Gemstones & Precious Metals
We use a variety of raw materials in our products, including precious metals such as Gold and Silver, and various precious and semi-precious gemstones. You'll find the gemstones and precious metals we use, their descriptions, and histories, below.
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Enamel
A widely used material across all ranges and products in the Elizabeth Parker collections, Enamel is produced with specialized cold setting techniques in order to create and build resilience and durability. Â The use of Enamel in our formal accessories range allows for intricate and colourful designs.
Browse the Elizabeth Parker Enamel Collection here.
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Gold and Gold Plating (Yellow and Rose Gold)
Gold plating is a method of depositing a thin layer of gold onto the surface of another metal, most often copper or silver (to make silver-gilt), by chemical or electrochemical plating.  It is an excellent way of offering Gold accessories without the high price.
Elizabeth Parker's collections include the use of Yellow Gold and Rose Gold.  Browse the entire Elizabeth Parker Gold & Rose Gold Collection of Formal Accessories here.
Hematite
Hematite is a semi precious stone, often used in jewellery.  The name Hematite, also spelled as Haematite, comes from the Greek language as is translated as "blood". This is because when it is cut, the resulting coolant is a shade of red. In ancient times, shiny varieties were used as mirrors; it was also periodically used as mourning jewellery. If cut thinly, Hematite is transparent and reddish.  Most uses of Hematite in the Elizabeth Parker range offer black or dark grey finishes.
Have a look at our Hematite formal accessories in our Semi Precious Stone Collection.
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Jasper
Jasper is a semi precious stone and is often used in jewellery.  Its name means "spotted or speckled stone".  It comes in a combination of red colours - fancy and picture types. Its hardness allows the stone to be widely used, particularly in some types of mosaics.
Have a look at our Jasper formal accessories in our Semi Precious Stone Collection.
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Mother of Pearl (Nacre)
Mother of Pearl, also known as "Nacre", is an organic-inorganic composite material produced by some molluscs as an inner shell layer; it is also what makes up the outer coating of pearls. It is strong, resilient, iridescent, and makes for a beautiful addition to our formal accessories.
This is produced from Calcium Carbonate, from the lustrous lining in the shells of sea substances such as pearl oysters and mussels. This lining occurs in tones of milky white.
Colours available are Blue, Pink and White. Â Browse our entire collection of Mother of Pearl formal accessories here.
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Onyx
Onyx is a semi precious stone, formed by layered deposits of limestone.  The name translates from the Greek word meaning ‘fingernail’ thanks to its flesh-tone colour. Onyx can be red or black, though Black Onyx is most common and is what the Elizabeth Parker range uses.  Black Onyx occurs in parts of Africa, Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico.
Have a look at our Black Onyx formal accessories in our Semi Precious Stone Collection.
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Rhodium Plate
All Elizabeth Parker products are imitation Rhodium plated. Rhodium is a precious metal, deriving from the platinum family. Rhodium plating allows the product to have a hard, corrosion-resistant, silver-like coating that fairs better over time than most other finishes. Its finish is highly polished and, most importantly, non-tarnishing.
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.925 Solid Silver
Silver is a malleable precious metal most commonly found in Mexico, Canada, Peru and the United States. The most outstanding feature of silver is its luster*, which - when untarnished - can give a brilliant white shade.  .925 Solid Silver contains 92.5% silver with the remainder being copper and a nominal amount of other base metal.  Elizabeth Parker's Solid Silver products use .925 Solid Silver.
Browse the entire Elizabeth Parker .925 Solid Silver Collection of formal accessories here.
*Luster: the state or quality of shining by reflecting light; glitter, sparkle, sheen, or gloss.
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Sodalite
Sodalite, another semi precious stone, comes in many varieties of blue.  This stone’s name refers to the sodium content within the stone.
Have a look at our Sodalite formal accessories in our Semi Precious Stone Collection.
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Tiger's Eye
Tiger's Eye, another semi precious stone, gets its golden yellow colour from its brown iron content. It has a silky texture, and when cut into a cabochon, produces a shine reminiscent of a cat’s eye.
Have a look at our Tiger's Eye formal accessories in our Semi Precious Stone Collection.