- Silver & Amber Necklace
We have talked about how to clean silver jewellery but care must be taken when cleaning jewellery that contains gemstones. The first thing to remember is not to store your gemstone jewellery together; a hard gem, such as diamond, can easily scratch a gem that is softer or the silver and gold of another piece if they come into contact.
Crystalline, transparent gemstones such as diamond, ruby or sapphire can be soaked in water with a liittle bit of washing up liquid added and a soft toothbrush can be used gently to remove any build up of dirt around the gem. Rinse with water and pat the stone dry with a lint free cloth.
Organic gems such as amber, pearl and coral should only ever be wiped clean with a moist cloth. These gems are soft and porous and great care should be taken with hairspray, perfume , make up, etc. as these chemicals can damage the stones over time.
Like the organic gemstones, opaque gems such as malachite, turquoise and lapis lazuli should only be wiped with a moist cloth as these gems are rocks which can absorb chemicals and soap which may discolour them over time.
Care must also be taken if using an ultrasonic cleaner as this may damage softer stones, if in any doubt always consult a professional jeweller.
Sterling Silver Agate Ring
Buying silver jewellery online is quite a simple task; you select the piece you like, pay for it and wait for it to arrive.Buying a silver ring is slightly more complicated as, unless the ring is adjustable, you first have to determine the ring size of your finger. In the U.S. and Canada ring sizes are on a numbered scale while in Ireland, U.K. and Australia ring sizes are specified using an alphhabetical scale with half sizes.
The ideal way to measure your ring size is to visit a jeweller who will use steel ring sizers to accurately gauge the ring size of your finger. A method you can use at home is to cut a thin strip of paper and wrap it around the finger you wish to be sized underneath the second joint and knuckle. Make sure not to wrap the paper too tightly or the ring will not fit over the knuckle. Mark the spot where the paper meets with a pen or pencil and measure the distance with a ruler. This distance will give you the diameter of the ring required and you can then use one of the many online ring conversion websites to give you the relevant numeral or alphabetical sizes. All that’s left is to go ahead and buy your new silver jewellery.
- Sterling Silver & Swarovski Crystal Pendant
Nothing can beat the beauty and shine of a genuine Swarovski crystal. The Swarovski company has been making crystal since 1895 and the crystals owe their shine and clarity to a lead content of 32 percent and special metallic coatings which refract the light in a dazzling rainbow spectrum. With so many different types of crystal used in silver jewellery how can you tell which crystal is Swarovski?
As already mentioned a swarovski crystal will exude a beautiful sparkle which is more brilliant than other crystal. They are also perfectly uniform and are machine cut so crystals of the same size will be the same in width, height and slope. The facet cuts of the crystal will meet at a perfect point at the junctures and a crystal with an AB finish will not have swirl marks or scratches. A genuine Swarovski will not have bubbles within it as many imitations do.
At The Silver Jewellery Workshop there is a selection of silver jewellery with genuine Swarovski crystal, for more just visit the store.
- Sterling Silver Amethyst Pendant
A gemstone is a piece of attractive mineral which, when cut and polished, can be used to make jewellery and other items. Some items, such as lapiz-lazuli or amber and jet, are not minerals but rocks or organic material and still considered to be gemstones due to their use in jewellery. Most gemstones are hard but sometimes soft gems are used in jewellery because of their shine.
The classification of gems dates back to the ancient Greeks with a distinction between precious and semi precious stones. In the modern world the precious gemstones are considered to be diamond, ruby, emerald and sapphire (due to their rarity) with the others considered semi precious. There can be exceptions; Tsavorite a rare green garnet is far more valuable than the average emerald. The classification of precious and semi precious stones have changed over the years due to their popularity and characteristics. As an example, amethyst was always considered a precious gem up until the 19th century when huge deposits of the stone were found in Brazil. In the last century peridot, cats eye and aquamarine have all been considered precious gemstones.
Nowdays all types of gems, both precious and semi precious are used in jewellery and at The Silver Jewellery Workshop we have a large selection of silver bracelets, pendants, rings, earrings and necklaces incorporating gems. Why not have a look in our store.
While most of us are used to wearing silver jewellery there is much more to silver than just jewellery. Silver has been mined for at least 6,000 years and man learned to separate it from lead around 3,000 B.C. Of all the elements silver is the best conductor of heat, used in solar panels and heated rear windows. It’s also the best conductor of electricity and is used in electrical circuits, hearing aids and pacemakers. A silver mirror can reflect around 95% of the visible light spectrum and because of it’s optical properties is used for components in telescopes and microscopes. An ounce of silver can be drawn into 8,000 feet of thin wire and one grain can be made into a sheet 150 times thinner than a piece of paper. The major producers of this precious metal are the U.S., Mexico, Canada, Peru, Russia and Australia. More than two thirds of the silver produced is as a by product of lead, copper and zinc mining and a third of the metal produced is used in the photography industry. Silver has incredible bactericidal properties; it’s salts chemically affect the cell membranes of bacteria causing it to die. The bacteria also can not build up a resistance, as they do to many antibiotics.
So the next time you wear your silver jewellery, remember there is so much more to this wonderful white metal.
With an estimated 1 in 7 people suffering from nickel allergy it’s important to be aware of the symptoms and how to avoid jewellery containing nickel. The allergy is a contact allergy i.e. caused by skin contact to an item containing nickel. Common symptons are a red, itchy, dry rash around the area that has come into contact with the nickel. If you are allergic or develop an allergic reaction it’s important to avoid skin contact with the item causing the rash. Nickel is commonly found in costume jewellery, watch straps, zips and buttons.
The good news is that silver jewellery is a good option if you are allergic. Fine silver is 99% pure and contains no nickel. Sterling silver jewellery is 92.5% silver with 7.5% copper to harden it. Copper jewellery which is usually made of pure copper is ok as are platinum and titanium which is hypoallergenic. Gold, if it is above 14ct is also fine but care must be taken with white gold which may contain nickel and other metals to give it’s silver colour. There is no cure for nickel allergy the best thing is to avoid wearing anything that contains the metal. If you are allergic the perfect solution is affordable and stylish sterling silver jewellery.
Hallmarking for silver jewellery was introduced as a way of proving that the jewellery contained the correct percentage of silver. Pure silver is quite soft and it is usual to add a percentage of copper to strengthen it. The normal ratio is 92.5% silver to 7.5% copper hence sterling silver is often referred to as 925 silver. As it is impossible to tell without analysis what the true content is hallmarking was introduced as a mark of quality and assurance.
Jewellery is hallmarked in the UK if the silver content of the jewellery exceeds 7.78 grams, if it is below this figure the piece is exempt. The relevant weight for gold is 1 gram and platinum 0.5 grams. The assay office is responsible for hallmarking, the pieces to be hallmarked are sent via post or courier or can be taken by hand to the office. Once there the item is tested and hallmarked if the precious metal is of the desired standard and percentage.
There are various types of hallmark; a maker’s mark, assay office stamp, standard hallmark and year of manufacture. In 1988 the regulations were changed to bring the UK into line with the rest of Europe. The old hallmarks were made non compulsory and standards were to be expressed as parts per thousand. So the hallmark for pure silver jewellery is 999, sterling 925 and 18ct gold 750 etc.
Rhodium is a member of the platinum family of metals and is used to plate jewellery to help prevent scratching and tarnishing and to give a white, reflective appearance. Rhodium plating is most common on white gold jewellery but is also used to plate silver. Silver is a softer metal than rhodium and can scratch and tarnish over time so rhodium is used to plate the jewellery in question. It is important to remember that rhodium plating does not last forever and the piece will have to be replated eventually. The plating on something that is worn every day such as a ring can wear away in two years or so while something that is worn less frequently such as a necklace can keep it’s plating for ten years or more. The good news is that it’s fairly easy for a jeweller to replate your jewellery, the only thing to be aware of is that the piece needs to be cleaned and polished before replating. The cost of replating will depend on the thickness of the rhodium used. Having said that it’s well worth having a thicker layer of plating put onto frequently worn jewellery as in the long run it will last longer. It’s not crucial to have your silver jewellery rhodium plated but it will help prevent scratches and reduce tarnishing, the choice is yours.
The Silver Jewellery Workshop will soon be adding a range of mens jewellery to its collections. The exciting new range will include mens bracelets, pendants, necklaces and rings. Our wedding collection will also contain a selection of cufflinks to accompany our bridal jewellery. All our new pieces will, of course, be guaranteed sterling silver and competitively priced. Regular updates will be posted when the range is launched and as new products are added.
