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Hello there…,

Have you ever wondered about Sterling Silver or Gold Jewellery and what they are really made of and how to look after them?

Maybe some of these are questions you have asked yourself and have been searching for answers. We have constructed just a few brief notes for your benefit and hope you find this information useful.

Have you ever wonder what Sterling Silver is?

Silver occur in nature and is in ores such as argentite (Ag2S) and horn silver (AgCl); lead, lead-zinc, copper, gold, and copper-nickel ores are principal sources. Mexico, Canada, Peru, and the U.S. are the principal silver producers in the western hemisphere.

Silver is also recovered during electrolytic refining of copper. Commercial fine silver contains at least 99.9% silver. Purities of 99.999+% are available commercially. The majority of fine sterling silver jewellery is composed of 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper alloy to enhance not only its charm but also its durability and sturdiness.

Silver looks bright white and is extremely malleable (soft) and its Atomic Symbol is Ag.

Have you ever wonder what Gold is?

It occurs in veins and alluvial deposits and is very widely distributed and is almost always associated with quartz or pyrite.

It is often separated from rocks and other minerals by mining and panning operations. About two thirds of the world's gold output comes from South Africa while two thirds of the total U.S. production comes from South Dakota and Nevada. The metal is recovered from its ores by cyaniding, amalgamating, and smelting processes. Refining is also frequently done by electrolysis.

Gold also occurs in sea water in minuscule amounts depending on the location where the sample is taken. No method has been found for recovering gold from sea water profitably.

Gold is Soft bright yellow transition metal and its Atomic Symbol is Au on the periodic table. The term carat is used to express the amount of gold present, 24 carats being pure gold.

What is Marcasite?

Marcasite jewellery is one with an antique look? Marcasite is a mineral sometimes called white iron pyrite. It is most often confused with a gemstone called pyrite but both are crystallized in a different ways and consequently marcasite is not classified as a gemstone. It is formed in rocks and occurs in places such as Dover, Kent, and throughout England.

It is at first pale yellow to almost white with a metallic luster until it tarnishes and turns brownish. There is no way to prevent the tarnishing of marcasite… and it is this gives the jewelry its antique look.

Have you ever wondered about Cubic Zirconia and their colours?

Cubic Zirconia, also known as C.Z. and is a rare mineral that has the appearance of diamonds. Jewellery made from C.Z. is being produce regularly because of its low cost, durability, and beauty.

Most sterling silver jewellery and has C.Z. which comes in many different cuts and colors. Some famous cuts are the round cut, princess cut, and oval cut. Its color is produced by the addition of certain metal oxides.

The addition of cerium produces the red, orange, and yellow colors.
Adding chromium makes it green, and
Adding neodymium makes it purple.
C.Z. is pink when erbium is added and
Golden brown when titanium oxide is added.
Cubic Zirconias remain popular in jewelry because it is the closest substitute for diamonds

Can Silver Get Dirty and Tarnish?

Silver Jewellery can get dirty and tarnish for example if you are handling it often such as displaying it to customers will cause wear and tear. Silver will tarnished when it is constantly in contact with oxygen and sulfur in the air. A greenish tarnished will appear when sulfur binds to the surface of silver.

Preventing and Limiting Tarnishing and Staining

The best way to prevent tarnishing and to maintain a lustrous appearance is to keep silver jewellery in a sealed bag when it isn’t in use or being displayed. When placed in the sealed bag, silver jewellery must also be completely dry, as water can cause tarnishing.

Always Clean Silver Jewellery with a Polishing Cloth

Always use a special jewellery cleaning cloth. It has two sheets of cotton: the outer layer is cotton for buffing, while the inside layer contains special chemicals that will whiten silver jewellery and return it to its original condition. Hand polishing silver is a great way to keep silver shiny, and will not damage its patina.