Creation & Care

CARING FOR SILVER JEWELLERY

Pure Silver, a precious and malleable metal, is usually alloyed with copper to enhance its durability and prevent damage to the metal. Typically, sterling silver consists of 92.3 percent silver and 7.3 percent copper. Over time oxidation reactions will occur, especially with sulphur and oxygen, causing silver to become tarnished. Care should be taken to prevent this tarnishing.

To avoid this tarnishing, try to avoid the following:

Applying hair colours or permanent solutions while wearing your jewellery.
Showering or swimming with your jewellery on.
Body lotions, hair spray, suntan lotions, or oils of any kind on your jewellery.
Physical Activities (Sweat).
Never removing your jewellery.
Silver does not oxidize in air. However, it does react with sulphur dioxide and hydrogen sulphide in the air or other sulphur compounds and chloride salts, resulting in discolouration called tarnish. Tarnish is a brown discoloration caused by air pollution, cigarette smoke, some foods, furnace fumes, etc. Egg yolks, mustard, table salt, vinegar, olives, salad dressing, perspiration, rubber floor coverings, rubber bands and sulphur in some household synthetic detergents can also tarnish or affect silver. Latex paints may contain rubber and will tarnish silver Provide an environment that will prevent or retard tarnish. Protect silver from sulphur by wrapping it in acid-free tissue and storing it in tarnish resistant cloth or polyethylene bags. Use caution in storing to avoid trapping moisture and do not allow the polyethylene bags to directly contact the silver. If anti-tarnish strips are used, do not allow them to touch the silver and change strips regularly (every 3 to 6 months, depending on where you live and how fast jewellery tends to tarnish) as they can re-deposit the sulphur onto silver. Some jewellers use ordinary blackboard chalk in place of the no-tarnish strips. Add a single piece of white chalk to the drawer or cabinet where your silver is stored. White chalk is reported to prevent tarnish.

For jewellery you store on display racks or in trays or cases, place the rack and several no-tarnish strips inside a large plastic rubbish bag and close the bag up tightly with a twist-tie. Change the no-tarnish strips every 3 to 6 months.

WASHING SILVER

Miotesoro recommends washing silver by hand in warm water with a mild detergent. Because many food acids and gases in the air can have a corrosive effect, we suggest that you wash your silver immediately after use. Silverware, and especially knives, should not be left to soak in water. To avoid spotting, it is important to dry your silver immediately after washing.

CLEANING SILVER:

Silver is a soft metal. Use care in cleaning it. No matter how mild an abrasive polish is used, some silver will be removed each time it is polished. Rubbing with a soft cloth causes some wear.

Clean with soap (not detergent) and water. If additional cleaning is necessary, use as mild a cleaner as possible.

Rinse and polish with soft cloth or felt (tissue is not recommended).

Dry the silver jewellery very well before storage to prevent residual water stains.

Use a Silver polishing cloth for general cleaning

Silver polishes, rubbing and buffing removes tarnish but they should be used with care. Avoid polishing silver with any compounds containing abrasive. A paste of very fine precipitated chalk and denatured alcohol can be used.

After using any commercial polish, rinse the silver in water and polish dry with a soft cloth. Residues of some polish left on silver may cause silver to tarnish faster. Soap may dull silver. Detergents with phosphates may leave a stain if not rinsed.

Chemical electrolysis should not be used on silver items, which have oxidized areas as a part of the decoration, or on plated silver. The silver plate may be stripped off. Electrolysis can also affect some finishes and adhesives and may result in a hazy surface on some silver which then requires polishing. Although this method is easy, it may leave the surface dull. Consider the advantages and disadvantages before using this method. In electrolysis, the silver is placed in contact with aluminium and covered with a dilute solution of washing soda and water (1 ounce soda and 2 quarts water). Some experts suggest that only experienced conservators should use this method.

According to some experts, silver-dip, although quick to use, may remove decorative oxidation.

Do not use silver dip on rhodium or rhodium-plated jewellery as this will damage the rhodium finish and is known to remove colour and polish from certain gemstones, including turquoise and pearls. Although it may be acceptable to use silver dip on pieces that are not set with gemstones or finished with rhodium, the chemicals are extremely harsh and should be reserved for instances in which the item is completely tarnished, such as antique sterling silver items.

Valuable silver items should be treated with care and carefully stored and cared for. Consult a conservator or a jeweller knowledgeable about silver, silver polishes and processes before attempting to clean valuable items.

SPECIAL CARE FOR SPECIAL STONE

EMERALD

Emeralds are durable, but their internal characteristics require some special care. They can be soaked and brushed briefly with cool water. We don’t recommend extreme heat, hot water, steamers or ultrasonic cleaners. Don't expose to harsh cleaning solutions.

FASHION JEWELRY

Jeweler cement is often used to create fashion jewelry, and special precautions should be taken when cleaning these pieces. Wipe with a damp cloth and dry with a soft, clean cloth. Ensure that your jewelry is completely dry. Avoid soaking in water or using heat, steamers or ultrasonic cleaners. Don’t use jewelry cleaners or other chemicals.

JADE

Wipe gently with a damp cloth. Dry thoroughly with a soft cloth. Avoid hot water, chemicals, steamers and ultrasonic cleaners. Don't soak.

LAPIS LAZULLI

Avoid hot water, but mix mild soap and cool water. Wash only as needed and rinse quickly with cool water. Dry thoroughly. Avoid steamers, ultrasonic cleaners and soaking.

MARCASITE

Jeweler cement is occasionally used in setting marcasite. For cleaning cemented stones, wipe gently with a damp cloth. Dry thoroughly with a soft cloth. Avoid hot water, soaking, chemicals, steamers and ultrasonic cleaners.

OPALS

Soak briefly in cool water. Dry thoroughly with a soft cloth. Avoid extreme heat, hot water, steamers or ultrasonic cleaners.

THE PEARL WORLD

Wipe your pearls with a damp cloth to remove perspiration, oil or any other residue. For regular cleaning, wipe with a damp cloth. Dry completely with a soft cloth. Avoid heat, hot water, steamers or ultrasonic cleaners along with cosmetics and hairsprays. Don't soak in water.

TURQUOISE

Wipe gently with a damp cloth. Dry thoroughly with a soft cloth. Avoid hot water, soaking, chemicals, steamers or ultrasonic cleansers.