Precious Stones Indiana

precious stones indiana

Metal Types, Their Care And Cleaning

THE BASICS:

PRECIOUS METALS ARE: 14 Karat Gold (14 parts out of 24), gold or silver plate, gold or silver filled, vermeil, gold or silver finished, sterling silver, fine silver ( 99.9% silver) platinum and rhodium. Everything else is referred to as base metal.

Since most of us are familiar with precious metals, let’s explore the base metals further.

BRASS: An alloy of 30% zinc and 70% copper.

COPPER: When used alone isn’t durable as it is a soft metal. Many findings are copper plated to add strength.

GUNMETAL: Actually a “red” brass that lends an antique look to findings.

NICKEL SILVER: An alloy mostly nickel that resembles sterling silver.

PEWTER: An alloy of tin, antimony and copper. Lead free pewter is available, however, genuine pewter contains lead.

STAINLESS STEEL: Contains more than 10% chromium, possibly nickle, titanium, rhodium and several other elements. One advantage of stainless steel is it doesn’t rust and is hypoallergenic although is not certified as such.

TITANIUM: A lightweight metal that can be worn by most people that have an allergic reaction to metal, nickel for example.

The most common complaint found with metal is tarnish. What is tarnish? Put quite simply, tarnish is a discoloration due to air and other contamination.

SILVER especially should be stored in a Ziploc bag or any container somewhere other than the bathroom. To protect silver from perfumes and lotions, make it the last thing you put on in the morning and the first thing you take off at night. Also, be aware that latex (rubber band) can actually burn silver.

TO CLEAN METAL: There are several options. Available for purchase, one can find silver guard anti- tarnish bags or anti-tarnish strips that can be placed along with jewelry in a Ziploc bag (exception pearls). Also, there are several solutions available in the marketplace today. Just be sure to read the directions and warnings prior to purchase.

Also something simple that works well is toothpaste (not gel) and a soft toothbrush. Rinse well and fry with a soft towel

Sharon Cole was born in 1945 in Gary, Indiana. She taught her first craft class at the age of twelve. Over the years she learned to sew, knit, crochet and decorate. Her love of jewelry was fueled again when her sister started a rosary ministry making hand knotted rosaries for ACTS retreats and the local hospital chaplain. Shortly thereafter she started working with semi-precious stones and started to design and string.
Eventually this lead to the website http://www.baublesbeadsandstones.com

About the Author

Shiva Lingam Stones

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