Silver Jewellery Workshop Blog » Jewellery Care

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.

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.

Rhodium Plating

Jewellery Workshop — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 21:25:31 +0000

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.