Deciding between sterling silver vs gold plated jewellery often comes down to what sits beneath the shine. Philipjonesjewellery stocks sterling silver, silver plated, and 18k gold plated pieces side by side across earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and sets, and a highly polished, hypoallergenic finish runs through all three regardless of which metal sits underneath. The differences affect how a piece looks, feels, and holds up to daily wear. This breakdown looks at what separates the three ranges across the catalogue.
Understanding Sterling Silver Jewellery from Philip Jones
Sterling silver pieces from Philipjonesjewellery carry a stamped 925 mark, confirming the metal content behind the design, while silver plated items instead sit on a brass alloy base beneath the plating layer. The 30mm hoop earrings and 20mm hoop earrings both use this stamped sterling silver, finished with a lever back closure and packaged in a gift pouch. A 3 pack of stud earrings, sized at 6mm, 5mm, and 4mm, is also made from sterling silver and set with Zircondia® crystals using a 4 prong setting. These pieces are described as hypoallergenic, which matters for anyone sensitive to base metals.
The wedding collection also leans on sterling silver for some of its bridal pieces, including a solitaire crystal necklace, matching earrings, and a heart link bracelet. Each is listed with its own weight and dimensions, reflecting the attention paid to construction detail. In the context of sterling silver vs gold plated jewellery, sterling silver tends to sit at the more substantial end of the brand’s metal purity claims.
Silver Plated Jewellery: Design and Everyday Wear
The Rose Quartz, Moonstone, and Black Onyx beaded stretch bracelets from Philipjonesjewellery share a brass alloy construction beneath their plating, each weighing 7.7g and stretching between 16.5cm and 20.3cm. These bracelets are described as highly polished and hypoallergenic, with genuine gemstones set in a round 6mm shape. The same finishing language carries across several other silver plated styles, not just this bracelet trio.
Necklaces and earrings in the silver plated range follow the same base metal approach. The Mother of Pearl Gemstone Clover Necklace and matching earrings both use brass alloy beneath their silver plating, closed with a lobster claw or butterfly fastening depending on the piece. That shared base metal and closure logic carries through to the halo-style sets discussed next.
18k Gold Plated Collections and Finishes
The 18k gold plated line mirrors several silver plated designs but swaps the surface finish for a gold layer. The Silver Plated Pear Halo Set and its 18k Gold Plated counterpart both carry a pendant measuring 12mm by 9mm, with a pear-cut Zircondia® crystal at the centre surrounded by smaller 1mm round accent stones. The 18k Gold Plated Mother Of Pearl Multi Clover Friendship Slider Bracelet extends the same gold finish to genuine mother of pearl stones, showing the gold layer applies across both crystal and gemstone pieces.
The clover range also includes 18k Gold Plated Green Aventurine Charm Hoop Earrings, extending the gold finish beyond pendant sets into drop styles. That spread across earring, bracelet, and pendant formats shows how consistently the gold plating option follows the silver plated catalogue rather than trailing behind it.
Genuine Gemstones vs. Zircondia® Crystals in Philip Jones Pieces
Stone type is one of the clearest ways to tell pieces apart within this catalogue. Some items, like the Rose Quartz, Moonstone, and Black Onyx bracelets, are made with genuine gemstones in a round cut. Others, including the birthstone earrings and the Pear and Heart Halo Sets, are created with Zircondia® crystals instead, often set in a pear or round shape.
Both stone categories appear across sterling silver, silver plated, and 18k gold plated settings, so the sterling silver vs gold plated jewellery question does not determine which stone a shopper ends up with. The birthstone earrings using Zircondia® crystals are offered across multiple months, including March Aquamarine, September Sapphire, May Emerald, August Peridot, and October Tourmaline. Stone choice and metal choice therefore sit as separate decisions within the catalogue rather than being tied together.
Material Durability and Hypoallergenic Properties Across the Range
Philipjonesjewellery also stocks men’s chain necklaces made from stainless steel rather than silver or gold plating, carrying a hypoallergenic and tarnish-resistant finish. That gives the men’s range a distinct metal category of its own, sitting apart from the silver and gold plated lines. The Cuban curb chains come in 3mm, 6mm, and 9mm widths, each offered in 18, 20, 22, and 24 inch lengths.
Closure mechanisms also vary by piece rather than by metal type alone. Earrings use butterfly, lever back, or huggie closures depending on the style, while necklaces rely on lobster claw fastenings with extender chains. The stainless steel Cuban curb chains use either a foldover closure or a lobster claw, depending on the thickness ordered.
- Sterling silver pieces carry a stamped 925 mark confirming the metal content.
- Silver plated and 18k gold plated pieces are built on a brass alloy base metal beneath the finish.
- Genuine gemstones such as rose quartz, moonstone, and black onyx appear in several beaded bracelet designs.
- Zircondia® crystals are used across birthstone earrings and halo sets in pear and round cuts.
- Earring closures include butterfly, lever back, and huggie styles depending on the design.
- Necklace closures typically use a lobster claw fastening paired with a chain extender.
Choosing Between Metal Types for Different Occasions
Bridal pieces from Philipjonesjewellery draw on both sterling silver and silver plated construction, depending on the item. The sterling silver bridal solitaire necklace and earrings sit alongside silver plated bridal bracelets and a pearl drop set, giving a wedding party several finish options under one collection. Men’s jewellery, by contrast, is built from stainless steel chains in a Cuban curb style, available in 18, 20, 22, and 24 inch lengths.
Customisable pieces, including initial charms and birthstone necklaces, are offered in silver plated and 18k gold plated versions, such as the 18k Gold Plated Clip On Initial Charms covering letters A through Z, which allows a charm finish to be matched to an existing piece. Because sterling silver vs gold plated jewellery decisions often depend on the specific design rather than the category as a whole, checking the metal type and base metal listed on each product remains the clearest way to compare finishes within the catalogue.
As new collections arrive, the same labelling habits are likely to carry forward, giving shoppers a consistent way to track metal and stone choices over time. You can browse the full collection directly at Philipjonesjewellery.