How to Care for Sterling Silver and Copper Jewellery

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This is an article I posted on my blog for all my current and future customers, giving some tips on how to take care of their little treasures. I hope you'll find it interesting :)

Sterling Silver Jewellery

We all know the beautiful shine of silver. But what exactly is sterling silver? It is a very popular silver alloy in jewellery making, as pure silver is too soft to be successfully used.  It contains at least 92.5 percent pure silver and is usually marked with .925. The remaining percent is often copper, which hardens it but also makes it prone to tarnish or oxidation – a darkening in its coloration when exposed to gases in the air.

This can be prevented by keeping your sterling silver in anti-tarnish bags or anti-tarnish cloth, both of which can usually be found in a craft supplies store. Of course, you can make your own tarnish prevention bags, with a cheap plastic zip-lock bag in which you place a piece of  anti-tarnish strip. Just be careful to replace the strip as advised on label (usually every nine months). Try to avoid storing your sterling silver with other metals, rubber or on wooden surfaces, as these cause tarnish and damage.

Over  time, sterling silver develops a patina, which has it’s own charm. However, if you prefer the shinier look of silver, you can use a soft 100% cotton polishing cloth to restore it to its previous state.  You can buy a sterling silver cleaner or can make your own cleaning solution by adding a small amount of mild liquid soap or detergent into half a cup of warm water. Do not use polishing solution on gemstones! Rinse the silver carefully with clean water and fully dry your jewellery before storage. You might have heard that toothpaste can be used to clean silver. It’s a cheap method that can work pretty well, but I must advise that a lot of toothpaste brands are abrasive and can scratch the metal. If you don’t want to risk it, better not try it!

Just remember, the more you wear it, the harder it is for it to oxidize!

Silver Plated Jewellery

Silver plated refers to a metal coated with a thin layer of silver.  That metal, especially when it comes to accessories, is, more often than not, copper.

The same methods used to clean sterling silver can also be successfully used on silver plated items. But, due to the fact that the item is only plated with silver, you must be careful not to wear out the plate or scratch it. I would suggest using a smaller amount of cleaner or a milder solution. Always remember to use a soft, 100% cotton cloth to avoid scratches.

Because silver plated items can be damaged more quickly by cleaning, it’s better to prevent oxidation. Store your jewellery properly, keep it out of the open air and avoid humid environments (try putting a piece of cotton in your storage unit to absorb humidity).  Be careful when placing your jewellery in a cardboard box or on paper, as these might contain chemicals which can produce sulfur and accelerate the tarnish process.

Copper Jewellery

Copper is a reddish brown metal, closely related to silver and gold. It ranges from a shiny rose coloration to a warm brown, depending on its age and the oxidation stage.  According to the type of jewellery you have, you can choose to keep it new and bright or to let it develop a lovely patina that gives it more depth.

If you opt for the shinier look, you can prevent tarnish by keeping it in anti-tarnish bags or cloth, in a cool, dry place. When cleaning it, use a soft cloth.  You can use a commercial cleaner or make your own solution with a cup of vinegar, 1 spoon of salt and a pot of boiling water and let your copper jewellery soak for a couple of minutes. Rinse well with water and wipe dry with cotton cloth.

In case your copper jewellery contains gemstones, especially porous ones like turquoise, do not use such soaking cleaning solution, as they will damage the stones. Try instead to carefully rub the copper around the stones.

Please remember to remove your jewellery when applying lotion, taking a shower, washing dishes or going swimming.

I hope you found these little tidbits of interest. For more info, please contact me, I will try to reply within one day.

Have a great day!

Fantasy Bijoux

by Adelina

Shop: www. FantasyBijoux.etsy.com

Blog: www.FantasyBijoux.wordpress.com

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