Jewelry Education

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Jewelry Essentials

Jewelry is made of specific metals such as gold, platinum, silver, copper, brass, gun-metal, and some inorganic materials like wood, plastic, glass, shells, corals, etc. Since ancient times, jewelry has been worn on various parts of the body.

Below you'll find "must know" facts to help you make the right decision when shopping for jewelry. This includes the current NY Spot prices, descriptions and helpful suggestions on the care and cleaning of jewelry and precious metals like gold, silver and platinum.

Silver

Silver has been known and used for thousands of years and was believed to have magical properties which could promote healing and bring good luck. In ancient times, silver was used for jewelry, ornaments, utensils, and as a substance that could be bartered for other goods and services. This belief that silver had an underlying "value" led eventually to its use as the basis for monetary systems such as that of the Roman Empire and as a means of paying for international trade. Silver is the most reflective and affordable of the precious metals. Its lower price permits bold, innovative looks. Sterling silver jewelry is often fashioned by top designers and can range in price from hundreds to thousands of dollars. Sterling silver is the standard of quality for jewelry containing 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper. Common Silver Marks General - Sterling Silver American - 925 European - 935 French - 800 Russian - 88 or 84

Care for Jewelry

 

General Guidelines

 

Jewelry and gemstones require special care when wearing, storing, or cleaning.

• Don't wear fine jewelry when doing housework or gardening.
• Don't heap your jewelry into one drawer. Remember, a diamond ring can scratch that pearl necklace.
• Keep them separate and ideally wrapped in velvet, paper, or silk.
• Do check for loose stones frequently by gently tapping the piece with your finger near your ear.
• Do get pearls restrung every two years or annually with frequent use.
• Do clean fine jewelry often to maintain its sparkle and beauty.
• Do not use toothpaste as its abrasives can damage softer gems and metals.

All fine jewelry can be safely cleaned by soaking for 10 minutes in warm soapy water (using a non-detergent soap). Use a soft brush on harder gems to loosen any dirt around the prongs. To reduce greasy build-up on diamond jewelry, dip it in plain alcohol or vodka before soaking.

Silver Care And Cleaning

Tarnish is a product of oxidation, caused by the interaction of silver jewelry with certain elements such as oxygen or sulfur as well as with certain acids. Tarnishing on silver jewelry, when worn on a regular basis, usually does not occur.

• Storage for a prolonged time causes silver jewelry to tarnish.
• Contact with rubber bands may cause tarnish - the sulfur in rubber is a catalyst for tarnish.
• Taking a medication that changes the acidity of your skin may cause silver jewelry to tarnish.
• To keep your silver tarnish-free, frequently clean your silver in a mild dishwashing liquid diluted in water.
• Thoroughly dry your silver jewelry after exposure to water.
• Store silver in a dry container or a plastic bag with anti-tarnish paper.

To remove tarnish or oxidation film from silver you can use fresh, uncontaminated commercial silver dip liquid, polish paste or polish cloth, available in supply or hardware stores. Make sure there are no loose stones or parts. Limit the gemstone's exposure to silver cleaners - cleaners may harm certain kinds of gemstones. Please read the cleaning product's instructions before cleaning. Thoroughly rinse jewelry after cleaning, and dry with a soft cloth until it's completely dry.

Costume Care And Cleaning

Often produced with non-precious metals, usually gold or silver plated, and with or without synthetic or glass stones, Costume jewelry could be antique, period, or contemporary. Today, there are many collectors of every style of costume jewelry. Be aware of tarnish which may occur as a result of oxidation, caused by the interaction of metal, silver or gold plated costume jewelry with certain elements such as oxygen or sulfur as well as with certain acids.

• Frequently clean it in a mild dishwashing liquid diluted in water.
• Thoroughly dry after exposure to wateror any type o fliquid.
• Store your costume jewelry in a dry container or a plastic bag with anti-tarnish paper.
• Use fresh, uncontaminated commercial silver dip liquid, only.
• Use of a polish cloth, paste or other strong jewelry cleaner is not recommended.