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Cleaning Gemstones

  • Posted on July 21, 2010 at 5:48 pm
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.

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Swarovski Crystal

  • Posted on June 13, 2010 at 9:58 pm
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.

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Spiral Earrings

  • Posted on March 21, 2010 at 11:29 pm

Silver Spiral Earrings With Pink Crystal

Every woman at one time or another has lost a pair of earrings. the problem is that earring backs can be caught when putting on and taking off clothing and are easily pulled from the earring. Traditional ear wires can also slip from the ear if they are caught and there is nothing more frustrating than spending time searching for one of your favourite items of jewellery.

 A handy solution to the problem of lost earrings can be spiral wire earrings; the earrings are worn by winding the spiraled part of the wire through the ear making them easy to wear but almost impossible to lose. The design allows a variety of different shaped crystals, beads and stones to be used , add almost any colour and the possibilities are limitless.

The Silver Jewellery Workshop has  just added sterling silver spiral wire earrings to our collection, a collection that will continue to expand and grow in the coming year. To view our new spiral earrings just click on our store links found on the right hand bar.

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