Materials
EnSage pieces are handmade, and every product page has a Materials line — that line is the source of truth for each piece. This page explains what the words on it mean.
925 sterling silver
925 sterling silver is an alloy that is 92.5% silver, with other metal added for strength. Most EnSage jewelry is 925 sterling silver — rings, earrings, bracelets, bangles, cuffs and necklaces. A soft cloth is the gentlest way to freshen it; see Care Instructions.
Oxidized finish
Many silver pieces have an oxidized finish: the recesses are darkened on purpose to bring out texture and engraving. We do not seal it, so it keeps changing with wear; a silver polishing cloth will lighten the dark detail.
Silver-plated pieces
Silver-plated means a thin layer of silver over another metal (on our product pages: brass, white brass, white copper or cupronickel). Silver-plated pieces are not 925 sterling silver. At EnSage this applies to some brooches, hair accessories and hair ties, and the bolo tie. Plating can wear with friction — wipe gently and avoid silver polish and cleaning liquids (Care Instructions).
White copper (cupronickel)
White copper, also called cupronickel, is a silver-colored copper–nickel alloy; it is not silver. Our shoulder bags use cotton and white copper, and some plated pieces use it as their base metal.
Pieces with no metal listed
Some pieces, such as the Oasis Guardian Necklace, are not solid 925 silver; their Materials line lists only the stones. Please ask us about any specific piece.
Cords, beads and other materials
You will also see cotton, waxed and leather cord, glass and antique glass beads, shell (including dyed shell, as labeled), horn, cow bone beads, resin and cold enamel — each listed on its product page.
Stone glossary
Stone names follow each product page's Materials line. Stones vary in color and pattern from piece to piece.
| Stone | What it is |
|---|---|
| Turquoise | An opaque blue-to-green copper aluminium phosphate mineral, often with darker matrix veining. Each piece's turquoise details are on its product page. |
| Turquoise-style stone | A stone used for a turquoise-like look; it is labeled "turquoise-style" on its product page and is not described as turquoise. |
| Howlite | A white to gray borate mineral, typically with gray or dark veining. |
| Agate (black, red, yellow) | A banded or translucent variety of chalcedony (microcrystalline quartz), found in many colors. Some pieces use synthetic red agate, as labeled on their pages. |
| Black onyx | A black variety of chalcedony. |
| Carnelian | A red-orange variety of chalcedony. |
| Malachite | A green copper carbonate mineral with light and dark banding. |
| Ruby corundum | Corundum (aluminium oxide) in red tones. |
| Clear quartz / rock crystal / white crystal | Colorless, transparent quartz. |
| Citrine | A yellow variety of quartz. |
| Rutilated quartz | Quartz with fine needle-like inclusions of rutile. |
| Lapis lazuli | A deep blue rock, mainly lazurite, often with gold-colored pyrite flecks. |
| Labradorite | A feldspar mineral that can show a blue-green play of color. |
| Moonstone | A feldspar mineral with a soft, glowing sheen. |
| Obsidian | A volcanic glass, usually black. |
| Rhodochrosite | A pink manganese carbonate mineral, often banded. |
| White jade | A white jade stone, as listed on the product page. |
| Marble | A metamorphic rock made mostly of calcite. |
| Mother of pearl | The iridescent inner layer of some shells. |
| Iron ore | A dark, metallic iron-bearing mineral bead. |
Keep stones away from chemicals and long soaking, and wipe with a soft dry cloth (Care Instructions).