Shopping Questions
How can I tell the actual size of the medals?
Each medal’s description should include the size in millimetres (mm). We generally consider 8mm-14mm small, 15mm-18mm medium and 19mm and above would be large or extra large.
Download a printable one-page guide to sizes with pictures and inch conversions.
Why are the images on your medals clearer than other medals I’ve seen?
The medals and crosses we import from Italy are all die-struck like coins, therefore the details are more precise than a medal that has been cast, a cheaper method of production. In fact, our suppliers make official minted coins for both the Italian government and the Vatican.
Do you carry 14 karat gold?
We only carry 10 karat gold, 18 karat gold and sterling silver, On occasion we do import some items in 14 karat gold. if you have a specific request, please email us at info@italoro.ca and we will do our best to help you find what you are looking for.
How do I create an account?
You can create an account during checkout.
How do I place an order?
If you re a jewellery retailer and have an account with us you may choose 4 ways to order:
- Call us directly.
- Fax your order to us at 604-541-9085.
- Email your order to us at info@italoro.ca.
- Create an order online:
To place an online order, browse the catalogue items and click the Add To Cart button on the items you wish to purchase. when you’re done shopping, click the My Cart link at the top right of the page and it will lead you through the rest of the checkout either as a guest or registered user. We will follow up with confirmation and to process payment.
Can I purchase jewellery on your site if I’m not a retail store?
Italoro is a wholesaler and does not sell directly to the consumer, but if you like what you see on our website and would like to order an item, you can ask your local retail jewellery or religious articles store to special order your item for you. We can also direct you to a retailer in your area that carries our products; simply email us at info@italoro.ca with your Canadian province and city of residence and we’ll send you a list of retailers near you.
What is your minimum order?
Our minimum order is $50. Some exceptions may be made for established customers.
Do you have a store?
We do not have a retail store.
General Jewellery Questions
What are those stamps on the back of jewellery?
The stamps you see on all our jewellery are international stamps to indicate the composition/quality of metal (in gold, the karat), and who manufactured it. The karat marking is a mandatory legal requirement on jewellery in Canada, and the manufacturer is another guideline that helps you the consumer know who is standing behind their product. Karat marks for gold are a reflection of the proportion of gold to alloy in the metal and are measured in 24 karats. 10 karat gold is 41.66% pure gold (10/24), 18 karat gold is 75% pure gold (18/24), and sterling silver is 92.5% pure silver (silver is measured on a per 1000 scale, so marked 925).
How do I know I’m getting real gold and/or sterling silver?
All our Jewellery is stamped with the official karat mark and manufacturer’s stamp. Karat marks for gold are a reflection of the proportion of gold to alloy in the metal and are measured in 24 karats. 10 karat gold is 41.66% pure gold (10/24), 18 karat gold is 75% pure gold (18/24), and sterling silver is 92.5% pure silver (silver is measured on a per 1000 scale, so marked 925).
Is 18 karat gold better than 10 karat gold?
Often people prefer a higher karat for personal reasons, usually a cultural preference, or because their bodies are allergic to a particular alloy used in a particular karat (different alloys are used in different karats and white gold).
What does the ‘sterling’ in sterling silver mean?
Sterling silver is the name given to an alloyed silver which is 92.5% pure. It is an ideal proportion of pure silver to alloy for its strength, since in its pure state, silver is generally too soft a metal for most jewellery. Silver is measured on a per 1000 scale and sterling silver is marked 925.
What does ‘rhodium plated’ mean?
Most of our Sterling Silver jewellery is also available rhodium plated. Rhodium is a chemical element like Gold (Au) or Silver (Ag) with symbol Rh. It is a rare, silvery-white, hard metal and member of the platinum group. The process of rhodium plating jewellery gives the chains a slightly different colour (more like white gold). It can be an effective way to avoid the natural tarnishing that Sterling Silver has in certain environments and over time. In most cases, an ‘R’ at the beginning of our item code specifies a rhodium plated item.
Gold Plated vs Gold Filled: What’s the difference?
GOLD FILLED is not the same as solid gold. The term can sound confusing as it is not, as indicated, ‘filled’ with gold. The jewellery is made of a brass base with a gold layer on the outside which contains 5% (or 1/20) gold by weight which is then further identified by it’s karat (14k gold filled is represented as 14/20). That means there is 5% of 14/20ths (58.3% pure gold) on a brass base.
GOLD PLATING can be done on many metals. Gold is electromagnetically attached to the surface of a metal in varying thicknesses ranging from a flash plating (very thin and easily worn off) to several microns (a micron is one thousandth of a millimetre : 0.001mm). Some gold plated jewellery is on brass or other metals.
ITALORO gold plated jewellery is a sterling silver base with 5 microns of gold plating; this is considered quite high and durable and should last many years with no signs of wear. Another common term, ”Vermeil” (pronounced vehr-MAY), describes a minimum level of 2.5 micron of gold plating always over sterling silver (rather than a base metal). Any markings on this jewellery would be 925 to indicate the base metal of sterling silver.