Most contemporary jewelry is produced using uniform molds, which allow for consistent repetition and sharp, controlled detail across every piece.

Some Horoma pieces, by contrast, incorporate elements produced through sand casting, a traditional process that forms each casting from a direct impression rather than a fixed mold. Because of this, surface, edge definition, and form will vary slightly from one casting to the next.

Sand cast elements may show softened edges, granular textures, or subtle asymmetry. These characteristics are inherent to the process and are considered part of the design, rather than defects.

The short answer: 

Yes, it’s fine.

Any history museum in the world with ancient jewelry can attest to the longevity and durability of pure gold jewelry. Do not believe the modern-day doubters. Most jewelers, salespeople, jewelry owners and jewelry fans have never owned or interacted with 24k and their opinions and anxieties can be politely ignored. They are echoing what they’ve heard their whole careers or lives about the unsuitability of pure gold for jewelry. 24k is not suitable for prong setting stones, but bezel setting is fine. If you really wanted to, you could deform or crush any karat of gold jewelry, but why would you try? 24k should not be considered critically weaker in this regard. The allure and feel of owning pure gold is unmatched (check out our reviews). With some care and attention, your 24k piece of jewelry will last several lifetimes. 

The long answer:

For those paying attention to jewelry, 24k has been stigmatized as a metal unsuitable and unsafe for jewelry in popular culture for quite some time. John also unquestioningly believed this common wisdom when he first got involved with the jewelry industry in 2013. Aware that high karat gold was popular in Asia, he understood that they still only went up to 22k to ensure the gold stayed “safe” for jewelry production. After 11 years of working as a bench jeweler on pieces usually topping out at 14k, or roughly 50% gold, John began to wonder again why 24k was so feared as a material for jewelry. After repairing tens of thousands of pieces, he understood jewelry deeply, and was very familiar with the most common problems inherent to highly alloyed commercial jewelry. Metal fatigue, metal wearing away, solder seams failing, chemical damage, breaks from physical abuse: many of these issues were actually caused or exacerbated by the low gold content of jewelry. Why then would pure gold jewelry be feared as being critically weaker and irresponsibly vulnerable to damage? 

Pure gold is inert, not harmed by common household or harsh chemicals, does not oxidize, and will not become fatigued and fail in the same ways as alloyed gold, which can be broken into constituent parts at an atomic level. This is why when archeologists pull ancient jewelry out of the ground, it can still look as good as the day it was completed: it was made from pure or near-pure gold and was not harmed by thousands of years exposed to the elements. Alloyed gold on the other hand (anything below 24k), cannot claim the same resistance. It is gold mixed with other metals – often base metals like brass, copper, or nickel – in order to make the alloy harder (resistant to dents/scratches), stronger (resistant to breaks/heavy loads) and less ductile/malleable (able to stretch/compress). These are fine qualities to have in a piece of jewelry, but they are not the whole story and come with their own risks. 

All of these base metals – as well as silver used in alloying – are vulnerable to chemical interaction and damage. Although ideally evenly dispersed in a piece of metal, wherever those atoms of disparate metals have come together to form the alloy, they create an opportunity for separation. The gold in a 10k ring (41.7%) will stay inert and nonreactive to chemicals, but the copper, silver or zinc in it can begin to tarnish and/or corrode from those chemicals, causing the metal to become increasingly microscopically brittle. With wear and tear over the years, the crystal structure of the alloy can also become overly rigid and vulnerable to breakage and embrittlement. Eventually, these factors pile up and the alloy cannot hold together: visible cracks will begin appearing and whole parts of the piece of jewelry begin snapping off, including the all important prongs holding the center stone in place, for example. In the end then, the promise of alloys having “increased strength” and of not being “too-soft-for-jewelry” can actually lead to a more vulnerable piece of jewelry over a longer timeframe. This gets to the main issue here: what is jewelry for, both on the producer and consumer side?

For the producer, an as-yet-unexamined aspect of all this is cost. Producing jewelry with alloyed gold is much cheaper than using 24k. The most popular karats of jewelry in America are 10k (41.7% gold) and 14k (58.3% gold). Producing jewelry with lower gold content allows manufacturers to increase their margins while still being able to sell “gold jewelry.” With the added marketing advantages of “added security” and “improved strength”, producing alloyed jewelry makes a lot of financial sense. Will the alloys wear out over time? Probably, but 10 years of wear is a long time, and a worn out piece of jewelry creates the perfect opportunity to sell the customer a new, more expensive piece of jewelry. After all, they’ve had 10 additional years to advance in their careers and will presumably have a higher budget for jewelry purchases. As a bench jeweler who worked for a very well known American jewelry company, John has seen the strategy play out thousands of times: damaged ring comes in for repair under extended-service plan; ring’s overwrought/under-engineered design precludes a repair that could return it to factory precision (another topic worth explaining); salesperson offers customer trade in their existing ring towards the price of a new, slightly more expensive ring; process resets for another 5 years. For the producer, it serves multiple interests to market and sell low alloy gold jewelry.   

For the consumer, the desire for jewelry is not as simple a story. People want jewelry for all kinds of temporary and deeply meaningful reasons. To elevate an outfit, symbolize an eternal level, commemorate decades of service, make a family-member happy, the reasons are as diverse as the styles on offer. This is all well and good, 

Each piece is individually handmade. As a result, slight variations in form, finish, and dimension are inherent and should be expected.

Precious metals and gemstones may exhibit natural characteristics, including inclusions, color variation, and surface irregularities. These are not considered defects, but part of the material's natural character.

Listed weights are approximate and provided as good-faith estimates. Final weight may vary due to hand fabrication, sizing, finishing, and natural material variation. Weight estimates are provided for transparency and are not a guarantee of exact finished weight or metal content.

Product images are representative and may not reflect the exact piece received.

Each piece is made to order, finished individually, or offered as a one-of-a-kind work. Production timelines vary by design and are listed on each product page.

Most pieces ship within 1–3 weeks. Pieces that are already made or listed as one-of-a-kind may ship sooner.

Estimated timelines are not guarantees, particularly for custom or stone-set work. We will notify you of any meaningful delays.

Orders may be modified or canceled within 24 hours of purchase. After production begins, cancellations may not be possible.

After 48 hours of purchase, modifications are subject to the following:

• Ring size adjustments require a $50 resizing fee.
• Order cancellations or design changes will incur a $100 fee.

All items are fully insured during transit. Responsibility for the item transfers to the customer upon confirmed delivery.

In the event of loss or damage during shipment, claims must be made promptly in accordance with the carrier’s procedures. We will assist where possible, but are not liable for carrier-related delays or issues once the item has been given to them.

We shall not be held liable for delays or failure to fulfill obligations due to circumstances beyond our control, including but not limited to natural disasters, supply chain disruptions, labor shortages, shipping carrier delays, or governmental actions.

All Horoma jewelry is covered by a one-year warranty from the date of purchase. This warranty applies to defects in craftsmanship or materials, specifically relating to the construction and integrity of the metal.

The warranty does not cover damage resulting from wear, impact, misuse, accidents, or improper care. Loss of stones, including diamonds and gemstones, is not covered under this warranty.

Any repair, resizing, or modification performed by a third party voids this warranty in full.

After the warranty period has expired, we are happy to assess and repair your piece where possible. Repair services are offered at cost, and fees will vary depending on the nature of the work.

We accept returns on eligible items within 5 days of delivery. Items must be unworn and in original condition. Custom, engraved, and altered pieces are not eligible for return.

Horoma jewelry is made using high-karat gold and fine materials selected for their character and integrity. These materials are naturally softer than lower-karat alloys and will develop surface wear over time.

To preserve the condition of your piece, we recommend removing jewelry during activities that may expose it to impact, pressure, abrasion, or chemicals, including exercise, manual work, swimming, cleaning, and sleeping.

Contact with hard surfaces or other jewelry may result in scratching, deformation, or wear to edges and settings. Certain gemstones and cuts may be more susceptible to damage and should be worn with care.

Natural changes in surface finish, including scratches, patina, and subtle shifts in form, are considered part of the material’s character and are not defects.

Periodic maintenance may be required over time. We are available to advise on care or service as needed.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Horoma shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from the use or inability to use our products. Any liability is strictly limited to the purchase price of the item in question.