Le Gem Nouveau sells vintage-inspired gemstone jewelry made from modern materials. Here is some general information about our products:METAL STAMPS: All gold and silver items will have the corresponding metal stamp (S925, G14K, etc.) somewhere on the metal portion of the item. It's normal for these stamps to be small and their location on each item will vary (it's common for the stamp to be on a clasp, the back of a pendant, or the band of a ring).ALLERGIES: All of our items are free of lead and cadmium. The majority are also nickel-free, including our sterling silver items. For those with nickel allergies, we recommend our sterling silver, yellow gold, and rose gold jewelry. White gold jewelry can contain nickel, as it is used to add strength and the white color to the jewelry. Some people with nickel allergies may still be able to wear white gold, especially 18K or higher, but that depends on the severity of the allergy.RHODIUM & PALLADIUM: If no other plating is listed (such as gold or platinum), the majority of our sterling silver pieces will be plated with rhodium, even if it is not listed in the "details" section of the item. Rhodium is a chemically inert metallic element that appears as a silvery-white color. It is not known to be an allergy-causing substance and is generally considered an asset to jewelry pieces, as it helps them look shiny and new for longer than non-plated items. Some of our gold pieces may also contain rhodium, specifically white gold pieces, which are often plated with rhodium to help maintain their color. Palladium may be used in a similar fashion. It is not known to be allergy-causing.PLATING: The plating of our items (gold, rhodium) is designed to be long lasting, but this depends heavily on each customer's specific use of the item (see our "Care Tips" tab below for some useful tips), storage of the item, environmental factors, and the customer's specific body chemistry. For this reason, we can provide an estimation on the life of metal plating on our jewelry. For a general estimation, plating lasts 2-3 years with sterling silver pieces before starting to show signs of break-down. For rhodium plating on white gold, it usually lasts 1-2 years (for items that are worn daily, such as wedding bands, plating can break down sooner). All plating can last longer than the above estimations if cared for exceptionally well or used gently. Metal plating can be reapplied to jewelry by professional jewelers when it breaks down, as this is part of normal jewelry maintenance.GEMSTONES: The majority of the gemstones used in our jewelry are natural gems. This means there may be color or slight texture variations in some designs. We do not consider this a detriment, but think of it as the charm of natural, earth-formed materials. The majority of our precious stones will have some minor flaws or inclusions and we try to mention this in the "details" section for the item and include photos that show this. TREATMENTS: Some of our natural stones have undergone treatments. Stones that undergo these treatments are still classified as natural stones (they're still mined from the earth), but their beauty is enhanced with common stone treatments used specifically for that purpose. Stone treatments are most often found in sapphires in the form of heat/diffusion treatments (especially in the large sapphires used in our sterling silver jewelry), rubies (heat treatments), topaz (heat treatments), mystic quartz and topaz (titanium coating), and emeralds (fracture filling with oils or resin). Most sapphires, rubies, and emeralds on the jewelry market today have undergone these types of treatments and gemstones from Le Gem Nouveau are no exception. Sometimes we will list treatments in the "details" section of a listing, but since the treatments are widespread with certain types of stones, we include this general statement, as it is visible in all listings.Most of these treatments are stable and don't require much special care, but you should always keep your gemstones away from harsh cleaning solutions and chemicals, heat sources, moisture, and abrasive cleaning methods. Emeralds may need to be re-oiled or refilled after years of wear (most jewelers should be able to do this or direct you to an appropriate jeweler). MANUFACTURED STONES: We do sell some products with manufactured stones and this will be communicated in listings with terms such as "created," "synthetic," "nano," or "lab grown." These manufactured stones are often more perfected than natural stones and will therefore offer a more uniform look. Many jewelry items will contain both natural and manufactured stones.