Jewelry Care
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Sterling Silver: In order
to retain that beautiful shine that your Jewelry will be delivered
with, here are a few easy cleaning tips: Just like the rest of you,
your Jewelry gets dirty, i.e. collects dust and grime on its surface.
If you like your Jewelry sparkling clean, wash it regularly with a mild
dish soap and warm water. A solution of mild soap, ammonia & warm
water will clean some of the more persistent grime. Don't use abrasives,
even tooth brushes can scratch the surface of metal! Let the metal air
dry, then use a very soft and clean cloth to polish. Sterling
Silver is a somewhat soft, precious metal and should be cared for in
a loving manner. Store your silver in a cool, dry place.
Tissue paper or paper towels can cause scratches because of the fibers
in these products. Prevent tarnish in the first place by limiting exposure
to air and light when stored. Preferable is a tarnish resistant bag or
wrapped in felt or a soft cloth, zip lock bags also work well. Store your
jewelry pieces individually so they don't scratch each other. DO NOT apply
commercial silver cleaners. They remove silver and damage your fine jewelry.
Avoid exposure to household chemicals or chlorinated water. A professional Cleaning Cloth (see below) will further
enhance the shine. As Sterling Silver ages, it naturally takes on a
warm patina. This is usually a desired trait which will embellish the
detail. If desired, we can also repolish and remove minor scratches in
pieces you have purchased from us. We will re-apply a fine patina &
polish to a professional shine for a small fee. Please inquire.
Amber:
The absolute enemy of Amber is oxygen. Before
it is unearthed, most amber specimens are in an anaerobic environment
(without oxygen). Once they are exposed to air they begin to deteriorate.
To care for your amber pieces, wash in mild soap and water and pat dry
gently. The acids from your skin can damage your Amber, they will build
up and begin to break down the surface. Make it a habit to regularly
clean your Amber Jewelry.
Bronze or Brass: These metals may be polished by using commercial metal polishing
agents such as Brasso and the like. However, these Chemicals usually
have abrasive grit in them, which can mar up your surface
rather than clean it. If in doubt, try a little bit on the back of
your jewelry and make sure you like the end result. Sterling Silver should never be cleaned with these
polishing agents! Bronze &
Brass can tarnish easily, it is recommended to buff them often with
a soft Cotton Cloth or store them as suggested above.
A note on Overlay Jewelry:
Overlay Jewelry has an
especially polished surface who's mirror finish really shows scratches.
Never use metal polishing Abrasives (such as Brasso and the like) on
Overlay! Instead, wash regularly with warm water and soap and use a Rouge
Cloth to finalize polish after drying.
Rouge Clothes: Two Sided Rouge Clothes to clean and polish your Jewelry
can be ordered by sending $8 with a current mailing address to:
Birte Nellessen, P.O. Box 482, Salida, Colorado, 81201.
