Sterling Silver and
Freshwater Pearl Jewelry Care

Tarnish is when silver gradually darkens as it combines with sulfur and forms silver sulfide on the surface. To return your silver to its former beauty, the sulfide on the surface must be removed. Sulfur comes from the air and is usually denser in industrial areas or the city where there is a lot of traffic.
Sterling silver is 92.5% silver and 7.5%
another metal, usually copper. Silver itself,
does not react with oxygen or water at ordinary temperatures but it is the other
metal which may react and cause
sterling silver to *oxidize.*

With the extensive rise in sterling silver, sterling siver filled wire is another material that many of my pieces are created with. So what is sterling filled wire? A thick layer of Sterling silver is bonded to coat the copper wire core. It is much more durable than silver plating. The thicker coating means it contains more silver than silver plate and thus has a higher value. The care of sterling filled jewelry is the same as sterling silver.

To care for your jewelry wipe with only 100% cotton cloths. Store away from sunlight and avoid humidity. Anti tarnish cloths are tarnish preventing fabrics that keep silver clean, bright and shining. Keep this brown cloth with your sterling silver and you will rarely need to polish again!

Avoid leaving silver in humid areas such as the bathroom. Swimming and bathing could cause permanent damage to your jewelry as well as contact with chemicals, cosmetics, and hairspray.

Jewelry Care Tip: You know those silica gel packs that are always in new shoe boxes and vitamin packets? It turns out they obsorb moisture and are great for keeping your silver jewelry from tarnishing.

Pearl jewelry requires special care but will reward you with luscious beauty if cared for properly. Never clean your Pearls with a commercial cleaning solution unless it is specifically for pearls. A quick wipe with a damp cloth is usually all that is needed.

Take care not to spray your pearls with hairspray or perfume. Pearls will absorb these things and lose their luster. Pearls can be easily scratched so it is best to store them in a velvet pouch separate from your other jewelry. Since Pearls can dry out, the oils from your skin are beneficial to keeping them healthy.

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