Freshwater pearls, 14k gold-filled and 18k gold medical grade stainless steel material our gold-colored stainless steel is the highest quality you can get. 14-18k gold is chemically bonded or vacuum sealed onto the steel so that it will not fade color like typical gold-plated jewelry would. stainless steel is known for its hypoallergenic and tarnish-resistant properties. these styles are water-resistant, like our gold-filled styles. water-resistant / tarnish-proof style