CLEANING YOUR STERLING SILVER JEWELRY

Sterling silver is a very soft metal that can be scratched and tarnished easily. Therefore you need to use delicate cleaning techniques to properly prepare your jewelry for storage or for wear. To clean your sterling silver jewelry you will need a clean, nub free, ultra soft cloth made from 100 percent cotton or flannel. You will also need a mild cleaning solutions made from half a cup of warm water and a little bit of liquid detergent. (A liquid detergent should be used as opposed to a powdered detergent because the liquid is less abrasive.) This combination of products works great for light cleanings and basic maintenance, however, if your sterling silver tarnishes or needs a deeper cleaning then you will want to use a silver cleaning paste or polish.

Understanding Your Jewelry

If you have a piece of sterling silver jewelry that also contains gemstones then you will need to understand what cleaning needs the gemstones have before you use the above cleaning methods. Some gemstones will react negatively to silver cleaners, while others react positively to the silver cleaner. Because of this you will want to learn what cleaning method is recommended for the gemstone before you clean your piece. To protect your gemstone from damage while you are cleaning the silver portion of your piece, you can simple use a Q-Tip or cotton ball to spot clean the silver, and then clean the gemstone separately using a method that is more suitable for the gem.

Storing Your Sterling Silver Jewelry Properly

As mentioned earlier there are a lot of things that silver can react to. Acid is one of those things. Because many woods naturally contain acid in their cellular structure you should not store sterling silver jewelry directly on a wood surface. To protect your sterling silver from damage and tarnishing you will want to store the piece in a soft felt or fabric pouch that can be sealed. It should then be kept in an area that has a mild temperature and low humidity.

Adding Life to Your Sterling Silver Jewelry

The better you take care of your sterling silver jewelry, the longer it will stay looking beautiful. Proper care of sterling silver jewelry includes cleaning the piece after every use, keeping the piece away from harmful chemicals and natural acids, and proper storage of the piece. If you stay true to these basic care rules your jewelry will stay looking beautiful for generations to come.

By: dotcomwomen.com

Fashion Bag and Jewelry – our indulgence !

http://www.fashionbagnjewelry.blogspot.com

CARING FOR GEMSTONE JEWELRY

Caring for gemstone jewelry can be complicated, especially if you don’t know much about the type of gemstone you have. Every gemstone has a hardness rating which should be used to determine what type of cleaning method you should use. In addition to taking into consideration what clean techniques to use for the gemstone, you will also need to learn what cleaning techniques to use for the metal setting.

Caring for African Jade
African jade is not really jade at all. In fact it is actually a green garnet. This gemstone is relatively hard. This means that you probably won’t scratch it unless you use an ultra abrasive cleaner. For the best results use a soft toothbrush or a jewelry cleaning cloth like the Sunshine Cloth.

Caring for Aquamarine
Aquamarine is a beautiful blue stone that is extremely rare. There are only a few places in the world that this stone occurs naturally. It is a durable stone. However, you don’t want to use a harsh chemical or abrasive cleanser. Instead use a mild cleaner or warm soapy water to remove dust. Buff the surface with a soft jewelry cloth.

Caring for Cats Eye
Cats Eye is a tough gemstone that is extremely rare. Because of the mineral content in this gemstone you will need to use a silver cleaning solvent or a gold cleaning solvent to properly clean the surface of this rock. To be safe, select the metal cleaner that matches the metal setting of the stone.

Caring for Diamonds
Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, and they create very valuable pieces of jewelry. To properly clean your diamond you may want to bring the piece to a jeweler. However, if you want to clean your diamond at home you can use a gold or silver cleaning solvent. Again try to use the cleaning solvent that is right for the metal the diamond is set in.

Caring for Garnets
Garnets are a rare stone that are heavy and relatively durable. However, because they are a valuable stone you don’t want to use a harsh abrasive to clean it. Instead use warm soapy water and a soft toothbrush or a soft cloth.

Caring for Emeralds
Quality emeralds can actually be valued more than a diamond. Because of this you want to keep your emeralds clean. The best way to clean an emerald is to use a metal cleaner like a silver cleaning solvent or a gold cleaning solvent. Always use a soft cloth when applying the cleaner, and make sure that you remove all the solvent before you put the piece of jewelry back on, or before you store it.

Caring for Fire Opal
Fire opal is one of the rarest gemstones on the earth. This is a very fragile gemstone that will take a soft touch and a soft cloth to clean it properly. When you store this gemstone keep it away from direct sunlight and heat, as these two things will damage the stone.

Caring for Sterling Silver Jewelry
While sterling silver jewelry can be very beautiful, it takes a lot of care to keep it looking great. There are a lot of natural products that can cause your sterling silver jewelry to tarnish and mar. Because of this it is important that you understand how to properly clean and store your sterling silver.

By: dotcomwomen.com

Fashion Bag and Jewelry – our indulgence !

http://www.fashionbagnjewelry.blogspot.com