meet the designers
Andrea Barrail & Francesca Wakim are the co-founders and designers of Gem Birds (GB) jewelry. These two best friends from opposite sides of the world met in New York City while completing their certification at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). Their diverse Paraguayan and Lebanese backgrounds, love of travel, and passion of all things creative inspired them to collaborate and create a unique, sustainable jewelry brand together.
“The idea of Gem Birds is to create affordable jewelry that will last a lifetime and will help our planet in the process!”
- Andrea & Francesca
why Gem Birds?
SUSTAINABLE BRAND- As designers we are well aware of the damage fast fashion can cause to our planet, for this reason it was important to us to be mindful of the materials used to create our brand.
The companies we chose to work with are part of the eco-packaging alliance; making Gem Birds an eco-conscious company. Aside from planting a tree with each transaction, the materials we decided to work with- our biodegradable mailers, soy ink tissue and stickers, recycled cardboard boxes, eco-friendly stationery, recycled sterling silver- are consciously selected to promote consumer awareness.
GB GIVES BACK- As consumers we see the world through a lens of privilege; we are lucky enough to have the ability to help, the least we can do at Gem Birds is give back.
We have chosen a handful of organizations relevant to today where you can help us donate by buying any GB product and take your pick at checkout.
At the end of every month, a set percentage of each Gem Birds transaction goes to the chosen organizations. We select the organizations to work with based on what is in need and what is relevant, these will change every few months.
You can learn more in our newsletters by scrolling down and signing up!
Thank you for helping us take small steps towards a BIG impact!
Gem Birds Gives Back
We select the organizations to work with based on what is in need, what we agree with, and what is relevant; these will change every few months.
check out the organizations we have supported:
Hogar tia Sarita
A Paraguayan home for girls under 18 looking for shelter.
These girls live in the slums of Paraguay; they have no access to education, they get abused, they have no homes due to constant flooding, amongst countless other hardships. This home has created for them a safe place to go for food, education, comfort and in a nutshell - shelter. Help us improve this home for them to get a chance in this world.
(no website yet)
- you can make a direct donation or make a donation through any purchase at checkout -
what is Gem birds
- a perfect balance between quality and value -
Having good long lasting jewelry shouldn’t always mean having to compromise your budget.
Because sterling silver is prone to tarnish without proper care, and pure gold will increase the budget, we decided to tackle both problems by using a solid sterling silver base with a gold vermeil coating.
-once you try it, you'll never want to take yours off-
- designs with meaning and purpose -
Our love of travel, drove us to create a brand where each collection is a passport to a country and its culture; sharing a highlight of their story through the designs.
Gem Birds encompasses pieces that will brighten up any room you walk into, while having the added value of informative fun facts about the country of inspiration.
-shop GB and learn fun facts from around the world-
Sterling silver is commonly used in jewelry to create timeless and trendy pieces. Although this noble metal is known for its durability, it does tend to tarnish. The chemical reaction that causes silver to tarnish requires a compound called hydrogen sulfide; this compound can occur in our air, meaning silver items left out exposed will tend to tarnish over time.
That is why all Gem Birds Jewelry is made with a solid sterling silver base, and a gold vermeil coating of 2.5 microns in 18k gold.
WHAT IS VERMEIL?
Pronounced “ver-may”, it is a premium version of gold plating in which a thicker layer of gold is electroplated on solid sterling silver giving it a luxurious finish, with a long lasting life span; making it a hypoallergenic option resisting everyday wear and tear.
premium quality
Vermeil is the perfect option for those with metal allergies due to the durable thickness of the gold combined with the base of sterling silver.
It’s considered an "insider's secret" of discerning jewelry buyers as premium materials (silver and gold) are used, but allows for more affordable designer jewelry than solid gold.
It allows us as designers to use premium materials (Sterling Silver and Gold) to deliver high-quality jewelry pieces that look like they might cost a small fortune but are actually fairly priced for both the consumers and the designers. Win-win.
allergic reactions
Because of the thick gold layer, those prone to allergies to any other metal, can find peace in wearing Gem Birds; this assures you: no itchiness, no stains on your skin, and no tarnishing to the metal; making your jewelry look its finest for a long time.
At Gem Birds, each piece of jewelry is designed with the intention of delivering the finest quality products.
Aside from our items being Sterling Silver based & Plated in 18K Gold. We add an extra layer of tarnish resistance to avoid discoloration or rusting of any sort.
best of both worlds
Gold vermeil is an affordable alternative of pure gold for all jewelry lovers. While there are a lot of other alternatives, Gold vermeil is one of the best.
Gold vermeil is comparatively cheaper than gold but still, it is expensive and definitely a good look-alike.
All of the exclusivity, beauty, and quality of fine jewelry, but at prices that won't break the bank. This is why we recommend vermeil jewelry if your planning to build your personal jewelry collection.
The cost/quality balance allows you to be confident in the material and workmanship while still having the look and feel of jewelry collections costing a lot more than what they actually do.
Over time, your jewelry can lose its shine due to the buildup of lotions, oils, and dirt. While you can take your items to a jewelry store for a professional cleaning, there are also cleaners you can make yourself for use at home. Try these simple do-it-yourself jewelry cleaners that use everyday household products.
warm water and soap:
Squirt a small amount of dish soap into a bowl of warm water. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to lightly brush away dirt from the setting, stones, or anywhere else where grime has collected. Rinse with warm water. Dry the jewelry with a microfiber or lint-free cloth.
Using baking soda:
Mixing baking soda and water in equal parts into a paste. Then make enough so that the vermeil item can be covered. Start at first taking 1/4th of a cup of water and baking soda. After covering the vermeil gently all over it with a clean cloth, the paste needs to be rinsed off with warm running water wiping it off with a soft clean cloth.
Keeping in an air-tight container:
Yeah yeah. I know gold doesn’t get oxidized. But, as this is a gold vermeil item, it’d be very foolish of anyone to forget the sterling silver that is sleeping beneath the gold. The gold may not get oxidized ever but the silver might. Therefore, the best solution would be to always keep the vermeil dry and always to put the vermeil into an air-tight container.
Using soft Jewelry polishing cloth:
As gold vermeil has a thick layer of pure gold on the sterling silver, there can easily appear any sort of scratches. Thus, soft polishing clothes should be used while wiping the vermeil. And the pattern of up and down rubbing should be followed. Never rub in a circular motion as this might put bruises on the thick gold layer.
ultrasonic cleaner:
We can’t manually reach every corner of it as all our designs are mostly intricate pieces, so if available to you, an ultrasonic jewelry is a good option for a thorough cleaning job, giving those stones and gold their original shine.
Jewelry care
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GOLD VERMEIL AND OTHER GOLD PLATED OPTIONS?
The main differences are in the quality and long-term value.
Gold Plated:
not regulated, could have a base of either steel or brass (or inferior base metals)
The piece is VERY quickly dipped in gold
The thin gold finish wears off easily
Exposes the wearer to base metal allergies
Gold Filled:
not regulated, could have a base of either copper or brass (or inferior base metals)
Outside made of sheets of 10+ karat gold
Doesn't wear off quite as easily as gold plated
The process involves a high amount of heat and pressure and the resultant gold filled piece is typically more durable than a gold plated piece
Still potential for metal allergy with inferior base metal
Gold Vermeil - Gem Bird’s Choice:
A base of high-quality sterling silver
strictly regulated in the United States and must be created using a specific process
A thick gold layer of at least 10k
Most of the time 14k-24k gold is used - Gem Birds uses 18k gold
Industry regulated gold thickness of no less than 2.5 microns (very thick)
hypoallergenic
lasts at least 20 years without signs of wear and tear