Silver Jewellery Workshop Blog » stones

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.

Gemstones

Jewellery Workshop — Tue, 11 May 2010 19:04:08 +0000

: 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.

Spiral Earrings

Jewellery Workshop — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 22:29:21 +0000

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.