The Jewelry Download With Oko

We recently popped over the river to visit our friend Lisa at Oko Jewelry (watch reel here!). While we were there chatting about our February pop-up (more on that below!), we took the opportunity to quiz her on some of the questions we get asked most in the shop:

What jewelry can I never take off?
What’s the difference between gold plated vs. gold filled?
And what role does silver really play?

Lisa was kind enough to share her expert advice, and we’ve laid it all out for you below.

Before we get into it, we asked Lisa to curate a collection of solid gold and sterling silver jewelry just for us. You can shop the Yo x Oko (Yoko?!) collection in-store throughout the month of February, and just in time for Valentine's Day!

The collection features a beautiful assortment of vintage pieces - necklaces, earrings, bracelets, charms, and more - that we’re so excited to share with you.

When it comes to longevity, solid gold is the longest-wearing option (with platinum right alongside it). These are true forever metals, made to be worn daily and last for generations.

After solid gold, the general order of durability is:
1. Gold filled
2. Gold vermeil
3. Gold plated

Gold filled jewelry, in particular, has impressive staying power - so much so that Victorian-era gold-filled pieces still exist today (it was once called “rolled gold”). It’s a great option if you love the look and durability of gold but want a lower price point.

Price is an important factor, too. Gold prices have more than doubled over the past year, making gold content and carat weight more relevant than ever. For example, 9k gold can be nearly half the price of 18k gold, while still offering the benefits of solid gold.

In short: solid gold and platinum offer maximum longevity, while gold filled provides a durable, more accessible alternative - each with its place depending on budget and wear.

Solid Gold is made to be worn every day and last a lifetime. Gold purity is measured in carats, which refers to how much pure gold is in each piece. The higher the carat, the higher the gold content and value.
* 24k gold is 99% pure gold.
* 18k gold is 75% pure gold, alloyed with metals like silver and copper for strength.
* 14k gold is about 58% pure gold and is especially popular for everyday wear.
* 9k gold, common in England, contains about 37% gold and is the lowest carat that still retains gold’s non-tarnishing properties.

Different alloys also affect color - rose gold, for example, uses more copper to achieve its warm, rosy tone.

Solid gold jewelry is durable, non-reactive, and made for daily wear-you can shower, sleep, and live in it. While some stones (like pearls or opals) require a bit more care, diamonds, sapphires, and rubies are excellent choices for everyday pieces due to their hardness.

In short: solid gold is a forever metal-meant to be worn daily, treasured long-term, and even passed down through generations.

While Oko focuses on solid gold, at Yo we carry a mix of gold, gold filled and gold plated pieces (due to price accessibility) - each with their own place in a jewelry collection.

Gold filled jewelry contains a minimum of 5% solid gold, which is mechanically bonded (rolled or tubed) onto a base metal, usually brass. Because there’s an actual layer of solid gold on the outside, gold filled pieces wear very well and tend to hold up over time.

Gold plated jewelry has a much thinner layer of gold applied through electroplating. Some pieces are plated over sterling silver (like vermeil), while others are plated over brass. Because the gold layer is thinner, gold plated jewelry should be worn more delicately - it’s not ideal for showering or sleeping, as the plating can wear through over time.

Gold plated pieces, especially earrings, can still wear nicely since they experience less friction—but overall, they’re best saved for lighter, occasional wear.

Sterling silver is a solid metal that wears beautifully and has been a timeless jewelry staple for centuries. One thing to know: silver does tarnish, but not from moisture-tarnish comes from sulfur in the air. To slow it down, store silver in an airtight bag or with anti-tarnish strips, or simply polish it when needed. The good news? Silver worn daily tends to stay polished naturally.

When you see 925 sterling silver, it refers to purity - 92.5% pure silver, alloyed (usually with copper) for strength. This is the British standard and the most common quality you’ll see. You may also come across 950 silver, especially in mid-century Mexican jewelry, which has a slightly higher silver content. Anything lower, like 800 silver, is known as coin silver and often appears in antique pieces.

As gold continues to rise in price, silver offers a great opportunity to wear bold, chunky statement pieces that would be prohibitively expensive in gold. And don’t be afraid to mix metals - gold and silver look great together. (And yes, mixed metals are very much back.)

From everyday jewelry questions to a thoughtfully curated vintage collection, our visit with Lisa at Oko Jewelry was full of insight and inspiration. We’re so excited to share her expertise - and the Yo x Oko collection - with you all this February. Come by, try things on, and find a piece you’ll love for years to come.