FAQs

What is the difference between 10K gold and 14K gold?

When you have a piece of fine jewelry, the piece is always made up of a mixture of alloys (different metals) and pure gold. 100% pure gold is referred to as 24k gold and has no other alloys mixed in. 10k is 10 parts pure gold, and 14 parts alloys. 10k gold happens to be sturdier and harder as gold is a very soft metal and the more parts pure gold you have, the more malleable the piece is. 10k gold ends up being less expensive in price in comparison to 14k gold due to the fact that there is marginally less pure gold within (but don’t worry, to the naked eye you can’t see the difference☺ )
14k gold would be 14 parts pure gold, and 10 parts alloys.
Usually you would be able to find 24k gold rings, this is primarily because pure gold is such a soft metal it tends to bend and scratch very easily.

Why is white gold marginally more expensive than yellow or rose gold?

One of the most common concerns of people is whether white gold karats are comparable to yellow gold carats. The answer is YES! The difference is the colour of the alloys that are mixed in with the pure gold – which can change the hue to white.
Zinc is mixed in with the other alloys to create a whiter hue. However, even with the zinc mixed in, white gold still has a yellowish tint. What makes white gold truly white and different is its plating/coating, which is made of rhodium, a member of the platinum family, which is a very expensive metal. This rhodium plating is what truly makes the white gold appear “white”. Not only that – rhodium also makes white gold more durable by covering the softer yellow gold alloy with an additional protective layer.
Since rhodium is expensive, it can add to the price of white gold jewelry and make it more expensive than yellow gold pieces.
Regardless of what metals/alloys are added to the pure gold, its purity and karat is measured the same way.

How is Willow jewelry priced out/how is willow pricing different from traditional retailers?

We price our products fairly. We price our products based solely on the materials used, weight of gold, and labour costs. We are transparent about the costs of the materials and this is reflected in our prices. We do not price yellow gold as high as white and we do not price black diamonds as high as white diamonds, based on the costs of the materials. Many fine jewelry brands markup their products to reflect that of the highest costing materials – white gold for example, is more expensive than yellow gold and rose gold, but other companies mark up their rose and yellow to match the white gold. We do things differently. Our yellow and rose gold products will always be less expensive than white. Similarly, black diamonds may seem more rare than white diamonds, and for this reason many fine jewelry retailer mark up their black diamonds to match that of the white diamonds. In actuality, black diamonds cost less than white diamonds and therefore our black diamonds will always be priced lower than white.
Additionally, we are able to provide a competitive retail price at high quality in comparison to traditional retailer because we directly design and work with our manufacturer to create each made to order piece and alleviate the need to a middleman wholesaler.

What does conflict free and ethically sourced mean?

All of our diamonds are conflict free and ethically sourced.
Willow is committed to ethical sourcing to the highest degree. We are passionate about supporting and maintaining ethical, transparent, and empowering practices. It is important to us to bring awareness to some of the seriously troubling practices that have plagued our industry. From conflict diamonds to gold mined by child labor, there is a lot to be aware of before you purchase.
We want to ensure that workers are being treated fairly and that goods are being produced with the least environmental impact possible.
The term “ethical diamond” has emerged as a way for conscientious consumers to identify diamonds that are mined without exploiting workers or the environment.

How do I clean my jewelry?

Step 1: put a few drops of liquid dish detergent in a bowl of lukewarm (not hot) water

Mix gently
Though ordinary tap water will work fine, for even better results, you can use sodium-free seltzer water or club soda. The carbonation in these liquids can help loosen accumulated dirt and debris
DO NOT use hot/boiling water or freezing water– especially if your piece contains precious stones, as the rapid temperature changes can cause your stones to crack

Step 2: Soak the gold jewelry in the solution

Allow the jewelry to soak for 15-30 minutes.
As it soaks, warm soapy water will work its way into the crack and crevices, loosening up the hard-to-reach buildups of dirt

Step 3: Gently scrub the jewelry with a soft-bristled toothbrush

Scrub each piece of jewelry individually, paying special attention to little crevices and nooks where dirt may be hidden.
The softer the bristles the better – stiff bristles can scratch the surface of the jewelry.

Step 4: Rinse each piece in warm running water

a good rinsing will help release dirt that’s been loosened by the above steps
make sure that the water flow is not too powerful as you don’t want too much strength put on the delicate pieces

**NOTE: if you are rinsing your jewelry in a sink, plug or cover the drain so that you don’t accidentally lose your jewelry if it slips out of your hands!

Step 5: Blot dry with a soft cloth

Then let the jewelry sit out on a towel to air dry completely before wearing it again

*****If the above it too time consuming, feel free to use our Microfibre cloth to clean and shine the surface of your jewelry! Comes inside each and every box ;)*****

How do I measure chain lengths?

All of our chains are measured in inches. To measure the perfect size for you, take a string and wrap it around your neck or wrist and make sure it falls the exact way you envision your jewelry to fit. Cut the string at the point that is most comfortable and then measure how many inches long the string is! If your perfect length is not aligned with the length our sample pieces are offered in, just send us a note with your order letting us know your preferred length ☺