It is a fact that silver jewlery are special items. Although silver is not held with the same regard as gold or platinum are, it is still considered to be valuable because of the natural beauty and shine that it possesses. Silver can gleam like a mirror when carefully polished and it is thought to be the whitest of all metals. These properties of silver are the reasons why jewel crafters like to work with silver when creating handmade jewellery and unusual jewellery.
But as beautiful as silver is, the downside to this metal is that it is too delicate and soft. These two qualities make silver jewlery prone to tarnish and oxidation, which is the reason why they must be taken very good care of. Still, it is not that difficult to care for sterling jewellery, as long as you understand what makes silver the way it is. To help you maintain the beauty and shine of your silver, here are five ways that you can do to take care of it.
1.Understand that silver is a highly reactive metal. Aside from being soft, silver is also very reactive to the substances it comes into contact with. It can easily become tarnished by dirt, airborne pollutants, household chemicals and even the skin s natural oils. When silver jewlery is constantly exposed to such substances, the silver can oxidise and turn black. As thus, you need to clean your silver regularly and avoid exposing it to harsh chemicals.
2.Not all home remedies for cleaning silver are effective. One popular home remedy for cleaning silver is brushing it with toothpaste and an old toothbrush. On the contrary, this will cause your silver handmade jewellery to become scratched because the toothpaste has abrasive particles in it. If you insist on cleaning your silver using home remedies, try washing it with mild liquid detergent and rinse it with tap water.
3.Always use the right cloth to polish your silver. It may be hard to polish unusual jewellery or Celtic jewellery with a lot of detailed work done on the silver, but it is a task that must get done if you want to maintain the shine of your silver. However, always use the proper type of cloth for polishing your silver jewellery. The recommended cloth for polishing silver is either 100 cotton or flannel.
4.Store your silver properly. Silver handmade jewellery and unusual jewellery are one of a kind. To keep them from damage, you need to store them properly. The most effective way of doing this is by wrapping your silver jewlery in treated, tarnish proof cloth before putting them in your jewellery box. And then, you should put your jewellery box in a place that is cool, dry and located away from heat or direct sunlight.
5.Try to wear your silver as often as possible. When you buy silver jewlery, you should make it a point to wear them as often as you can. In doing so, you are actually protecting your silver from tarnish. You are also helping in slowing down its oxidation. The reason is that the natural oils of our skin form a protective coating over the silver. It also creates a patina that enhances the shine and beauty of the silver.
Silver jewlery are as delicate as they are beautiful. If you want to continue enjoying your silver jewellery pieces in the years to come, you should do whatever you can to maintain the shine of your silver jewellery.
Author Resource:
Karoline Watson is at the hub of all activities at Ola Gorie, as well as overseeing the admin, co-ordinating orders with the workshop and expediting delivery, she also finds time to write about the company and its many products. To learn more, just check out the website at http://www.olagoriejewellery.com .
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