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Fine Jewelry University Articles matching: “Cleaning Sterling silver”
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Fine Jewelry University (Show All FJU Articles)
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Platinum
… metal in the rivers of Equador. Not realizing its superb qualities, they named it contemptuously platina (little silver) and threw it back into the river to ripen into silver. In 1912 white gold was “invented” in Pforzheim, Germany, as a …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Emerald
…. According to workers at the Muzo mine in Columbia, it is one of the finest green emeralds ever discovered Care and Cleaning of Emerald Like all precious gemstones, emeralds require proper care to maintain their brilliance and value. …to store emerald jewelry away from direct sunlight and avoid exposing them to household chemicals such as bleach and cleaning agents. Emeralds can be cleaned with a soft cloth and warm, soapy water. As we discussed above, most emeralds are …
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Types of Jewelry Clasps
… loosen and need to be adjusted. Also, like box clasps, this loosening happens much faster with softer metals like sterling silver. Adjustability – The bracelet needs to match your wrist size closely. Sometimes a second bar can be added to … – The tongue (insert) can become loose over time and will need to be adjusted. If the tongue is made out of silver this can happen quite quickly. Serviceability – If a box clasp does break, it can be difficult to find replacement parts …
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Art Deco vs. Art Nouveau Style Jewelry
…stones to create pieces that were not just adornments but works of art. Many Art Nouveau jewelry pieces were made in silver, but white gold and platinum were quite common as well. The diamonds used in Art Nouveau jewelry were typically Old …-1930 Key Aesthetic Organic, flowing lines, nature Geometric symmetry, bold contrast, simplicity Materials of Choice Silver, semi-precious stones, enamel Platinum, diamonds, emeralds Prominent Designers Louis Comfort Tiffany Cartier, Van …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Alexandrite
…Alexandrite is said to bring luck, prosperity, and intellect to its wearer. Its changing colors remind us that life has its ups and downs, and so alexandrite is also connected with bringing a sense of balance and well-being. Care and Cleaning of Alexandrite Alexandrite should always be treated with care because of its value and rarity. While ultrasonic and steam cleaners are usually safe for alexandrite, warm soapy water and a soft-bristled brush are always the safest. With…
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Gem in the Spotlight: Pearl
… is important to consider all of them to ensure that you are properly valuing a pearl or strand of pearls. Care and Cleaning of Pearls Unlike most gems, pearls are an organic creation which means that they require a little extra care to … the pearls clean, and dry them with a soft-cloth. Do not submerge your pearl strand in water (or other liquids) for cleaning because this can weaken the silk thread they are strung on over time. Store Safely: Pearls can be scratched by sharp…
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Types of Necklace Chains
…. CONS Cost – The tightly woven links use a bit more metal then some other chain styles of comparable thickness. Cleaning – Dirt can get inside the rounded design causing them to need a bit more frequent cleaning than other chain types. …an investment and a means of trade. The Baht is the official currency in Thailand, and it is named after a weight of silver (or gold) of the same name. One baht is approximately fifteen grams. Chains of this style have historically used S …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Topaz
… is a bit harder than emerald at 7.5-8 and quartz which comes in at 7. Here are some more gemological stats for reference: Refractive index: 1.619 to 1.627 Birefringence: 0.008 to 0.010 Specific gravity: 3.53 Mohs Hardness: 8 Care and Cleaning Even though it’s tough to scratch, you should protect your topaz from hard knocks. It can be split with a single sharp blow, a trait it shares with diamond. Clean with mild dish soap; use a toothbrush to scrub behind the stone where …
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Gem in the Spotlight: Tourmaline
…the efforts of gemologist George F. Kunz. He documented reports about the tourmaline deposits of Maine and California and praised the quality of the stones they produced. Along with opal, tourmaline is October’s birthstone. Care and Cleaning of Tourmaline Tourmaline makes a great gem in a ring for occasional wear or a pendant/earrings for daily wear. Because it isn’t exceptionally hard (Mohs hardness of 7-7.5), it should be stored away from other gemstones that could …