CARING
FOR YOUR GOLD FILLED WIRE-WRAPPED
JEWELRY
The term “gold filled” means that a
layer of karat gold has been fused onto a core of an alloy.
It has a much greater gold content than electroplated gold,
and is virtually indistinguishable from solid gold. With
proper care gold filled jewelry can easily last a lifetime.
While gold-filled jewelry does not tarnish, occasionally it
can be cleaned (the same way as regular 14k gold) using
warm soapy water (a little ammonia added will help too) and
an old VERY soft toothbrush. Use a soft cloth that won’t
leave fuzz or threads behind to thoroughly dry and buff
your jewelry once it's cleaned. Or you may use a jeweler’s
cloth made for that purpose to wipe, polish, and buff the
jewelry. Use of plain alcohol or vodka can help to reduce
greasy film on the jewelry prior to performing other
cleaning. Keep jewelry away from scratching, banging,
chemicals of all kinds, swimming pools, hot tubs, extreme
temperatures, strenuous activity, and intense sunlight.
Store your jewelry in zip-loc bags between each wear.
CARING
FOR YOUR STERLING SILVER WIRE-WRAPPED
JEWELRY
Sterling Silver is a metal alloy
containing 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper. Tarnish on
sterling silver is formed primarily by the copper reacting
with chemicals in the atmosphere forming a dark almost
black color. Cared for properly, sterling silver can be
worn often and with minimal cleaning required, making it
very easy to care for. Avoid storing your sterling silver
on wood surfaces, with other metals, like pennies, or with
rubber. Keep jewelry away from scratching,
banging, chemicals of all kinds, swimming pools, hot tubs,
extreme temperatures, strenuous activity, and intense
sunlight. It can be cleaned using warm soapy water and an
old VERY soft toothbrush. Rinse thoroughly. Use a soft 100%
cotton cloth that won’t leave fuzz or threads behind to
throughly dry and buff your jewelry once it's cleaned. Or
you may use a jeweler’s cloth made for that purpose to
wipe, polish, and buff the jewelry. If you wear your
sterling silver jewelry regularly, your body oils help to
keep the tarnishing down and cleaning to a minimum. It is
best to store your jewelry in zip-loc bags between each
wear.
CARING
FOR YOUR ARGENTIUM™ STERLING SILVER WIRE-WRAPPED
JEWELRY
Argentium™ Sterling Silver wire is new,
highly tarnish-resistant real sterling silver that keeps
its shine for years without polishing. Peter Johns, a
professor of silversmithing at Middlesex University in
England, invented Argentium™ Sterling Silver in 1996. It is
a patented and trademarked alloy that is at least 92.5%
pure silver, just like traditional sterling silver. What
makes Argentium™ different from traditional sterling silver
is that germanium replaces 1.2% of the copper that is
usually the other 7.5% of sterling silver. Argentium™
Sterling Silver cost from 15% to 18% more than standard
sterling silver but is destined to become the new standard
for the high-end silver jewelry market. Jewelry made
from Argentium™ sterling silver will not tarnish like
traditional sterling silver jewelry so it gives one all the
prestige of silver with none of the hassle of polishing. If
ever necessary you can use a polishing cloth to lightly
polish your Argentium™ jewelry, clean it with gentle soap
and lukewarm water, wipe it with a clean cloth, or have it
professionally cleaned to keep its lasting shine. The
biggest difference is that you must have a polishing cloth
or other cleaning items reserved especially for Argentium™
to keep traditional sterling or other metals from
contaminating it. Argentium™ Sterling Silver builds and
increases its tarnish resistance over time and has the
ability to constantly regenerate its anti-tarnishing
properties. The longer the Argentium™ is exposed to air,
the more tarnish-resistant it becomes. Argentium™ jewelry
retains its sheen and luster even with repeated
handling.
