Materials & Craftmanship

Gold Purity Gold is measured in carats (ct), indicating how many parts of pure gold are present out of 24. Pure gold is 24 carats — soft, rich, and radiant, but too malleable for fine jewellery. Cascadia crafts each piece in solid 18k or 14k gold, balancing purity, strength, and longevity.

Carat	Gold Content	Metal Composition	Appearance & Use
24k	99.9% Pure Gold	Minimal alloy metals	Rich yellow hue, soft — ideal for investment, not everyday wear
18k	75% Pure Gold	25% alloy (silver, copper, or palladium)	Luxury standard — warm, lustrous, and durable; used in Cascadia fine jewellery
14k	58.5% Pure Gold	41.5% alloy	More resilient and slightly paler; ideal for daily wear and men's bands
9k	37.5% Pure Gold	62.5% alloy	Durable, cost-effective, but less radiant

Gold Colours The tone of gold is determined by its alloy metals: Yellow Gold: Classic warmth — pure gold blended with silver and copper. White Gold: Refined and modern — alloyed with palladium or nickel, often rhodium-coated for a bright finish. Rose Gold: Romantic and subtle — gold with a touch of copper for its soft blush tone. Cascadia uses ethically refined alloys, ensuring colour depth that endures decades of wear. Moissanite Moissanite is a rare mineral discovered in a meteorite crater in 1893 by Dr. Henri Moissan. Today, it is created in laboratories with near-perfect clarity and fire. It has a brilliance refractive index higher than diamonds (2.65 vs. 2.42), meaning it reflects more light and shows rainbow flashes with every movement. Visually, it is almost indistinguishable from a flawless diamond — ethically produced, conflict-free, and designed to last forever. Hardness: 9.25 on the Mohs scale (diamond is 10) Durability: Resistant to scratching, heat, and clouding Ethics: 100% lab-grown, sustainable, and cruelty-free Moissanite is ideal for those who value exceptional beauty with a conscious heart. Lab-Grown Diamonds Lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds — not imitations — created using the same atomic process that occurs deep within the earth. They are made through either HPHT (High Pressure High Temperature) or CVD (Chemical Vapour Deposition) methods. Each stone has the same physical, chemical, and optical properties as a mined diamond, with one essential difference: its origin is ethical and sustainable. Composition: 100% carbon Hardness: 10 on the Mohs scale Ethics: No environmental damage, no conflict mining Grading: Certified using the same 4Cs — Cut, Colour, Clarity, Carat Lab-grown diamonds are the modern heirloom: authentic, pure, and kind to the planet. Natural (Mined) Diamonds Formed over billions of years under immense pressure and heat, natural diamonds are geological marvels. Each carries the fingerprint of the Earth — unique inclusions, organic growth patterns, and unmatched rarity. Cascadia’s natural diamonds are conflict-free, sourced from verified ethical suppliers who uphold the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, ensuring that every stone is traceable and responsibly mined. Diamond Clarity Grades Diamond clarity describes the purity and presence of internal characteristics, known as inclusions. All diamonds — natural or lab-grown — are graded under 10x magnification.

Grade	Description
FL (Flawless)	No inclusions or blemishes visible even under 10x magnification.
IF (Internally Flawless)	No inclusions; only minor surface blemishes.
VVS1 – VVS2	Very, very slight inclusions, almost impossible to detect under magnification.
VS1 – VS2	Very slight inclusions visible only under close inspection.
SI1 – SI2	Slight inclusions visible under magnification, rarely to the naked eye.
I1 – I3	Visible inclusions; typically used in budget-friendly jewellery.

Cascadia uses only VVS to FL clarity diamonds, selected by hand for brilliance and balance.