Stones, Gold & Meaning: Questions
I like knowing what I wear. Here is everything I can tell you about it.
— Melissa
The stones
What is a Watermelon Tourmaline slice?
A Watermelon Tourmaline slice is a thin slice cut across a tourmaline crystal that shows pink and green in the same stone. The name comes from the colour sequence, which recalls a cut watermelon. In WITHIN, a slice in a fancy shape, 9.5 × 6.5 mm, sits in the pendant. Pattern and colour proportions are different in every stone.
Why is Watermelon Tourmaline pink and green?
The colours appear because the trace elements in the crystal change while it grows. Manganese colours tourmaline pink to red, iron rather green to blue. When the composition shifts during growth, both colours end up in one stone. That is why they sometimes meet in a clear line and sometimes blend softly into one another.
Why does tourmaline come in so many colours?
Tourmaline is not a single mineral but a group of related minerals with varying chemical composition. Small amounts of different elements colour the crystal differently. When the composition changes during growth, several colours form in one stone. At LIANA we read it this way: the stone took in what was there at the time, and kept growing.
Will my stone look exactly like the photographs?
No, your stone may differ from the photographs. Every tourmaline has its own colour pattern: more pink, more green, a softer transition or a more distinct line. The photographs show individual stones as examples. Melissa selects each stone personally in Jaipur, within a comparable price range and with the same care.
Are the stones natural?
Yes. LIANA uses natural stones: Tourmaline, Watermelon Tourmaline, Black Rutile and Salt & Pepper Diamond, depending on the piece. Colour and inclusions vary from stone to stone.
How delicate is tourmaline in everyday wear?
Tourmaline has a hardness of 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale, which makes it well suited to jewelry but not indestructible. Hard knocks, strong heat and sudden temperature changes can damage it. Remove your piece before swimming, showering and sleeping, and store it separately from other jewelry so that nothing rubs against it.
What is a Salt & Pepper Diamond?
A Salt & Pepper Diamond is a natural diamond with many visible light and dark inclusions. These inclusions give each stone its own pattern, which recalls salt and pepper. The term is a trade name, not a quality grade. At LIANA, TRUE is available with Tourmaline or with a natural Salt & Pepper Diamond.
Is a Salt & Pepper Diamond less durable than a clear diamond?
A Salt & Pepper Diamond is a real diamond and very hard, but its many inclusions can affect durability. The Gemological Institute of America describes this for heavily included diamonds. In everyday terms: wear it normally, but protect it from hard knocks. Its character lies in its pattern.
Material and gold plating
What does 22k gold plating, 2 microns, mean?
It means that a layer of 22-karat gold, 2 microns thick, lies on the 925 sterling silver. One micron is one thousandth of a millimetre. The figure describes the thickness of the gold layer, not its weight. For comparison: in the United States, the minimum for the term “gold electroplate” is 0.175 microns of fine gold; vermeil starts there at 2.5 microns.
Is LIANA jewelry vermeil?
No, LIANA does not describe its jewelry as vermeil. In the United States that term applies only from 2.5 microns of gold on sterling silver. LIANA pieces carry 2 microns of 22k gold plating on 925 sterling silver. We state the figure as it is, so that you can compare.
How long does the gold plating last?
LIANA gives a two-year guarantee that the 22k gold plating does not come off. With good care it can last considerably longer. How long exactly depends on how you wear the piece: water, perfume, sweat and friction wear down any gold plating over time. Remove it before swimming, showering and sleeping.
What does 22 karat mean?
22 karat means that 22 of 24 parts of the alloy are pure gold, about 91.7 percent. The higher the karat, the warmer and richer the gold tone. At LIANA the figure refers to the gold plating. The piece itself is made of 925 sterling silver.
Is 925 sterling silver real silver?
Yes, 925 sterling silver is real silver. The number means 92.5 percent pure silver and 7.5 percent other metals that make it stronger. Pure silver would be too soft for jewelry. Every current LIANA design uses 925 sterling silver, and every piece carries a 925 stamp.
Does sterling silver tarnish?
Yes, sterling silver can tarnish over time; it is a natural reaction with air and moisture. It is not a defect and can be gently polished away with a soft cloth. Stored dry and separately, it tarnishes more slowly.
Can I shower or swim with my LIANA piece?
No, remove your piece before showering, swimming and sleeping. Water, soap, chlorine and salt attack the gold plating and can damage the stone. Afterwards you can wear it again. All instructions are on the Jewelry Care page.
Do you repair or re-plate pieces after the guarantee?
Yes. After the two-year guarantee has ended, LIANA repairs or re-plates your piece for the cost of materials and shipping; you do not pay for the labour. Write to contact@lianashift.com with your order number and a photograph before sending anything.
Meaning
What does the Goldriss mean at LIANA?
The Goldriss is the golden line that is part of LIANA’s design language. It marks the part that changed the surface and later became inseparable from what made it distinct. It is not there to cover a break or repair the past. Technically it is a 2-micron layer of 22k gold over 925 sterling silver.
Do the stones at LIANA have healing effects?
No, LIANA does not give stones healing powers. Colours and symbols are a language here, not a promise. A piece can mark or accompany a moment that carries meaning for you. What it means to you is yours to decide.
Which symbols does LIANA have, and what do they stand for?
LIANA has six symbols: STILL stands for presence, FLOW for movement, TRUE for honesty, OPEN for opening, BECOMING for transformation and WITHIN for self trust. Each symbol belongs to one piece. If you are not sure which one fits your moment, the quiz asks you seven questions.
Can I give a LIANA piece as a gift?
Yes, you can give any piece as a gift. A piece can also mark something good: a friendship, a journey, a risk that paid off. It helps to know which symbol fits the person’s moment; the meaning of each symbol is on its product page. For rings you need the size. Returns are possible within 30 days of receipt, as long as the piece is unworn.
Buying
Which ring sizes are available?
The rings BECOMING, OPEN and FLOW are available in EU sizes 52, 53 and 54. You will find measuring instructions in the size guide on the product page.
Can I change or cancel my order?
Yes, as long as your parcel has not yet been handed to DHL, we change or cancel your order free of charge. Write to contact@lianashift.com as soon as possible with your order number. After dispatch, your statutory 14-day right of withdrawal and our 30-day return policy apply.
Where is LIANA jewelry made?
Every piece is made by hand in a workshop in Jaipur, India. Melissa designs the shapes and symbols and selects the stones personally. Much of the collection takes shape through lost-wax casting, a technique that translates a wax model into metal.
Sources
General gemstone facts: Gemological Institute of America, Tourmaline, Tourmaline Quality Factors, Tourmaline Care and Cleaning and Diamond Clarity.
Gold plating thresholds in the United States: Code of Federal Regulations, 16 CFR 23.3 (gold electroplate) and 16 CFR 23.4 (vermeil).
Checked on 3 October 2026. Details about LIANA pieces come from LIANA.