Congratulations on your purchase of a one of a kind hand crafted piece of sterling silver jewelry from Mineral Creations. Many hours of time and careful craftsmanship are spent on each piece of jewelry, to ensure you receive the highest quality product.
Fine quality jewelry is made to last a lifetime. Proper caring and storing of your jewelry will ensure that you will be able to wear and enjoy it for years to come.
Care and Storage of Fine Jewelry (Sterling and Gold Filled)
Frequent cleaning is recommended to maintain the true beauty of your jewelery. Salt water, chlorine in swimming pools, soap and perspiration take their toll on all fine jewelry. Be careful when working with household cleaners with bleaches and ammonia and remove all jewelry. Wipe your jewelry carefully with a soft cloth to keep it clean and free of these elements which oxidizes.
The proper care of jewelry starts with its storage. Just as you would with any fine piece of jewelry, any sterling silver or gold filled jewelry piece should be stored individually - ideally in its own soft pouch made for the purpose. If you just toss it into a jewelry box, it will rub against other pieces and scratching will result.
The jewelry should be stored in a cool, dry place to help retard the oxidation or tarnishing that develops over time. Wrapping the piece in a tarnish proof cloth and then inside a soft pouch is the ideal condition.
Avoid prolonged contact with wood, since some woods contain acids which will dull the finish of the jewelry piece. Oak seems to be the worst wood for this process so be careful of oak jewelry boxes. Also avoid storing your sterling with other materials, such as old coins or rubber. These also contain acids which promote tarnishing and other damage.
Cleaning of Sterling Silver Jewelry
Cleaning sterling silver is a relatively easy process. You may simply wash the jewelry in warm water mixed with a mild detergent - a phosphate free detergent is best. A very soft toothbrush, such as a baby toothbrush or a horse hair brush is a good cleaning tool. Use an up and down motion, rather than a circular one, so as not to scratch the jewelry. Then, dry thoroughly with a soft cloth. A piece of a soft cotton t shirt or soft flannel material is a good choice. Be especially careful of tissue paper which can easily scratch sterling silver jewelry.
Do not let the jewelry soak in the water for a prolonged time. This will cause deterioration of the metal and can severely damage any stones which may also be on the piece of jewelry. Bleach, ammonia, alcohol and acetone can damage the sterling silver beyond repair and should be avoided.
How to polish if tarnish is present
No matter how well you store for your sterling silver jewelry, or how often you clean it, some tarnish is likely to develop over time. If you wear your jewelry often, this oxidation will first show as a glow combined with darkened areas. This is called a patina. If you like this look, leave the jewelry alone! Polishing will remove it.
If you prefer that your silver jewelry is bright and shiny, then some type of polishing will be necessary to keep the tarnish at a minimum. There are several products available for this purpose, which range from soft polishing cloths designed especially for sterling silver, silver polishes and pastes and especially formulated silver dips.
The type of product to use depends on the composition of your jewelry piece and the final look that you want. If your aim is to have a bright shiny piece which looks brand new, you may only be able to accomplish this with the use of dips. I don't recommend these, since I find them very harsh and they can loosen any gemstones and also play havoc with some detailing work. I like the soft patina of aged sterling, so I rarely use anything other than a soft polishing cloth designed for sterling silver.
If the tarnish is very heavy, so that the piece is severely blackened, you may have no other option than to use a polish. Use a liquid or paste silver polish and a soft toothbrush and rinse thoroughly in warm water before drying completely with a soft cloth. Be careful with pastes, since they can also damage gemstones.
Tarnish is most easily removed if it is treated as soon as it becomes visible. Once you allow the piece to become completely black, it will be much more difficult to remove the tarnish.
The very best way to prevent tarnish on your sterling silver jewelry is to wear it as often as possible! This is because natural body oils contain elements which delay the process of oxidation. Be careful to remove the jewelry when going into chlorinated water, or when working with household cleaners with bleaches and ammonia.
The best way to clean in places that a polishing cloth will not reach is to take a small bowl that will hold about a quart of water and line it with aluminum foil. Add hot water and a tablespoon of Tide washing powder (not liquid or with bleach) and stir. Place your jewelry in the solution for about 1 minute and rinse with clean water and air dry.
Cleaning of Gold Filled Jewelry
Wipe your jewelry carefully with a soft cloth to keep it clean and free oxidizing elements. A soft polishing cloth designed for fine jewelry can be used for a more thorough cleaning.
The best way to clean in places that a polishing cloth will not reach is to take a small bowl that will hold about a quart of water and line it with aluminum foil. Add hot water and a tablespoon of Tide washing powder (not liquid or with bleach) and stir. Place your jewelry in the solution for about 1 minute and rinse with clean water and air dry.
