Caring and Maintenance of Jewelry
Silver in its purest form is very pliable and easily damaged. When silver is used to make fine jewelry, it is combined with another metal such as copper. The combination of the two metals increases the strength of the silver.
Sterling silver (.925 silver) is made up of 92.5 % pure silver. Sterling silver tends to tarnish turning it a yellowish tint. This is due to several factors. Chemicals in the air and oils on your skin react with the silver. Prevention is the key to maintaining your quality silver. If tarnish is not removed promptly, the silver will darken in color. The tarnish will be more difficult to remove and will require professional cleaning by a jeweler.
To clean and minimize tarnish, frequently polish the silver lightly with a jeweler's cloth. This will keep your silver shiny like new. When not in use, store your silver jewelry in locked polyethylene bags to keep air out. Avoid harsh chemicals such as ammonia, soaps, hairspray, and perfume. Remove silver before bathing and avoid direct exposure to sunlight!14 Karat gold filled jewelry is made with solid 14 Karat gold tubing filled with brass. Gold filled jewelry has the look and feel of solid 14 Karat gold.
Gold Filled jewelry has about a hundred times more gold than gold plated jewelry. The outer surface will not flake or wear off. With proper care it will last a lifetime. To clean gold filled jewelry, use mild soap and water. Do not use harsh chemicals or abrasives!
