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Jewelry Care
I take pride in my work and set high standards in the craftsmanship of my handmade jewelry.
As with every product, the longevity and loveliness of each piece will depend on the care you give it.
Here are some helpful hints on how to look after your jewelry pieces.
All Sterling Silver will tarnish over time as soon as it makes contact with oxygen.
Argentium sterling is more tarnish resistant. It can get dull and gray from skin oils, soaps and lotions. The easiest way to clean it is to use an old soft toothbrush and some mild jewelry cleaner or my preference is, the easy soap and water wash described below.
Please note, your sterling silver will not discolor immediately.
Usually pieces that are cared for will not tarnish for a year or so.
As with every product, the longevity and loveliness of each piece will depend on the care you give it.
Here are some helpful hints on how to look after your jewelry pieces.
All Sterling Silver will tarnish over time as soon as it makes contact with oxygen.
Argentium sterling is more tarnish resistant. It can get dull and gray from skin oils, soaps and lotions. The easiest way to clean it is to use an old soft toothbrush and some mild jewelry cleaner or my preference is, the easy soap and water wash described below.
Please note, your sterling silver will not discolor immediately.
Usually pieces that are cared for will not tarnish for a year or so.
Jewelry Care Tips
1. To maintain the original condition of your silver jewelry, polish your pieces using a non-abrasive silver cleaning cloth. If the cloth you have is multilayered, the center can be used to clean the silver and the outside to polish and buff up the silver and remove any tarnish residue.
2. Soap and water will also help to keep your silver looking good. For hard stones and washable beads and gemstones only...I recommend Dawn dish soap or hair shampoo as neither of these contain any chlorine type chemicals which darken silver. Please do not use any kind of hand soap or dish soap that is disinfectant because chances are that it contains a type of chlorine or chlorine derivative which will always darken your silver. I prefer to wet my hands, drop a couple of drops of Dawn into them and then rub them together to make a lather. Then I take the piece I need to clean and place it in the lather and gently rub my hands together. I rinse in warm to hot water and then either lay my pieces to dry or dry them. Please use only a soft cloth to dry your jewelry. Do not use paper towels or tissues. Some people like to use an old toothbrush and toothpaste to clean tarnish off silver. I do not recommend this for fine pieces such a necklaces etc. but for a large cuff or rustic piece, this would be fine. 3. An Ionic Cleaner can be used to clean your jewelry. It is safe for just about all Gems, Crystals and Pearls. Do not put hematite in an Ionic Cleaner.
DO NOT put Pearls in an ULTRASONIC CLEANER.
A tumbler cleans Sterling Silver jewelry the best but is not recommended for anything set with stones. Your local jeweler will know what is the best method and can likely provide excellent cleaning services for your most valuable pieces.
4. When you are not wearing your silver jewelry, store it in a cool, dry place that is air tight. A zip lock bag is ideal for this and will prevent the build up of tarnish or scratching by other pieces.
5. Never immerse your silver jewelry in chorine, salt water, mineral springs and try not to make contract with suntan lotions or any other lotions for that matter. Always apply perfumes, hair sprays, creams and other products BEFORE putting on your jewelry.
6. Avoid abrasive cleaners, detergents and commerical dip style jewelry cleaners, especially if your pieces have an oxidized finish. This type of finish will be removed by the dip product and, these dips tend to be very harsh. An oxidized finish is often found coating white gold, sterling silver and platinum jewelry to give it a more shiny finish. If your oxidized jewelry has lost its luster even after cleaning you may need to take it to a jeweler to have it re-oxidized. Using harsh cleaners and over cleaning your jewelry will alter the look of it.
7. Never use an ultrasonic cleaner, ammonia or any chemical solution to clean opaque gemstones such as turquoise, malachite, onyx, lapis lazuli and opals. These are porous stones and thus they can absorb chemicals which build up inside the stone and cause discoloration. Simply wipe these types of stones with a moist cloth. Please do not rub these stones with any kind of silver cleaning cloth.
8. If your jewelry contains gemstones or pearls, do not immerse them in water, as this can loosen the settings. I do not set gemstones so you can clean your wire wrapped jewelry with water. Again, never use dips or abrasives on gemstones.
9. Always read the instructions on the side of the Jewelry Cleaners and Cleaning Machines as well as the various clothes and cleaners before using them on your jewelry.
10. Although my jewelry is made to the highest standards, please do not wear your jewelry to bed, in the shower or while washing dishes. It is best to put your jewelry on at the last moment after you are all prepared for the day or evening outing. This will keep it looking it's best and cut down on the tarnish.
11. If you are in any doubt as whether you can use soap and water or a type of cleaner for your jewelry, please ask you jeweler, search the web or get in touch before you do anything to clean the pieces.
12. Always wipe your jewelry with a soft cloth and put it away immediately upon removal. Store in a sealed bag or airtight jewelry case and it will serve you well and stay clean so you can enjoy it everytime you wear it.
Thank you
Ellen
2. Soap and water will also help to keep your silver looking good. For hard stones and washable beads and gemstones only...I recommend Dawn dish soap or hair shampoo as neither of these contain any chlorine type chemicals which darken silver. Please do not use any kind of hand soap or dish soap that is disinfectant because chances are that it contains a type of chlorine or chlorine derivative which will always darken your silver. I prefer to wet my hands, drop a couple of drops of Dawn into them and then rub them together to make a lather. Then I take the piece I need to clean and place it in the lather and gently rub my hands together. I rinse in warm to hot water and then either lay my pieces to dry or dry them. Please use only a soft cloth to dry your jewelry. Do not use paper towels or tissues. Some people like to use an old toothbrush and toothpaste to clean tarnish off silver. I do not recommend this for fine pieces such a necklaces etc. but for a large cuff or rustic piece, this would be fine. 3. An Ionic Cleaner can be used to clean your jewelry. It is safe for just about all Gems, Crystals and Pearls. Do not put hematite in an Ionic Cleaner.
DO NOT put Pearls in an ULTRASONIC CLEANER.
A tumbler cleans Sterling Silver jewelry the best but is not recommended for anything set with stones. Your local jeweler will know what is the best method and can likely provide excellent cleaning services for your most valuable pieces.
4. When you are not wearing your silver jewelry, store it in a cool, dry place that is air tight. A zip lock bag is ideal for this and will prevent the build up of tarnish or scratching by other pieces.
5. Never immerse your silver jewelry in chorine, salt water, mineral springs and try not to make contract with suntan lotions or any other lotions for that matter. Always apply perfumes, hair sprays, creams and other products BEFORE putting on your jewelry.
6. Avoid abrasive cleaners, detergents and commerical dip style jewelry cleaners, especially if your pieces have an oxidized finish. This type of finish will be removed by the dip product and, these dips tend to be very harsh. An oxidized finish is often found coating white gold, sterling silver and platinum jewelry to give it a more shiny finish. If your oxidized jewelry has lost its luster even after cleaning you may need to take it to a jeweler to have it re-oxidized. Using harsh cleaners and over cleaning your jewelry will alter the look of it.
7. Never use an ultrasonic cleaner, ammonia or any chemical solution to clean opaque gemstones such as turquoise, malachite, onyx, lapis lazuli and opals. These are porous stones and thus they can absorb chemicals which build up inside the stone and cause discoloration. Simply wipe these types of stones with a moist cloth. Please do not rub these stones with any kind of silver cleaning cloth.
8. If your jewelry contains gemstones or pearls, do not immerse them in water, as this can loosen the settings. I do not set gemstones so you can clean your wire wrapped jewelry with water. Again, never use dips or abrasives on gemstones.
9. Always read the instructions on the side of the Jewelry Cleaners and Cleaning Machines as well as the various clothes and cleaners before using them on your jewelry.
10. Although my jewelry is made to the highest standards, please do not wear your jewelry to bed, in the shower or while washing dishes. It is best to put your jewelry on at the last moment after you are all prepared for the day or evening outing. This will keep it looking it's best and cut down on the tarnish.
11. If you are in any doubt as whether you can use soap and water or a type of cleaner for your jewelry, please ask you jeweler, search the web or get in touch before you do anything to clean the pieces.
12. Always wipe your jewelry with a soft cloth and put it away immediately upon removal. Store in a sealed bag or airtight jewelry case and it will serve you well and stay clean so you can enjoy it everytime you wear it.
Thank you
Ellen
Another Method
Please use this method with extreme care. I accept no responsibility whatsoever for damages using any cleaning method. Please consult the internet or other sources to determine whether the stones in your jewelry can be subjected to this treatment.
In an aluminum, glass, or other non-metallic pan place a sheet of aluminum foil., use about one square foot, you can fold it but make sure it is open enough for water to circulate. Add to the pan enough room temperature water (distilled or reverse osmosis is best) to cover the jewelry you wish to clean, and set the jewelry in the water on the foil. Set aside 2 - 3 tablespoons of a mix of 50% baking soda and 50% table salt, and bring the water slowly to a boil. I cannot emphasize slowly enough, it cannot take too long. If your water with the jewelry in it is boiling in less than 15 minutes you are doing it too fast. This is because of the stones: any sudden, extreme change of temperature can cause them to crack or shatter. Once your water is boiling, remove it from the heat and add your salt mix. Gently swirl it around so it dissolves, you should get some fizzing. After you have done this, let it sit until it returns to room temperature on it’s own. Once it has, you can rinse it with warm water or a brush and soap to remove the salt, then rub it with a cloth. Please be careful: I’m not sure giving out the recipe is a good idea, though this is how many artisans clean jewelry, because if you change the temperature too fast, or place in a piece after the water is hot, or take one out right away, it will almost certainly break.
Again, please use extreme care.
In an aluminum, glass, or other non-metallic pan place a sheet of aluminum foil., use about one square foot, you can fold it but make sure it is open enough for water to circulate. Add to the pan enough room temperature water (distilled or reverse osmosis is best) to cover the jewelry you wish to clean, and set the jewelry in the water on the foil. Set aside 2 - 3 tablespoons of a mix of 50% baking soda and 50% table salt, and bring the water slowly to a boil. I cannot emphasize slowly enough, it cannot take too long. If your water with the jewelry in it is boiling in less than 15 minutes you are doing it too fast. This is because of the stones: any sudden, extreme change of temperature can cause them to crack or shatter. Once your water is boiling, remove it from the heat and add your salt mix. Gently swirl it around so it dissolves, you should get some fizzing. After you have done this, let it sit until it returns to room temperature on it’s own. Once it has, you can rinse it with warm water or a brush and soap to remove the salt, then rub it with a cloth. Please be careful: I’m not sure giving out the recipe is a good idea, though this is how many artisans clean jewelry, because if you change the temperature too fast, or place in a piece after the water is hot, or take one out right away, it will almost certainly break.
Again, please use extreme care.
Pearl Care
I have worn pearls for most of the years of my life.
They always make me feel
every inch a lady.
Think Audrey Hepburn,
Grace Kelly,
Jackie Kennedy
Always appropriate, you simply cannot go wrong
with a strand of pearls around your
neck or wrist.
Love them!
They always make me feel
every inch a lady.
Think Audrey Hepburn,
Grace Kelly,
Jackie Kennedy
Always appropriate, you simply cannot go wrong
with a strand of pearls around your
neck or wrist.
- Proper care can preserve and extend the life of all pearls.
- Extreme dryness is damaging.
- Pearls are sensitive to acids, perspiration, cosmetics and hair sprays.
- Since they are relatively soft, they can scratch easily so please store them separate from your other jewelry.
- Do not use a silver polishing cloth with Pearl jewelry.
- If necessary, pearls can be carefully washed in warm water.
Love them!
Jewelry ... love it... wear it ... enjoy it!
Jewelry is meant to be worn and enjoyed.
Please do so.
In the many years I was an antique dealer I saw so much beautiful jewelry that had seldom or never
been worn and instead it had been stored in dark places, sometimes for decades.
What is the point of that?
One of my mentors, who I will always affectionately call "daddy" always told me
that jewelry and fine things should be loved
and used daily.
He was a shining example of class and elegance
and I shall forever be grateful for his influence in my life.
Wear your pieces...cherish them and enjoy them.
Then, pass them on.
Thank you
Ellen
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