Sterling Silver Jewelry Care and Maintenance
Sterling Silver- A Noble Metal
A Noble Metal is one which is chemically resistant to oxidation and corrosion. Three Noble Metals which are often used in fine jewelry are Gold, Platinum and Sterling Silver.
Sterling Silver contains 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% alloy consisting of other metals such as copper, zinc, or nickel. Pure silver is extremely soft- the alloy hardens the metal so that is the right consistency for making jewelry. Sterling Silver is a soft, malleable metal which makes it the perfect choice for the intricate, art-inspired designs that Cynthia Gale New York™ is known for. That said, the downside is that Sterling Silver jewelry can be easily scratched or damaged if not cared for properly.
Therefore, when cleaning CGNY art-inspired jewelry designs, use cleaning cloths that are specifically formulated to remove tarnish from Sterling Silver jewelry. Cynthia Gale New York™ provides special pouches for CGNY jewelry storage. The outer portion of the pouch doubles as a Sterling Silver polishing cloth to help keep your jewelry looking bright and beautiful.
Quick Tips to Help Maintain your Cynthia Gale New York™ Jewelry's Beauty and Shine
Fine jewelry should be checked approximately every 6 months to ensure gemstone settings are secure.
- Remove- Remove sterling silver jewelry, especially rings, before showering, exercising, gardening, cleaning or cooking.
- Clean- Sterling silver jewelry should be cleaned regularly by wiping the piece clean with a treated sterling silver cleaning cloth.
- Store- Storing Cynthia Gale New York™ jewelry in our CGNY jewelry pouch, an airtight jewelry box or plastic bag away from light will help maintain the finish and prevent excessive tarnishing.
How to Keep your Cynthia Gale New York™, Sterling Silver Jewelry Safe and Clean
Wearing sterling silver jewelry in the shower, to the gym, while cleaning the house, gardening or preparing dinner may damage or tarnish your CGNY jewelry. Over time, these activities, as well as, the residue from soaps, cleaning solutions, hairspray, lotions, and dirt not only dim the shine of sterling silver jewelry, but they can also damage the metal and gemstones.
Please avoid exposing your sterling silver jewelry to harsh chemicals such as bleach and chlorine, as they can damage the jewelry. To prevent your silver jewelry from tarnishing and scratching, store items in our Cynthia Gale New York™ jewelry pouch, specifically designed to protect and polish sterling silver jewelry.
Jewelry featuring a spinning component, particularly CGNY Spinner Rings, must be treated with extra care. CGNY Spinner Rings are constructed of two rings of sterling silver, an inner stationary band and an outer spinning band. Both circles of silver must maintain their circular shape in order for the spinning mechanism to properly move. Dents to the outer spinning band can result in a reduction or loss of spin.
For some .925 Sterling Silver jewelry wearers, a green tint may appear on the skin. This can be particularly true where rings are concerned. Please note that this does not mean that the metal is poor quality or crafted using inferior materials. Each individual’s skin reacts differently to various materials, especially when combined with personal care products such as oils or lotions. Given Sterling Silver’s metal content- 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% alloy which includes copper- a chemical reaction can occur when metal meets skin, sometimes resulting in a green tint. Should you experience a reaction, the amount of copper used to make your jewelry, your rate of perspiration, and the types of personal care products applied on your skin may influence the severity of the green tint. A green tint on your skin may also be a result of copper tarnishing from .925 Sterling Silver jewelry wear. Copper oxidizes with moisture to form a dull green color which when worn on a ring, for example, may result in a green residue on your finger.
Cynthia Gale NY uses enamel as an accent on some of our Grateful Dead jewelry to add a splash of iconic color to the designs. The enameling process involves fusing powdered glass to a base metal at high temperatures. Since enamel is essentially glass, it is more delicate than precious metal pieces or gemstones and is prone to chipping if it’s handled roughly. To keep enamel looking new and vibrant, it is important to keep it away from lotions, shampoos and cleansers. We also recommend that customers avoid swimming in salt and chlorinated water or wearing during activities that produce heavy perspiration. To clean, wipe the enamel surface with a damp, gentle cloth only.
Sterling Silver Woven Bracelet Box Clasp and Figure-8 Safety Clasp Repair Instructions- There are two mechanisms involved in our Grateful Dead, Sterling Silver Woven Bracelet clasp designs to ensure proper closure and protect against loss: the Box Clasp; and the Figure-8 Safety Clasp. With wear over time, these two Sterling Silver mechanisms can loosen. Our recommended home repairs are as follows:
· Box Clasp- The “Tongue” is the portion of the “Box Clasp” that slides into the open “Box” portion of the clasp- the “Tongue” can become depressed over time with wear which can prevent a firm bracelet close. Using a knife with a pointed end, insert the point between the upper and lower portion of the “Tongue” and twist gently to open up the space in between. Repeat this procedure on both sides of the “Tongue”. The “Tongue” should now hold firmly in place when inserted into the “Box”.
· Figure-8 Shaped Safety Clasp- With each wearing, this “Figure-8 Shaped Safety Clasp” should click onto the “Silver Ball” after the “Box Clasp” is closed. This extra safety measure will help prevent SS Woven Bracelet loss, even if the “Box Clasp” should become loose during wear. Over time the “Figure 8-Shaped” portion of the clasp can become misshapen. Using a needle nose plier, gently squeeze the “Figure-8 Shaped” portion of the clasp to return the 8 to its original “8 Shape”. The “8-Shape” will then clasp firmly over the “Silver Ball”.