Materials & Gemstone FAQs

 

Answers

Materials & Gemstones

Do you have a guide to the different metals that you use in your jewellery?

We use sterling silver to make our silver jewellery, an alloy which is 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% copper.  The copper is chosen because it improves the metal’s durability without affecting its light weight and neutral colour.

Pure gold is too soft for everyday wear so it is alloyed with a mixture of metals like silver, copper, nickel, and zinc to give it strength and durability.  The carat (ct) is the measure of gold content.  We craft our jewellery using 18ct (composed of 75% gold and alloyed with other metals to make it strong enough for everyday wear), 14ct (composed of 58.5% gold and 41.5% pure alloys) and 9ct (37.5% pure gold with the remaining being 62.5% alloy).

The colour of gold is determined by the type of metal alloys included and the percentage of each metal alloy.

We create white gold by combining natural gold with metal alloys that have bright white tones and then plating with an extremely hard element called rhodium.

Yellow gold is created when we mix natural gold with alloys expertly chosen to both strengthen it and infuse warmth of colour, lending yellow gold jewellery its remarkable shine.  We use copper to augment the red hues and silver for the greens.  By mixing these three, the distinct lustre of yellow gold is created.

Will the metals tarnish?

While we expect our finishes to last many years, both the antiquing and various platings used in our jewellery will wear off over the course of time.  However, we offer a re-plating and polishing service for every ring we make.  For more information on how to care for your jewellery, take a look at our Care and Repair FAQs.

Are your items hallmarked?

All our pieces are Hallmarked by the London Assay Office to guarantee the fineness of the metal.  

Are Annotated diamonds conflict free and from traceable sources?

We observe the Kimberley Process and are passionately committed to sourcing our diamonds in the most ethical and environmentally responsible manner.

The Kimberley Process, adopted in 2002, regulates 99% of the rough diamond trade worldwide, through a system of import/export controls that prevents conflict diamonds from entering the legitimate supply chain.

What is the difference between a manmade and natural gemstone?

Synthetic gemstones are physically identical to their natural gemstone counterparts, which are mined from the Earth. They have the same physical properties and chemical composition as naturally occurring gemstones.  The only difference is that these gemstones are grown and manufactured in laboratories under controlled environments.  As they are created within a controlled environment, manmade gemstones tend to have fewer inclusions than their natural counterparts, as well as a more vivid colour, as ‘impurities’ have not had the chance to impact the stone. 

We produce jewellery using both manmade and natural gemstones, with some of our pieces offering either as an option. 

What are the twelve birthstones?

Garnet (January), Amethyst (February), Aquamarine (March), Diamond (April), Emerald (May), Pearl (June), Ruby (July), Peridot (August), Sapphire (September), Opal (October), Topaz (November), Turquoise (December).

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Annotated Design Projects

Select an Education Collaboration

United Kingdom

Europe

Hong Kong

Rest of the World

Annotated Design Projects

Select an Education Collaboration

United Kingdom

Europe

Hong Kong

Rest of the World

Annotated Design Projects

Select an Education Collaboration

Rest of the World

The Story of Annotated’s Education Collaboration 

Originally created by three friends at the University of Oxford looking for a different, but elegant way to celebrate and cherish their undergraduate memories,

This project goes back to the beginnings of the small design studio that preceded our company.

Since those earliest days, Annotated has stood for the idea that, by making things well, we could imbue our products with a sense of soul. You can feel it the moment you touch one of our Signet rings.

And being the children of university lecturers and teachers it was natural for us to combine this with the notion of celebrating education and studying for its own sake.

Over the years, the Annotated graduation ring has become our definition of one-of-a-kind and bespoke: completely made-to-order in collaboration with its owner and crafted by hand from precious metals.

Whether a graduand is someone who typically is interested in fine jewellery or not.

Please note, custom-made items cannot be returned but can be cancelled within seven days of order confirmation when production is still at an early stage.