How to Clean your handmade designer jewelry

To maintain your handmade designer jewelry is a relatively easy process. It is normal over time, for your sterling silver jewelry to tarnish due to the copper content and also from the interaction of silver and sulfides in the air. Sterling Silver 925 is made up of 7.5% of a different metal, which is usually copper. First the tarnish will take on a golden hue and eventually turn black. This is a completely natural process and is very easy to clean. (remember humid climate speeds up the process of tarnishing) To clean tarnished Sterling Silver jewelry there are several commercial products you can purchase at your local drug store or hardware store that will restore your silver to its original shine. The most useful is a chemically treated polishing cloth that can be used on gold and silver jewelry. For pure Sterling Silver chains that are a bit more difficult all you need is baking soda. Place the tarnished chain in an aluminum pan and cover thoroughly with baking soda. Then slowly pour boiling water into the pan, which will create a chemical reaction removing the tarnish. Before you do this make sure to be in a well ventilated area. For Sterling Silver pieces with gemstones it is important to avoid harsh chemicals, with too many cleanings most gemstones will lose their color. When cleaning gemstones immerse them in warm soapy water and scrub gently with a soft brush. Then rinse them and dry them off immediately with a soft towel or cloth.