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SILVER
Silver and gold score only 2 to 4 on the Moh's scale of hardness, sand is 7 on the Mohs scale, which means your precious metal is softer than sand and can be easily scratched. Hence they require extra care in keeping them in good conditions.
As with most precious metals, in time silver will oxidize. Tarnish is, unfortunately, a common nuisance associated with silver due to oxidation reactions with the oxygen in the air or acids from skin. In general, the higher the silver content, the higher the resistance to tarnish and the softer the metal.
Simply clean with a mild soap and water solution and pat dry with a soft cloth every time after wear. Don't rub silver with anything other than a polishing cloth or fine piece of felt. Tissue paper or paper towels will cause scratches. Remove tarnishes once in a while, either using a silver-cleaning solution or a silver cleaning cloth.
Properly maintained silver actually improves with age. It develops a lush patina when treated well. Like other jewelry, avoid wearing silver in chlorinated water as this will discolor it. Store your silver jewelry in a cool, dry, dark place. As air and light cause silver to tarnish, the less of them the better when stored. A tarnish preventive bag is a good idea, or wrapped individually in a soft piece of felt or cloth. Keeping your silver jewelry in ziplock bags when not in use can also help prevent tarnishes. Remember, don’t keep your silver jewelry pieces together with others as it will get scratched. |
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Tips for caring your silver jewelry
· Silver will oxidize and acquire a layer of tarnish over time · Keep in air-tight zip-lock bags or tarnish-resistant bags when not in use · Clean only with a mild solution and soft cloths · Properly maintained silver jewelry can improve with age |
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Products you may need:
Silver Shine (for travel) Silver Care Polish (for heavily tarnished items) Silver Care Cloth Jewelry Care Cloth Dry Wipes (disposable) Tarnish-resistant Pouch Jewelry cases |
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WARNING:
It is very important to choose a reliable and professional cleaning solution to obtain desirable result. Choose the right solution for your metal and read the instructions carefully. Using the wrong solution or not following instructions may cause irreversible damage to your jewelry. Choose only NON-TOXIC product which does not use ammonia or acidified Thiourea.
Ammonia is a colorless gas which gives a sharp odour. It enters the body when breathed in. It is intensely irritating to the eyes, nose and respiratory tract. It is corrosive to skin and toxic effects include lachrymation, respiratory distress, chest pain and pulmonary edema.
Thiourea, as contained in silver dip of some brands, is a sulfuric acid solution causes silver sulfide (silver tarnish) to revert to silver metal by an electrolytic action. The silver left behind is even more susceptible to tarnish forming. It is listed as a cancer causing substance by the Centers for Disease Control, USA. In California, it is under strict regulation that all products which contain Thiourea must state in their product labels that Thiourea is known to cause cancer. |
