tradition, and sterling silver, a precious metal used in fine jewelry for centuries, gives them the weight and significance that meaning deserves. Our Happiness & Wealth collection is built for daily stacking, so surgical-grade stainless steel's durability and effortless lightness make it the natural choice. And the gold versions of the Dot Bracelet and Empress Necklace are cast in brass for its distinctively warm, rich tone, a depth of color that gives those pieces a different character entirely.
Real Jade vs. Fake Jade: How to Tell the Difference
Jade is one of the most misrepresented gemstones in the jewelry market, and the problem goes deeper than obvious fakes.
Many brands selling “jade” jewelry are actually selling chalcedony, aventurine, or what’s often marketed as “African jade” — stones that are entirely unrelated to true jade but share a similar green color.
- Chalcedony is a form of quartz.
- Aventurine is also quartz, just with metallic flecks that give it a slight shimmer.
- "African jade” is a marketing term, not a gemological one, and typically refers to green grossular garnet.
None of these are jade. They’re not inherently bad stones, but they’re not what’s being implied when a brand uses the word “jade” on the label.
Then there are the treated jade stones: Type B and Type C jadeite that has been acid-bleached, filled with resin, or artificially dyed to look like something it’s not.
If you’ve ever bought “jade” jewelry online for $20 to $35, there’s a high chance that what you received was either not real jade or a treated jade stone.
Understanding Jade Grades: Type A, B, and C
First, a distinction worth knowing: 'jade' is actually a term that covers two entirely different minerals: jadeite and nephrite. They look similar to the untrained eye but are distinct in composition, rarity, and value. Nephrite is the more common of the two, found across China, Canada, and Russia. Jadeite is rarer, harder, and more intensely colored and it's the material behind the most prized jade in the world, including the vivid green pieces you've seen in fine jewelry.
Burmese jadeite in particular, sourced from Myanmar, is widely recognized as the highest quality jadeite on earth. At Crowned, when we say jade, we mean jadeite, specifically untreated Grade A Burmese jadeite.
For the full gemological breakdown, the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) has an excellent resource on jade quality factors at gia.edu/jade-quality-factor.
Jadeite is classified into three types based on how it's been treated:
Type A (Grade A) is completely natural and untreated jadeite. The only processing it undergoes is cutting, shaping, and a light surface polish with colorless wax, which is standard practice and doesn't alter the stone's structure. Type A jade retains its natural color, translucency, and energy over time. This is the only grade considered authentic by jade collectors and experts.
Type B jadeite has been bleached with acid to remove impurities, then filled with polymer resin to restore its appearance. While it may look beautiful initially, the resin can yellow and degrade over time, and the acid treatment weakens the stone's internal structure.
Type C jadeite undergoes the same acid-bleaching and resin treatment as Type B, with an additional step: the stone is dyed to enhance or change its color. Type C jade can look strikingly vivid at first, but the color fades with exposure to heat and sunlight.
What Crowned uses: untreated Grade A Burmese jadeite
Every jade piece in our collection, from the Harmony & Joy Bracelet to the Jade of Prosperity Necklace to our jade rings, uses untreated Grade A Burmese jadeite. This means:
- No acid bleaching
- No polymer resin filling
- No artificial dyes
- The color you see is the natural color of the stone
We source our jade from Myanmar (Burma), which produces the world's highest-quality jadeite.
Burmese jadeite is recognized for its fine grain structure, natural translucency, and depth of color — qualities that treated jade naturally (pun intended 😜) cannot replicate long-term. No acid bleaching, no resin filling, no dye, no misleading terminology.
How to spot fake or treated jade
A few things to look for when shopping for jade jewelry:
- Price: Genuine Grade A jadeite is not cheap. If a "jade" bracelet costs $20, it's almost certainly not real jadeite.
- Temperature: Real jade feels cool to the touch and warms slowly in your hand. Glass and plastic warm up almost immediately.
- Consistency: Natural jade has slight variations in color and translucency. If a piece looks perfectly uniform, it may be dyed.
- Weight: Jadeite is denser than most imitation materials.
- Certification: Reputable jade jewelry brands will be transparent about their jade's grade and source. If a seller can't tell you whether their jade is Type A, B, or C, that's a red flag.
Why Materials Matter More Than You Think
The materials in your jewelry determine three things that matter every day:
How it feels. Sterling silver has a weight and coolness that communicates quality the moment you put it on. A well-made stainless steel piece feels solid and substantial, not hollow. Real jade has a smoothness and density that no imitation can match.
How long it lasts. Surgical-grade stainless steel won't tarnish or corrode, it's built to last a lifetime. Our gold pieces use real 14K gold, not gold-tone coating, so the finish holds up through daily wear. 925 sterling silver, properly cared for, lasts generations. And Grade A jade doesn't fade, yellow, or degrade over time, it's one of the most durable gemstones on earth.
Whether it's safe for your skin. Cheap jewelry can cause allergic reactions and leave green marks on skin. Nickel-based metals are common allergens. Surgical-grade stainless steel, sterling silver, and 14K gold are all hypoallergenic, making them safe for sensitive skin.
At Crowned, every material choice is intentional. We use surgical-grade stainless steel with 14K gold for everyday stackable pieces. We use 925 sterling silver for our culturally significant Red String collection. And we source only Grade A untreated Burmese jadeite for our jade pieces. Each material is chosen for what it brings to that specific design, not to cut corners, but to serve the piece.
Jewelry that carries meaning should be made with materials chosen for the right reasons.
Shop the full Crowned™ collection at crownedbystephanie.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 14K gold-plated jewelry real gold?
Yes. Whether we’re using PVD coating (on stainless steel) or electroplating (on brass and sterling silver), the gold is real 14K gold applied with precision. The difference from solid gold is that it's a surface finish rather than the entire piece, but the gold itself is genuine.
Does gold-plated stainless steel tarnish?
PVD coating bonds 14K gold at a molecular level, making it one of the most durable finishes available in jewelry, far more resistant to wear than traditional plating. The surgical-grade stainless steel underneath is equally resilient, so this is a piece built to last.
How can you tell if jade is real?
Real Grade A jadeite feels cool to the touch, has natural color variations, and is denser than imitations. If the price seems too low or the color looks perfectly uniform, it may be treated or fake. Reputable sellers will always disclose whether their jade is Type A, B, or C.
What's the difference between Grade A, B, and C jade?
Grade A jade is completely natural and untreated. Grade B has been acid-bleached and filled with resin. Grade C has been bleached, filled, and dyed. Only Grade A retains its beauty and structural integrity over time.
Is sterling silver hypoallergenic?
925 sterling silver is generally safe for sensitive skin. At Crowned, our silver pieces are finished with either 14K gold or rhodium plating, which adds an additional hypoallergenic barrier.