A pair of solid rectangular bar earrings in 18ct gold vermeil (sterling silver fully plated in 18 carat gold). Handcrafted in Ireland from 100% recycled sterling silver and gold, hallmarked in Dublin Castle. 100% recycled sterling silver fully plated in 100% recycled 18 carat gold. Hallmarked sterling silver stamped 925 Gold vermeil (pronounced vur-may) is sterling silver that has been gold plated. As with sterling silver, preventive care is important for maintaining your gold vermeil jewellery. To protect the plating from damage, avoid direct contact with cologne, perfume, soap and other products while wearing your jewellery. Always remove your jewellery before showering and intense workouts as moisture, salt and sweat accelerate oxidation (silver reacts to moisture and chemicals in the air such as sulphur, as it does to chemicals and moisture in soaps and on our skin from body sprays, lotions and perfumes). Avoid storing in humid environments such as the bathroom. Chemicals like chlorine and salt will damage silver so avoid wearing it while swimming (salt is corrosive to silver). Perfumes, creams and hairsprays can also have a negative effect, so always apply before putting on your jewellery. Always remove gold vermeil jewellery before sleep to prevent wear. As the old saying goes, "Jewellery should be the last thing you put on and the first thing you take off". Store the jewellery in a dry place, ideally in a soft-lined box to protect it from scratching and impact damage. Try to keep the pieces separate, so that they don't rub together or tangle up. Gold vermeil jewellery will tarnish like silver (as it is sterling silver, plated in 18 carat gold) so it is best to keep it in an airtight box or bag. If you would like to clean your gold vermeil jewellery wash it with a small amount of gentle dish soap or non-chemical soap and warm water. Rinse it well and allow to dry on a cloth or paper towel. Use a jewellery cloth or a soft, non-abrasive cloth such as a microfibre cloth and gently rub the surface in a circular motion to clean. Make sure it is fully dry before returning to its box or airtight bag for storage. Avoid using a silver cloth as it will remove the gold plating! Please note that all plating will naturally fade with wear.