Our Materials & Craftsmanship
OUR MATERIALS & CRAFTSMANSHIP
THE PRICE OF GOLD
The gold price has reached multiple record highs in 2024 and 2025, most recently peaking on April 16 2025, at $3330 an ounce.
The rhodium price is around $5850 an ounce. Rhodium is the world's most expensive precious metal. We use rhodium in all of our white gold pieces.
A QUALITY PRODUCT
At Lily Blanche, we believe that jewellery should not only be beautiful but also made to last. That’s why we use only the finest precious metals and ethically sourced gemstones in every piece of luxury Scottish jewellery we create. Our commitment to quality craftsmanship ensures that each item is designed to be treasured for generations.
PRECIOUS METALS
Solid Gold
We use high-quality 9-carat and 18-carat gold to craft our lockets, necklaces, rings, earrings & bracelets, ensuring a luxurious and durable finish. Our solid gold lockets and rings are designed to withstand everyday wear while retaining their beauty. Every gold piece is hallmarked at the Edinburgh Assay Office, guaranteeing its authenticity and purity.
Gold Vermeil
For those who love the warmth of gold with exceptional value, our gold vermeil jewellery is the perfect choice. We use a thick layer of 18-carat gold (3 microns thick) over solid sterling silver, offering a rich, long-lasting finish. Unlike gold-plated jewellery, gold vermeil contains no base metals like brass or copper, making it a superior choice for sensitive skin.
Sterling Silver
Our sterling silver jewellery is crafted from 92.5% pure silver. Each locket is hallmarked for quality assurance.
WHAT IS VERMEIL?
Vermeil jewellery, pronounced ver-may, is a traditional French technique passed down by jewellers through the centuries. In vermeil, a very thick quantity of gold – more than 10 to 20 times the thickness of regular gold plate - is applied to another noble metal, in this case, sterling silver. Shop our vermeil jewellery here
How does Vermeil differ from gold-plated jewellery?
Vermeil jewellery distinguishes itself from gold-plated pieces through its 100% precious metal composition and the superior carat weight and quantity of gold used. Currently one of luxury jewellery's most sought-after trends, vermeil offers substantially higher quality than gold-plated or gold-filled alternatives, which contain base metals and therefore cannot receive official hallmarks. With gold prices at historic highs, gold vermeil delivers unparalleled quality at the most advantageous price point.
We incorporate vermeil to enhance design flexibility while creating precious pieces using premium materials that remain accessible. Many of our designs draw inspiration from vintage aesthetics, requiring substantially more precious metal than contemporary lightweight jewellery. Some of our bestselling lockets contain over an ounce of precious metal. As gold prices continue their dramatic rise, vermeil offers the optimal balance of exceptional quality and value, making it the premier choice for discerning buyers seeking affordable luxury.
Will Vermeil Jewellery Wear Out?
Our vermeil jewellery features exceptional gold quantity and quality, ensuring excellent durability with proper care. While the industry standard for vermeil (and the legal definition in the USA) requires 10-carat gold at a thickness of 2.5 microns—already significant compared to flash-plated gold at merely 0.125 microns—Lily Blanche exceeds these requirements.
Our vermeil specifications start at 18-carat gold with a minimum thickness of 3 microns, creating premium finishes designed for longevity. Proper care dramatically impacts durability; we recommend storing vermeil pieces in our specialized Intercept anti-tarnish pouches. These custom-made pouches, produced exclusively for us in the USA, incorporate patented polymers within the lining to purify the air and neutralize oxidizing atmospheric gases. These protective pouches come standard with our Lily Blanche Jewellery Care Kit.
The exceptional quality and longevity of our vermeil jewellery—whether in yellow gold, rose gold, or white gold—have earned loyalty from customers who frequently build collections of our signature lockets, necklaces, bracelets, rings, and earrings. Items worn continuously may develop some silvering over time, particularly where jewellery contacts coarse fabrics or other metals. Rather than diminishing the piece, this patina enhances its character, creating a coveted vintage aesthetic as the jewellery evolves with its wearer's unique journey.
Vermeil jewellery represents an outstanding and affordable alternative to solid gold. Its sterling silver foundation—a pure precious metal—makes it an excellent option for those with metal sensitivities. For those seeking to elevate their jewellery collection, vermeil offers exceptional value and quality.
For those specifically seeking heirloom investment pieces, we invite you to explore our solid gold jewellery collection.
CHAINS
We make our chains in a variety of versions, including sterling silver 18 carat gold vermeil and solid gold. We can also make solid gold chains bespoke. If there is a style and length you would like, please email us at hello@lilyblanche.com
PEARLS
Our cultured freshwater pearls are hand-selected for their luminous quality and elegance. Grown sustainably, each pearl showcases a unique, organic beauty, making it the perfect addition to timeless designs.
NATURAL GEMSTONES & DIAMONDS
We carefully select natural, ethically sourced gemstones to enhance the beauty and meaning of our jewellery. Our gemstones are cut and polished by expert lapidarists to ensure maximum brilliance and quality.
-
Diamonds – We use natural, conflict-free diamonds that adhere to the Kimberley Process, ensuring ethical sourcing. Our diamond jewellery comes with a certificate of authenticity.
-
Emeralds, Sapphires & Rubies – Our vibrant, high-quality gemstones are sourced for their exceptional colour and clarity.
-
Birthstones – From deep blue sapphires to fiery garnets, our genuine birthstones add a personal touch to your jewellery.
- Our collections feature:
-
Amethyst: Celebrated for its captivating purple hue and believed to promote calmness and clarity.
-
Garnet: Known for its deep red tones, symbolizing passion and vitality.
-
Topaz: Available in various shades, topaz is associated with love and affection.
-
Emerald: A vibrant green gemstone representing rebirth and prosperity.
-
Sapphire: Esteemed for its rich blue colour, symbolizing wisdom and nobility.
-
Ruby: A striking red gem associated with love and courage.
-
Each gemstone is carefully set by skilled artisans, ensuring lasting beauty and durability.
Natural gemstones will always contain small inclusions. These are to be expected and do not diminish the jewellery. Inclusions act as a marker of the gemstone’s unique identity, much as a fingerprint does for humans. Each gemstone is unique, and inclusions can tell researchers about the properties of each stone. Gemologists study inclusions to tell if a gemstone is organic or synthetic and to help identify the provenance of the stone.
While inclusions in diamonds are often regarded negatively, this is not the case for coloured gemstones, where inclusions are often highly prized. You can read more about inclusions here.
We do not use any lab-created stones in our jewellery.
You can read more about the origins and properties of our precious gemstone jewellery here
Shop our gemstone jewellery here
#qualityjewellery #whatisvermeil #solidgoldjewellery #hallmarkedjewellery #peaceofmind