Last Updated: August 2026
Short answer: Gorjana's everyday collections are gold- or silver-plated brass, while every Praise Jewels piece is solid 925 sterling silver set with natural gemstones. Gorjana does offer a smaller sterling silver and solid-gold "fine jewelry" line, but its bestselling layering pieces — the ones most shoppers actually buy — sit on a brass core.
What is Gorjana's jewelry actually made of?
Gorjana's core, most popular collections use 14k or 18k gold plating (or silver plating) over a brass base. The plating is genuine gold, but thin — industry-standard plating thickness — and it wears down with daily use, typically within one to three years, exposing the brass underneath.
Does Praise Jewels use the same construction?
No. Every Praise Jewels piece is solid 925 sterling silver throughout — not a plated layer over a base metal. There's no brass core to eventually show through, because there's no plating to wear off in the first place.
Shop the Stealth Signet Ring →
What about gemstones?
Gorjana's designs center on metal — layering chains, charms, and minimalist pendants — rather than gemstones. Praise Jewels' entire collection is built around natural gemstones (amethyst, blue topaz, black onyx, smoky quartz, peridot) set in solid silver, which is a different design philosophy as much as a different material one.
Shop the Blue Topaz Lotus Bracelet →
Which is more affordable?
Gorjana's plated brass pieces run roughly $28–$150, while Praise Jewels runs $149–$269. The price gap reflects the material gap — solid sterling silver with a real gemstone costs more to produce than plated brass, and the price difference is honest about that, not a markup on the same construction.
Frequently asked questions
Will Gorjana's plating eventually wear off?
Yes, on the plated brass lines — this is standard for gold-plated jewelry as a category, typically visible within one to three years of regular wear.
Does Gorjana have any solid sterling silver pieces?
Yes, a smaller sterling silver line and a separate solid-gold "fine jewelry" collection exist alongside their plated-brass core range.
Is brass jewelry bad for sensitive skin?
Brass can cause reactions or greening for some people once plating wears through and the base metal contacts skin directly over time.
Every piece in our collection is solid 925 sterling silver with a genuine natural gemstone — explore Amethyst, Blue Topaz, and more. For more on verifying real silver, see Is 925 Sterling Silver Real Silver?, or read our comparison with Anna Beck for a brand closer to our own material tier.