FAQs

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Is my jewellery waterproof?

All Yves & Oak pieces are stainless steel with an 18ct gold PVD plating which is water resistant. We do recommend that you do not expose you pieces to creams, perfumes or chlorine.

Will my jewellery fade?

All of our pieces are tarnish free but as with all jewellery the gold may soften slightly over time.

Is my jewellery scratch free?

Our pieces are scratch resistant but we do recommend that you care for your pieces and store them in their pouch when possible. The PVD coating applied to our pieces has a very high hardness rating, second only to diamond.

What is PVD coating?

PVD stands for Physical Vapour Deposition. PVD Coating refers to a variety of thin film deposition techniques where a solid material is vaporised in a vacuum environment and deposited on substrates as a pure material or alloy composition coating.

All of our jewellery is plated using 18k gold PVD Plating. This means that our jewellery can withstand more exposure to moisture. With proper jewellery care, your jewels will last much longer than standard coated jewellery. PVD technology is often used in the manufacture of tapware and is also used by rolex and other luxury brands to enable longevity.

How do I clean my jewellery

To help you care for your Yves & Oak pieces, please see our care guide

What if my piece is the wrong size?

We understand it can be difficult to order online so we offer a 30 day returns policy. Should you order the incorrect size, please visit our returns page for more information.

 

Is my jewellery hypoallergenic?

Yes. All of our Yves & Oak pieces are hypoallergenic and can be worn by most people even with sensitivity issues.

How is my jewellery different to vermeil or gold plating?

VERMEIL JEWELRY

Vermeil refers to high quality (pure or sterling) silver that is plated with a thin layer of gold. Most vermeil jewellery available now is created by electroplating the silver with gold, a chemical process that uses an electrical current to bind the two metals together.

 

GOLD PLATED JEWELLERY

Traditionally, gold plated jewellery is a brass, copper, or low-end metal electroplated with a thin layer of gold. Usually the less expensive option, gold plated jewellery doesn’t require any minimum karat weight or thickness, and tends to wear very quickly. However, there is an exception we will explain in just a minute.

 

GOLD FILLED JEWELLERY

Unlike vermeil and gold plated jewellery, gold filled jewellery has a much thicker layer of gold over the base metal. This makes a big difference in terms of the jewellery’s ability to resist wear and tear long term. It would be hard to tell the difference between “real” gold and a gold filled piece, as they are both high end.

GOLD PVD PLATED JEWELLERY

PVD stands for Physical Vapor Deposition, and is a vacuum coating process of gold that produces a brilliant decorative and functional finish to the base metal. PVD utilizes a titanium nitride that provides an extremely durable coating. PVD coatings are more resistant to corrosion from sweat and regular wear than gold plating. It's a great choice for people who never take their jewellery off, as it is extremely vibrant and durable for many years. Even big, luxury brands use this process, like Rolex and Cartier. Seriously, Google it! If it's good enough for Rolex, it's good enough for Yves & Oak.

 

Are you an Australian business?

Yes. We are proudly an Australian owned and run business. Our pieces are sustainably sourced from overseas.