Elegant Designs
Elegant Designs by Ellen LLC... P.O.Box 745... Fayetteville, WV... 25840
304-574-2919
304-574-2919
by Ellen
Jewelry Care and Tips
Tips
Store Your Jewelry in plastic bags. Keep the air out that causes tarnish. This is a good rule of thumb because both Gold and silver will tarnish!
Also, store your jewelry seprately because harder stones will scratch softer ones, and the stones will scratch the softer Gold and Silver.
You also can add antitarnish strips in your jewelry box, but be aware that they usually only last for 3 to 6 months and then will have to be replaced.
Here is something that we sometimes do without thinking. We put our jewelry on before out lotions,perfumes, and hairsprays are dry. All can be detrimental to the stone, especially organic stones such as Pearls, Amber and Coral, as well as the finish. Make sure they are really dry before putting on your jewelry.
Many people wear their jewelry while swimming. But Chlorine is hard on the stones as well as the metal. It will ruin Sterling silver!
Also long periods of strong sunlight can damage Sterling silver as well as some semi precious stones. Always store your jewelry out of direct sunlight.
. Exercise common sense: if you have a ring set with a softer gem variety or an included stone, take it off before strenuous exercise. Even the hardest gem of them all, diamond, can shatter in two with a single well-placed blow. Never remove rings by pulling on the stone: that habit may result in a loose, or lost gem.
Some people have a natural chemical in their bodies that turn sterling silver black. It is so strong that this is irreversable and the black cannot be polished out! These people should never buy silver jewelry.
People who live by a factory that emits Hydrogen Sulfide gas (rotten egg smell) or even ones who live near a volcano will find that their Sterling silver jewelry will turn black almost immediately. This to can be permanent. All fine jewelry should be stored in Air tight bags and cleaned regularly, preferably with a polishing cloth.
Also, store your jewelry seprately because harder stones will scratch softer ones, and the stones will scratch the softer Gold and Silver.
You also can add antitarnish strips in your jewelry box, but be aware that they usually only last for 3 to 6 months and then will have to be replaced.
Here is something that we sometimes do without thinking. We put our jewelry on before out lotions,perfumes, and hairsprays are dry. All can be detrimental to the stone, especially organic stones such as Pearls, Amber and Coral, as well as the finish. Make sure they are really dry before putting on your jewelry.
Many people wear their jewelry while swimming. But Chlorine is hard on the stones as well as the metal. It will ruin Sterling silver!
Also long periods of strong sunlight can damage Sterling silver as well as some semi precious stones. Always store your jewelry out of direct sunlight.
. Exercise common sense: if you have a ring set with a softer gem variety or an included stone, take it off before strenuous exercise. Even the hardest gem of them all, diamond, can shatter in two with a single well-placed blow. Never remove rings by pulling on the stone: that habit may result in a loose, or lost gem.
Some people have a natural chemical in their bodies that turn sterling silver black. It is so strong that this is irreversable and the black cannot be polished out! These people should never buy silver jewelry.
People who live by a factory that emits Hydrogen Sulfide gas (rotten egg smell) or even ones who live near a volcano will find that their Sterling silver jewelry will turn black almost immediately. This to can be permanent. All fine jewelry should be stored in Air tight bags and cleaned regularly, preferably with a polishing cloth.
Protect Your Investment in fine Jewelry!
Please... NEVER.. put them into harsh cleaners. Never use an Ultrasonic Cleaner, or Ammonia for cleaning! Natural stones may be softer or have dies added to enhance their beauty. Please use a jewelers cloth and a bit of Rue, or warm water and a few drops of REGULAR Dawn dishsoap and a soft toothbrush to gently shine is all you need. This warm soapy water will also bring back the luster of delicate pearls. An IONIC CLEANER will also work very well on your fine jewelry. Sunshine cleaning cloths will bring your jewelry back to a sparkling shine and will keep tarnish away. I add a cleaning cloth with every order for your convenience.
Then there are the semiprecious gemstone rocks. We naturally think of rocks as being hard and durable, but these are not as different minerals comprise their makeup. This actually leaves them porus. Examples of these are Lapis Lazuli, Malechite and Turquoise which usually is stablized to strengthen and protect it. But, putting these kind of stones into water or cleaning solution, they will absorb the water, chemicals and the soaps that can weaken the stone as well as cause it to loose it's luster. Then there are the Organic kind of stones such as Pearls, Shell, Coral, and even Amber. These delicate stones should also be wiped with a damp cloth, or quickly washed in warm soapy water as listed above. Make sure that all your jewelry is completely dry before storing.
Then there are the semiprecious gemstone rocks. We naturally think of rocks as being hard and durable, but these are not as different minerals comprise their makeup. This actually leaves them porus. Examples of these are Lapis Lazuli, Malechite and Turquoise which usually is stablized to strengthen and protect it. But, putting these kind of stones into water or cleaning solution, they will absorb the water, chemicals and the soaps that can weaken the stone as well as cause it to loose it's luster. Then there are the Organic kind of stones such as Pearls, Shell, Coral, and even Amber. These delicate stones should also be wiped with a damp cloth, or quickly washed in warm soapy water as listed above. Make sure that all your jewelry is completely dry before storing.