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Posted on April 1, 2006 by Myrna Hora | Posted under Jewelry
Silver Jewelry
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Since ancient time's silver has been used in jewelry making. However it does not survive as well as gold so fewer silver jewelry pieces are exposed during archeological digs. Silver is the most common of the precious metals. Pure silver, is seldom used for jewelry because it is much too soft. Sterling silver is 92.5% silver and .75% copper or some other alloy. This combination gives it strength so it can be used for jewelry. Silver weighs about half as much as gold, and it is much more flexible than gold, although it is not nearly as malleable. Silver has always been less expensive than gold. A comparable piece of gold jewelry could cost anywhere from five to ten times more than an identical piece of sterling silver jewelry. If you want your silver jewelry to last and provide years of enjoyment follow these tips 1. Stop tarnishTo stop your silver jewelry from tarnishing wrap it in tissue paper and store it in sealable plastic bags with an anti tarnish strip inside the bag. 2. Polish clothUse a polish cloth to buff silver jewelry. You can use it alone to remove light tarnish and restore the shine to your silver jewelry or you can use it in combination with a silver jewelry cleaner. 3. Silver jewelry cleanersMost are a liquid form that lifts the tarnish by having you quickly dip the jewelry into the solution. Some are more potent than others so be sure to read the directions carefully. Never dip pieces that have gem stones or any type of stone because silver cleaner can very quickly damage the stones. 4. Minimize exposureTry to avoid exposing your silver jewelry to hair spray, perfume, or household cleaners. Do not wear your silver jewelry in the pool or hot tube because the chemicals can damage the silver. Do not wear your silver in the ocean either. The salt causes silver to corrode. 5. Turn BlackSome people simply cannot wear silver. Although the percentage is small in some people their own body chemistry reacts with the silver causing the skin to turn black. This black marking on the skin can be very difficult to remove. If you can tolerate the black marking you can still wear silver jewelry but many don't bother. 6. Badly TarnishedIf your silver is badly tarnished it may take a bit of work to clean it. There are some very strong chemical cleaners you could use but I don't recommend unless absolutely necessary. There are also some great home tricks that work well. One of my all time favorites is the aluminum trick. Place a piece of aluminum shiny side up in the bottom of a glass baking dish. Place the tarnished silver jewelry on the aluminum foil then add 2 tablespoons of baking soda. Slowly pour boiling water over top until the jewelry is covered. Let sit and it will gradually lift the tarnish. Non toxic and a very gently cleanser. Everyone, man woman and child, should own at least a few pieces of silver jewelry. Not only is it beautiful, it is versatile, and affordable. You can wear it with most any outfit, dress it up or down and it makes a wonderful finishing touch. Don't miss out on what silver jewelry has to offer. About The Author: Myrna is the Editor and Publisher of Article Click. For more FREE articles for your ezine and websites visit - http://www.articleclick.com |
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