Proper Care Of Silver Chains And Rings
Silver and gold are both extremely delicate materials, but silver jewelry is generally not combined with other metals like gold is. While silver chain jewelry and rings are beautiful, owners must be very careful with these delicate pieces, as they can scratch and tarnish easily. One thing that is common among both silver and gold , however, is their cleaning methods, which are very gentle and nonabrasive. In order to preserve silver chain jewelry, they should be taken off when showering or swimming. silver rings should also be taken off when washing dishes, gardening or doing anything where they will rub against other hard objects. silver rings should also not be worn directly alongside other rings, because they will rub and scratch.
Silver jewelry items should be stored individually in small boxes with soft material around them, as well, to avoid scratching. In the case of silver chain jewelry and rings becoming lightly scratched, owners can polish the scratches enough to disguise them. Heavy scratches will require a jeweler to sand them out and re-polish the Silver jewelry , though, but they probably won't charge very much. Tarnished silver chain jewelry and rings, on the other hand, are produced by so many sources that wearers would have to avoid nearly everything in life to prevent it totally.
Certain foods, salts such as body salts, oils, materials such as rubber, wool and felt will tarnish silver rings and chains. To avoid tarnished silver jewelry as much as possible, wearers should be sensible and avoid allowing hairsprays, foods and chemicals from coming in contact with it. The best prevention is early cleaning and proper storage in a plastic airtight bag. There are also tarnish absorbing strips and cloths that can be place in the silver jewelry box, and these work quite well. Washing silver and gold is a delicate matter, and is best done with a very mild detergent rubbed in smooth up and down lines after drying it with a soft cloth. Owners can also buy a silver polishing cloth from a jewelry shop.
Those who have let there silver chain jewelry and rings go without cleaning for a good while might need to use a soft brush and a stronger detergent and warm water, but remember these are clearing away the grime but they are abrasive too. Today a lot of silver jewelry is being made with a tarnish- resistant silver and this will overcome the tarnish problem almost entirely. Some silver rings and chains are rhodium plated, and this is also tarnish resistant. There are also electrochemical methods found in places like flea markets, and silver jewelry owners can use pastes and solutions from hardware store and other silver polishes. Just remember that over time pitting might develop, scratches might occur from polishing and pastes might build up in hard to get to places, so use all of these sparingly. Silver jewelry can last a very long time if it is properly taken care of.
Back To Articles...
|
