NOIR KĀLA fine jewels are available in a variety of durable and renewable materials such as 925 sterling silver, brass, 18k gold vermeil and 18k gold plated on sterling silver. Handcrafted in Rajasthan, each piece is designed with a concern of quality and durability.
Rajasthan is renowned for the craftsmanship of its artisans, and among them, we recognize a community of highly skilled silversmiths who use traditional techniques to produce their unique style of silversmithing. We are deeply dedicated to ensuring that these ancient practices live on and are recognized and worshipped like they deserve to be.
Our mission is to help inspire a slower and more conscious consumerism by creating timeless jewelry collections and by focusing on sustainable and renewable materials. Our products are made in small batches; nothing is mass produced. This approach comes as a response to excessive consumerism. Instead of chasing trends, we focus on styles that span the years. We examine each component of our creations and are available to assist you in adopting the right habits to take care of your jewelry.
Learn more about our metals and find out which ones are best suited to your needs.
925 Sterling Silver
925 sterling silver is our favourite material. We appreciate it for its strong durability, its many therapeutic virtues, its history, and the legends that accompany its ancient origins. With a brilliant and shiny appearance after polishing, it ages beautifully.
925 sterling silver is an alloy composed at 92.5% of silver and at 7.5% of other metals such as copper and zinc. This is a great option if you enjoy its cooler, but equally rich tones, have sensitive skin, or if you are looking for a higher quality metal that will not discolour your skin.
Over time, jewelry made from silver can oxidize. This is a natural process, in response to ambient air, humidity, saline solutions or chemicals. Oxidation is a surface phenomenon, and it's easy to revamp your jewelry by cleaning it with a cloth intended for this purpose to give it back its original shine. If you appreciate a more vintage look, no extra care is needed.
To prevent oxidation:
⤔ Wear your jewelry: the most effective way to prevent oxidation!
⤔ When you don’t wear them, store them in a hermetic container or jewelry box to minimize contact with the surrounding air.
⤔ Avoid wearing jewelry in saline or chlorinated waters: spa, bath, pool, sea.
⤔ Avoid storing jewelry in high humidity areas (such as bathrooms).
⤔ Avoid exposing your jewelry to lotions and perfumes.
Brass
We value brass for its raw aesthetic, its therapeutic virtues, its history, and the legends that accompany its ancient origins. With a golden and shiny appearance after polishing, it also ages very well when taken care of.
Brass is an alloy composed of copper and zinc. Its rather matte copper colour gives it a rustic and sometimes vintage appearance.
Due to the copper content, brass jewelry can sometimes leave a greenish mark on the skin (especially for rings) when the copper encounters the acidity of the skin. This is a natural reaction, more common in people with so-called alkaline skin. This does not happen to everyone, and this reaction is neither harmful nor worrisome. If this bothers you, we recommend that you buy our jewelry in 925 sterling silver, 18k gold vermeil or 18k gold plated on sterling silver.
Just like sterling silver jewelry, brass jewelry can also oxidize over time. This is a natural process, in response to ambient air, humidity, saline solutions or chemicals. Oxidation is a surface phenomenon, and it's easy to revamp your jewelry by cleaning it with a cloth intended for this purpose to give it back its original shine. If you appreciate a more vintage look, no extra care is needed.
To prevent spots on the skin:
⤔ Remove your jewelry before sleeping, playing sports or any activity that activates sweating.
To prevent oxidation:
⤔ When you don’t wear them, store them in a hermetic container or jewelry box to minimize contact with the surrounding air.
⤔ Avoid wearing jewelry in saline or chlorinated waters: spa, bath, pool, sea.
⤔ Avoid storing jewelry in high humidity areas (such as bathrooms).
⤔ Avoid exposing your jewelry to lotions and perfumes.
18k Gold Vermeil
Historically, gold is considered as the quintessential precious metal. Symbol of the divine, its yellow colour reflects the power of the sun. We appreciate gold for the richness of its colour and all that it evokes. Our vermeils and plated jewels combine charm and accessibility.
Our 18k gold vermeil jewelries are 925 sterling silver pieces that have been plated with 18k gold. The appellation being regulated, a piece of jewelry called vermeil must be at least 2.5 microns thick. Our vermeil jewelry is 4 microns thick. It is 8 times stronger and more durable than simply plated jewelry.
Gold vermeil is not solid gold and must be handled and treated with great care to preserve its quality. The durability of the plating varies depending on use, devotion to care instructions, climate, skin type and lifestyle. Be aware that the pigmentation of gold will decrease over time but can be plated again by a jeweller. With vermeil, you know that if the gold fades, your jewelry will still preserve its quality and durability since the base metal is sterling silver. If you want a golden piece that does not fade in colour, we recommend you consider our brass jewelry.
The choice of the fineness of the gold determines the colour of the piece. While 10k is a more subtle yellow, 24k is an intense and deep yellow. Appreciating the gold of a warm and pigmented yellow, our jewels are plated in 18k gold.
To maximize the durability of the plating:
⤔ It is essential to remove your jewelry before sleeping, soaking in water, doing household chores, using soap, lotion, perfume, or abrasive cleanser, playing sports or any activity that activates sweating.
⤔ When you don’t wear your jewelry, store them in a hermetic container or jewelry box to minimize contact with the surrounding air.
⤔ Avoid storing jewelry in high humidity areas (such as bathrooms).
18k Gold plated on 925 Sterling Silver
Historically, gold is considered as the quintessential precious metal. Symbol of the divine, its yellow colour reflects the power of the sun. We appreciate gold for the richness of its colour and all that it evokes. Our vermeils and plated jewels combine charm and accessibility.
Our 18k gold plated on 925 sterling silver jewelry is 0.5 micron thick. This is less resistant and durable than our vermeil jewelry but can be a great option for jewelry worn occasionally or for those less likely to be soaked in water, such as massive earrings or pendants. For jewelry worn daily, we recommend vermeil or brass.
Gold plated is not solid gold and must be handled and treated with great care to preserve its quality. The durability of the plating varies depending on use, devotion to care instructions, climate, skin type and lifestyle. Be aware that the pigmentation of gold will decrease over time but can be plated again by a jeweller. Since our jewelry is plated on a high-quality metal (925 sterling silver), your jewelry will still preserve its quality and durability if the gold fades. If you want a more resistant gold-plated piece of jewelry, we recommend you consider our gold vermeil jewelry. If you want a golden piece that does not fade in colour, we recommend you consider our brass jewelry.
The choice of the fineness of the gold determines the colour of the piece. While 10k is a more subtle yellow, 24k is an intense and deep yellow. Appreciating the gold of a warm and pigmented yellow, our jewels are plated in 18k gold.
To maximize the durability of the plating:
⤔ It is essential to remove your jewelry before sleeping, soaking in water, doing household chores, using soap, lotion, perfume, or abrasive cleanser, playing sports or any activity that activates sweating.
⤔ When you don’t wear your jewelry, store them in a hermetic container or jewelry box to minimize contact with the surrounding air.
⤔ Avoid storing jewelry in high humidity areas (such as bathrooms).
We hope that this guide has enabled you to identify the metals that best suit your needs and desires. We recommend that you read our Maintenance Guide to adopt the right actions to ensure that your jewelry maintains its beautiful appearance and longevity.
