What Is Demi Fine Jewelry?
Demi fine is the space between the costume jewelry you'd find at a fast fashion shop and the fine jewelry you'd find behind glass at a jeweler. Real precious metals, made to be worn every day, priced so you don't have to save up for a year.
There is no legal definition, which is exactly why it is worth knowing what to look for.
The three tiers, roughly
Fashion jewelry is usually brass, copper or zinc alloy with a thin plated finish. It's cheap and fun, and it tends to tarnish, fade or irritate skin within months.
Fine jewelry is solid gold or platinum, often with diamonds or precious stones. It lasts for generations and is priced like it.
Demi fine borrows from both. The metal is precious, typically solid sterling silver or gold vermeil, and sometimes solid gold for smaller pieces. The design is made for everyday wear rather than special occasions.
What should actually be in it
Because anyone can call their jewelry demi fine, the base metal is the thing to ask about. A piece that is gold on the outside and brass on the inside is fashion jewelry with better marketing.
Here is what we use, so you know exactly what you're getting:
Gold vermeil: recycled 14K gold over solid recycled 925 sterling silver. No brass or copper beneath.
Sterling silver: solid recycled 925 sterling silver, never plated.
Solid gold: solid recycled 14K gold throughout.
Why people end up here
Most of us don't want jewelry we're scared to wear, and we don't want jewelry that falls apart either. Demi fine is for the pieces you put on in the morning and forget about: a pair of paperclip earrings, a locket, a chain you never take off.
It also changes how you think about cost. A $30 pair of earrings you replace three times isn't cheaper than one pair that lasts.
How to make it last
Take it off before swimming, showering or the gym, keep it away from perfume and lotion, and store pieces separately so they don't scratch each other. Vermeil will soften slowly over years of wear, and sterling silver can be polished back to bright. We go into more detail in what gold vermeil actually is and in our care guide.