Silver Jewellery Workshop Blog » Jewellery Advice

Cleaning Gemstones

Jewellery Workshop — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 15:48:43 +0000

: 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.

Ring Sizes

Jewellery Workshop — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 14:41:32 +0000

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.

Cleaning And Polishing Silver Jewellery

Jewellery Workshop — Mon, 24 May 2010 21:18:52 +0000

: Coiled Silver Wire Bracelet

For cleaning and polishing silver jewellery always use a soft cotton or flannel cloth as synthetic cloths may cause scratching. There are also various cloths available specifically for the cleaning of silver which contain anti tarnishing chemicals. For the removal of light tarnish, dirt or make up a small amount of liquid detergent or soap can be mixed with half a cup of warm water. The jewellery can be cleaned with the cloth, rinsed in clean, lukewarm water and dried with a cotton towel.

Specialist pastes and dips are also available but care should be taken especially if the jewellery contains gemstones which can be damaged by these cleaning agents, if in any doubt always consult a jeweller before using these products. When working with the paste it is best applied in a straight line motion as all pastes contain slight abrasives and applying these in a circular motion can cause scratching to the silver. Once the paste is dry it can be removed with a clean cloth or alternatively the piece can be rinsed in clean, warm water and then dried. With a dip the silver is dipped into the solution, removed, rinsed and dried. More advice regarding storing and caring for your silver jewellery can be found on our main site on the page caring for your silver.

Nickel Free Sterling Silver Jewellery

Jewellery Workshop — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 22:46:40 +0000

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.