What does "base" refer to in jewelry descriptions?
Product descriptions mention terms like base, plating, and coating together, making it hard to tell which is the actual body and which is the outer surface. It is difficult to judge whether one can guess the material just from the color or name.
It refers to the underlying metal that holds the product's shape beneath, rather than the layer that provides the surface color.
The name says silver, but the base is brass. The base of Centaur CENTAUR EMBLEM NECKLACE_SILVER is made of Brass[1]. Here, base means the metal that shapes the form before color and decoration are added. Brass is an alloy mixing copper and zinc, which is easy to process yet holds its shape well, making it commonly used as a base metal for jewelry.
Once the base is determined, the finish goes on top of it. FLOWER EARRINGS_IVORY is finished with silver plating and coating[2]. Generally, plating is the process of applying a thin layer of metal, and coating is a protective film applied over it to keep that layer from peeling off. Therefore, the color you see with your eyes is usually the color of the outer layer, and the metal that bears the weight and shape is separate on the inside.
This is also why care instructions advise avoiding both water and heat. HANABI EARRINGS_GOLD comes with instructions not to hand wash, tumble dry, iron, dry clean, or bleach[3]. Plating and coating layers are generally vulnerable to moisture, heat, and chemicals, so once damaged, the metal underneath is exposed directly, and discoloration spreads from that point.
hmmm, listing the base and finish separately does not stop at revealing the material, but also informs how this item should be handled.
The thickness of the plating, the type of coating, and whether other metals such as nickel are included have not yet been confirmed.
Product measurements
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CENTAUR EMBLEM NECKLACE_SILVER
Measurements
| Part | FREE |
|---|---|
| 길이 | 39.5cm |
FLOWER EARRINGS_IVORY
Other stated figures
| Part | FREE |
|---|---|
| WIDTH | 4cm |
HANABI EARRINGS_GOLD
Other stated figures
| Part | Value |
|---|---|
| 무게 | 51kg |