Sterling silver is easy to care for and maintain, requiring minimal time and effort. By taking a few simple steps, you can ensure that your sterling silver will be enjoyed for years to come!

Storage

Make sure that you store your sterling silver separately in a soft cloth to avoid surface scratches. Plastic ziplock bags can also be used for storage. Use plastic that is either polyethylene or mylar – never polyvinyl bags. Storage in an airtight bag helps to minimize exposure to oxygen, which can cause tarnish stains. To avoid this, it is a good idea to store your jewelry when not wearing it. Remember, wearing your sterling silver is the best way to prevent buildup. Oils from your skin actually help ward off tarnish!

About Tarnish

Tarnish is a reaction of your sterling silver with corrosive gases in the environment. This discoloration alters the look of your jewelry, creating a dull finish. Oxygen, sulfur and chlorine are common culprits in the build up of tarnish.

Light Cleaning

Regular cleaning of your sterling silver jewelry prevents dulling tarnish build up. Tarnish is much easier to remove as it accumulates rather than once it is built up! Use a soft 100 % cotton cloth (a t-shirt is perfect) to gently wipe the surface of your sterling silver piece. Rubbing too hard can cause existing dirt to scratch the surface of the silver.
For removing smudges, makeup or fingerprints use a mild liquid detergent combined with warm water. Rinse thoroughly and dry completely, buffing with a cotton cloth before storing.

Deep Cleaning

For older stains and excessive buildup, use a soft cloth with a non-abrasive silver polish paste. You can use a dip polish paste on sterling silver without gemstones. When applying paste, rub in a back-and-forth motion. A circular motion can cause scratches on the silver’s surface. For hard to reach crevices, use a child’s toothbrush or mushroom brush found in grocery stores. A clean cloth can be used to remove all residual polish. How much tarnish you choose to remove is a matter of style - leaving some tarnish in crevices adds to a defined, antique look.

Sterling Silver Friendship Ring for Under $20

Caring for your jewelry properly is easy, and will help it last for a lifetime of wear. For starters, I recommend either using mildly sudsy water for cleaning, then light polishing with a jewelry polishing cloth, such as a Goddard’s Long Shine Cloth, or sunshine cloth.

There are, however, many other methods for cleaning jewelry, and these are just my preferences. But first, please do be sure that your gemstones and pearls in the jewelry can withstand whichever method you choose. For regularly-worn jewelry, you may need to clean as often as weekly, while other items can go months and months without. The key is to touch it up before it gets to the point of having to go to a pro – and spend lots of money! Simply put, be picky, and clean as often as you have time to do so!

As far as keeping your jewelry in good shape, here’s the short version:

• Keep jewelry away from scratching, banging, chemicals of all kinds, swimming pools, hot tubs, extreme temps, strenuous activity, and intense sunlight.
• The chlorine and bromine in pools and hot tubs is particularly damaging to stones and metal, and will even damage solid gold.
• Wipe your jewelry off with a soft cloth after you wear it.
• Clean it regularly with mildly sudsy water, rinse really well, and pat dry with a soft cloth.
• Polish metals gently with a jewelry polishing cloth.
• Store most jewelry in a re-closeable plastic bag or cloth with anti-tarnish paper.
• Don’t subject your fine jewelry to strenuous activities of any kind.

In cases of extreme wear and tear, it’s really best to have your jewelry cleaned by a professional. But, if you follow these simple steps on a regular basis, you’ll probably never have to go to the pros!

I love platinum!

An elegant, rare and sturdy precious metal, platinum is an ideal metal for fine jewelry.

Platinum is corrosion and tarnish resistant making platinum jewelry beautiful for years. Because it’s hypoallergenic, platinum is also great for those with sensitivities. The natural pale patina of platinum makes it a wonderful setting for diamonds and gemstones as well. Platinum has a natural elegance which makes it a beautiful choice when there are no gemstones involved at all. Although you can buy many different grades of platinum, the purest platinum should be marked “950 Plat” or “950 Pt.”

Now there are some reasons why one would rather buy gold than platinum. First of all, platinum costs and weighs more than gold. Furthermore, although platinum provides a hardy setting for diamonds and gemstones, the strength of platinum itself makes resizing difficult. Nonetheless, platinum is sure to outlast other common precious metals available today.

Although I don’t have too much platinum jewelry, I do love the platinum I have. Unlike gold which is naturally soft and fragile, platinum is a hardy metal which can handle stress and strain and come out gleaming like the day it was made!

What is White Gold

White gold is an alloy of gold and other white metals including silver and palladium. Like yellow gold, white gold can be 18kt, 14kt, 9kt or any karat.

Just like 18kt yellow gold which is 75% gold mixed with 25% of other metals like copper and zinc, 18kt white gold is 75% gold mixed with 25% other metals such as silver and palladium.

What Constitutes White Gold

The properties of the white gold vary dependant metals and proportions used. As a result, white gold alloys can be used for different purposes. Whereas a white gold, nickel* alloy is hard, strong and great for rings and pins, white gold palladium alloys are soft, pliable and great for gemstone settings.

*Although nickel was traditionally used in white gold, it can cause skin reactions. Now white gold is commonly made with other white metals.

White Gold Jewelry

You can find all sorts of white gold jewelry. From pins and brooches to necklaces, chains, bracelets and rings, beautiful white gold jewelry is easy to find. White gold wedding bands and engagement rings are also becoming increasingly popular.

Taking Care of White Gold

White gold rings are coated with Rhodium. Rhodium is similar to platinum and shares many its properties including its white color. Because the natural color of white gold is light grey, rhodium plating makes white gold whiter. Since rhodium eventually wears away, white gold should be re-rhodium plated every 12 to 18 months.
Whatever white gold you choose, however you choose to buy it, white gold is beautiful. Get what you want and enjoy!

Once you get comfortable with assembling an Italian charm bracelet, the process is quick and simple.  To begin, you may want to use a tool to hold the links open while adding an Italian charm to your Italian charm bracelet. Tools designed for Italian charm bracelets are available, but a nail file or another strong, small tool will also work well.

Begin with either a starter Italian charm bracelet or a partially assembled Italian charm bracelet. The Italian charms are attached to a loop on the back of the Italian charm bracelet. In order to add the Italian charm, you need to expand the Italian charm bracelet links outward, pressing down with your thumb to keep it in place.

First, hold the Italian charm bracelet in the palm of your hand leaving your index finger and thumb free. Grasp the opposite end of the Italian charm bracelet with the other hand and pull to stretch the links. The links will not break! This exposes the hooks to which the charms are attached.

Press down firmly on the Italian charm bracelet with your left hand to hold the links open. For a first time starter Italian charm bracelet you’ll begin at the last link on the right side. The link opening is on each Italian charms left side. Slide the Italian charm onto the end of the Italian charm bracelet while holding the link open.

Italian Charm Bracelet: Removing Links

To remove links, hold the Italian charm bracelet in your left hand. Allow your index finger and thumb to remain free. Grasp the opposite end of the Italian charm bracelet and pull outward.  Your hands should be horizontal. Loops on the back of each charm link allow you to hook charms on or off.  Using your right hand, slide the charm to the right then push the right link toward the bottom to remove it. The charm will slide downward and then off your Italian charm bracelet.

Rearranging Italian charm bracelets is fun.  Have a blast!

A lariat necklace is a very, very long necklace. Because a lariat necklace is a long, clasp less strand of gems, pearls or beads, a girl can twist, tie and knot her lariat necklace however she likes. The lariat necklace is a wonderfully adaptable accessory. Wear your lariat necklace one way for sophistication then wear your lariat necklace another way for funkiness. A lariat necklace is a must have!

Of course, even as concerns a lariat necklace, there can be a catch.

Fabulous Party: Fabulous Lariat Necklace

In honor of the Emmys, a friend of mine threw a faux-emmy party. I was delighted to dress elegantly. I wore a floor-skimming dress with plunging back. A beautiful lariat necklace streamed down my back. I looked fabulous as did the lariat necklace.

Falling For a Lariat Necklace

Well, sometimes things just don’t go as planned. This was one of those times. Half way through the party, I passed a beautiful, towering orchid arrangement when the end of my lariat necklace got caught in the flowers. The lariat necklace brought me down and the gigantic arrangement down! Thank goodness my head wasn’t in the way because the arrangement came crashing down after me!

There was quite a fuss. It took 6 women to disentangle the lariat necklace before I could move from the puddle of dirt, water and orchid remains in which I lay. My dress and hair were ruined. The lariat necklace was ruined. Once again, it’ll take me ages to redeem my ‘decked out diva’ reputation.

Of course, nobody’s perfect. Not even the perfect lariat necklace.

Caring for your Italian charms is easy! By taking a few simple steps you can ensure a long life for your Italian charm collection.  Italian charms made from high quality stainless steel won’t tarnish with daily wear. However, oils from your skin and exposure to dirt or even hairspray will eventually dull the appearance of your Italian charms. Keep your Italian charms looking great with regular cleaning.

What to Do:

• Clean your Italian charms once a week by gently wiping it with a soft cleaning cloth. This will help your Italian charms maintain their sparkle and gleam. A simple jewelry polishing cloth is perfect for this purpose.
• When you’re not wearing your Italian charms, store them in a separate container from other jewelry. This will prevent the Italian charms from rubbing against other jewelry and becoming scratched. Try storing your Italian charms in soft jewelry or plastic bags.  I think the best place to store Italian charms is in an Italian charms display.

What to Avoid:

• Avoid showering or swimming with your Italian charms.
• Keep your Italian charms away from chemicals or cleaning solvents. This means, if your Italian charm bracelet is going to get wet when you wash dishes, remove it.
• Remove your Italian charms while participating in sports. Italian charms are durable but avoiding any rough contact will preserve the life of your bracelet.
• Take special care when wearing, or cleaning, a dangling Italian charms. The dangling pieces are strongly adhered to the Italian charm, but remain especially delicate. Handle with extra care to avoid damage to these fun styles.

Dads are NOT easy to buy for. Generally there are two kinds of dads in the world: the Dad who doesn’t want anything because he buys everything himself and the Dad who doesn’t want anything because he prefers the thing he’s already had for 30 years. My dad falls into the second category.

It’s not that my dad doesn’t have or like nice things, he just doesn’t see the need for new nice things, so as his birthday was quickly approaching this year I found myself stumped: what to get dad?

Grandpa’s Watch

I remember grandpa’s gold pocket watch. He’d wear the watch on special occasions. Grandpa wore the watch for style rather than utility. Grandpa was a fisherman. He didn’t give a damn about time and had no use for a watch. Nonetheless, he wore that watch. Even in his wedding picture you can see the watch chain peeking from his vest.

Gold Watch Mystery

Rumor has it grandpa got his gold watch before coming to America. Rumor has it said watch was a trade. Rumor has it grandpa was bootlegging and the watch was payment. Rumor has it the watch owner was no small potato. Rumor has it the watch owner came looking for the watch some years back and grandpa wouldn’t give the watch back. Grandpa was tough. Grandpa liked his watch.

A ‘New’ Watch

But that’s just watch rumor. When grandpa passed last year, my father inherited the watch. Although grandpa took careful care of the watch, the watch was old. The watch was worn down. The watch chain was limp. The watch cover didn’t open properly. The watch was awry. The watch was hurting. So as dad’s birthday approached I thought: The watch! I stole the watch from dad’s drawer last time I visited and brought the watch to a jeweler. It was a good decision!

That old pocket watch looks great! That watch looks as good as the day grandpa traded it for his homemade liquor. My dad was really happy to see the watch restored. It meant a lot to him and that meant a lot to me.

Lesson: Sometimes old stuff makes great gifts!

Although I’m not an August baby, I do love Peridot. In honor of August babies everywhere, here’s a little information on this beautiful gem.

Peridot is a transparent lime green gemstone whose color is due to iron. For over 3500 years, Peridot has been mined from St. John’s Island, located in the red sea. Peridot is also mined in Australia, Brazil, China, Egypt, Myanmar, Norway, and the USA. Created during volcanic ashes, sometimes Peridot can be found in the sands of Hawaii.

Peridot and Myth

According to legend, pirates believed Peridot protected against evil. A Peridot set in gold was believed to protect the wearer from night terrors. When given as a gift, Peridot is a symbol of dignity, fame and protection.

Wearing Peridot

Given its bright and brilliant color, Peridot is the ideal summer stone. Complementing bright greens, yellows and even earthy tones, Peridot is a gemstone one should definitely get to know. Even better, Peridot can be rather affordable.

Peridot Care

• As with all gems, don’t roughhouse while wearing your Peridot
• Protect your Peridot from drastic changes in temperature
• Don’t clean peridot in a home ultrasonic cleaner
• Take your peridot jewelry to a jeweler for check-ups

The best way to display your collection of Italian charms is by wearing your Italian charms! You can enjoy your Italian charms on bracelets, cell phone straps, necklaces and key chains. However, when your collection grows large, you may need to find new ways to display your Italian charms.

Have you ever thought of displaying your own Italian charms collection? Well Italian charms display cases are available in many designs to suit your style. Fill your Italian charms display with seasonal, holiday or birthday Italian charms.  Italian charms displays are a great way to show off those Italian charms you love but can’t wear year-round.

There are many things you can do with your Italian charms display.  Display a specific theme of Italian charms. Then, if you want to change the look of your Italian charms bracelet, you can select from your own selection of Italian charms to create that special combination. Another idea is to keep a display case of Italian charms that you intend to give as gifts. When a birthday or holiday approaches, your Italian charms display case is ready with a collection of charms to choose from.

Italian charms display cases are a great way to show off your favorite Italian charms at any time!