Quality jewelry priced for todays economy

Has this happened to you?

My favorite silver earrings turned. They were so beautiful...big, bold hearts covered in prong set czs. I wore them for years and then for some reason I put them away. When I discovered them again the silver had turned and I couldn't wear them again without cleaning them or polishing them. There was no such thing as the internet way back when, so my special earrings went back into the case.

If that *has* happened to you, you probably tend to shy away from buying more silver jewelry no matter how much it sparkles or calls to you. Well, this is 2008 and we do have the internet and it has all the answers, right? Ok, it's hasn't given me the location of a source for money trees, but I did find some good advice as I was searching out jewelry to offer in my e-store.

Sterling silver is a soft metal that is usually combined with copper (92.5% silver, 7.5% copper) to add the strength needed to allow its use and prevent damage to the precious metal. Over time, sulfur and oxygen cause tarnishing.

The key to keeping our silver jewelry bright is to follow these recommendations:

1. Avoid wearing your jewelry during physical activity. Perspiration will encourage your silver to tarnish.

2. Put on your jewelry after you have applied your make-up, hair spray, lotions and perfume. All those things that make you look and fee so beautiful are harmful to the finish of your silver.

3. Do not shower while wearing your silver jewelry.

4. Don't wear your silver jewelry while applying hair color or applying permanent solution. Just in case you haven't thought of it...

Ok...so what do you do after your jewelry has turned? Gently wash your jewelry with a mild dishwashing liquid diluted with water, then rinse well and dry with a felt cloth or a jewelers cloth. Tissue is not a good idea. Make sure to dry your jewelry well to avoid water staining.

Silver polishing cloths are recommended and offer the best cleaning. Silver dip is very harsh! If your silver item has a rhodium finish or is set with gemstones, turquoise or pearls do not use silver dip. It has been known to change to color of some gemstones, turquoise and pearls. No mention of opal was made in the articles I found, but I believe it should be included here. Sonic cleaners can damage some gemstones! Check before you risk it!!!

I'm off to locate some felt and try my luck with those earrings!

Emerald...its name means 'green gemstone.' I would have thought that a stone that is formed under traumatic circumstance would have a more dramatic name.

Emeralds are of the beryl family. Pure beryl has no color until it combines with traces of other elements. For beryl to develop its green color, it must come into contact with traces of chromium and vanadium. What makes the Emerald a rare stone is that the chromium and vanadium are not found in the same part of the Earths crust as beryl. The Earths Tectonic activity...movement of the plates, orogenisis (mountain building), metamorphism (heat and pressure), and erosion brings beryl, chromium and vanadium together and gives them a chance to chrystalise. All the drama and trauma of their birth is what produces the fissures, flaws, bubbles,inclusions sometimes called 'jardin' by gemologists. Jardin from the French 'garden', the inclusions being the contents of the garden. The 'jardin' give the stones their own unique fingerprint.

Fine inclusions do not devalue the stone. A dark color in a stone with inclusions makes it more valuable than a lighter colored stone with fewer or finer inclusions.

These green stones have the reputation of having a healing quality. They are seen as good luck. The color green is a symbol of life, spring, beauty and with Venus, the goddess of beauty and love.

In Astrology , the emerald is the birthstone of May... a spring month...and an earth sign. I was always disappointed that I had such a boring sun sign. Yes, I'm a Taurean. After reading about the birth of the emerald, I will hold up the stone as a sign of strength and growth...and no longer be disappointed.

Why am I writing about a May birthstone in July? Ah... I'm adding a few Emeralds to my offerings this weekend. I hope you like them!