Metals Used and Jewelry Care
ARGENTIUM® SILVER
ABOUT THE METAL: Argentium® Silver is my favorite metal! Argentium® Silver is at least 93.5% fine silver, more than traditional Sterling Silver which contains 92.5% fine silver. This higher percentage of fine silver makes Argentium® whiter and brighter that traditional Sterling Silver. Copper is what makes Sterling Silver tarnish. An element called Germanium replaces some of the Copper in Argentium® Silver. When Germanium gets warm (like through your body heat), it creates an invisible oxide on the surface of your jewelry, making it very tarnish-resistant. When tarnish does appear on Argentium®, it is generally golden yellow to medium brown in color. To learn more about Argentium® Silver, visit www.ArgentiumSilver.com.
TO CLEAN: Clean your Argentium® Silver jewelry after each time you wear it to keep the dirt and oil buildup to a minimum. Not much work is required to keep your Argentium® Silver jewelry shiny and bright. Simply use a little soap (like shampoo or dish soap), water, and a soft toothbrush. Pat dry with a clean cloth and let air dry. Make sure your jewelry is completely dry before storing.
TO REMOVE TARNISH: Use Windex and a soft cloth. Seriously. (And sometimes you can rub the tarnish off with your fingers.) To deep clean, make a paste of baking soda and soap. Use a soft toothbrush to get into the nooks and crannies of your jewelry, then rinse well. Silver polish is also acceptable. I suggest Goddard's Silver Polish Foam or Goddard's Silver Polish Liquid.
YELLOW GOLD FILL AND ROSE GOLD FILL
ABOUT THE METAL: Yellow Gold Fill and Rose Gold Fill metals are made by permanently heat-bonding a layer of 14 karat Gold to an alloy/base metal core. The only thing that comes in contact with your skin is 14 karat Gold. Gold Fill has 100 times the amount of 14 karat Gold as plating. It is strong, durable, and resistant to tarnish. It will not flake off. Many antique pieces, especially watches, are made from 14 karat Gold Fill metal. In order to carry the label "Gold Fill", it must be at least 1/20th (by weight) 14 karat gold. The result is a metal that looks and wears like 14 karat gold but is much more affordable.
TO CLEAN: Although 14 karat Gold Fill jewelry will not tarnish, it will get dirty. The oils from your skin transfer to the metal and need to be washed off periodically. The easiest way to clean your handmade chain is to scrub it with an old soft toothbrush and shampoo or dish soap. Add a little baking soda if your jewelry is really grimy. Rinse well, pat dry, and air dry. Make sure your jewelry is completely dry before storing.
ABOUT THE METAL: Yellow Gold Fill and Rose Gold Fill metals are made by permanently heat-bonding a layer of 14 karat Gold to an alloy/base metal core. The only thing that comes in contact with your skin is 14 karat Gold. Gold Fill has 100 times the amount of 14 karat Gold as plating. It is strong, durable, and resistant to tarnish. It will not flake off. Many antique pieces, especially watches, are made from 14 karat Gold Fill metal. In order to carry the label "Gold Fill", it must be at least 1/20th (by weight) 14 karat gold. The result is a metal that looks and wears like 14 karat gold but is much more affordable.
TO CLEAN: Although 14 karat Gold Fill jewelry will not tarnish, it will get dirty. The oils from your skin transfer to the metal and need to be washed off periodically. The easiest way to clean your handmade chain is to scrub it with an old soft toothbrush and shampoo or dish soap. Add a little baking soda if your jewelry is really grimy. Rinse well, pat dry, and air dry. Make sure your jewelry is completely dry before storing.
COPPER
ABOUT THE METAL: I use 99.9% pure Copper (specifically CDA #110), and I currently only use Copper for custom orders.
TO CLEAN: These cleaning methods use a form of acid to clean your Copper jewelry. This acid *must* be neutralized (thoroughly rinsed away) after cleaning. If the acid is not neutralized, it will corrode and microscopically pit your Copper jewelry. This means there will be even more surface area on your Copper jewelry for tarnish to form on and, therefore, more tarnish for you to clean. To prevent tarnishing between wearings, store your jewelry in a zip-top baggie to limit its exposure to air (squeeze as much air out the baggie as you can).
TRADITIONAL METHOD TO CLEAN: Clean your Copper jewelry after each time you wear it to keep the tarnish, dirt, and oil buildup to a minimum. First, wash your Copper jewelry with shampoo or dish soap to remove any oil and dirt. Then use a solution of about one cup of lemon juice or white vinegar and one tablespoon of salt in a jar with a lid. Drop your jewelry into the jar, close the lid, and swish and swirl your jewelry for a moment. Remove your jewelry, rinse very well, pat dry with a clean cloth, and let air dry. Repeat if necessary. Make sure your jewelry is completely dry before storing. Note: This lemon/vinegar and salt solution can be stored in your refrigerator and can be used many, many times.
MOSTLY MAILLE'S METHOD TO CLEAN #1: Wash your Copper jewelry with Suave 2-in-1 Professionals Shampoo and Conditioner (grey bottle with green/teal lettering). Start with just shampoo and your jewelry and rub your hands together. Swipe the hand with the jewelry through very hot water (as hot as you can handle without getting hurt...rubber gloves are helpful), and rub your hands together some more. Swipe through the hot water, rub, swipe, rub...then finally rinse very well. Repeat as needed. Pat your jewelry dry with a soft cloth and let it completely air dry before storing.
MOSTLY MAILLE'S METHOD TO CLEAN #2 (the "out and about" method"): (I discovered this method totally by accident one day while shopping at Target®.) The next time you are out and about wearing your Copper jewelry and notice that it just isn't as shiny as you'd like, stop into a public bathroom. Wash your Copper jewelry using the foamy soap most stores have and water, preferably very warm water. Start with just the soap and your jewelry and rub your hands together. If you're wearing a bracelet or a ring, you don't even need to take it off. Swipe the hand with the jewelry through some water (as hot as you can handle without getting hurt), and rub your hands together some more. Swipe through the hot water, rub, swipe, rub...then finally rinse very well. Repeat as needed. Dry your jewelry with the paper towels or the air dryer, and continue with your day!
MAKING YOUR COPPER GLOW AGAIN: If your Copper jewelry looks a bit matte (not shiny) after cleaning, use a paste of baking soda and water and a soft toothbrush or soft cloth to scrub your jewelry in the palm of your hand. Rinse well and pat dry with a clean cloth. Repeat as necessary. Your jewelry will have a wonderful, warm glow.
ABOUT THE METAL: I use 99.9% pure Copper (specifically CDA #110), and I currently only use Copper for custom orders.
TO CLEAN: These cleaning methods use a form of acid to clean your Copper jewelry. This acid *must* be neutralized (thoroughly rinsed away) after cleaning. If the acid is not neutralized, it will corrode and microscopically pit your Copper jewelry. This means there will be even more surface area on your Copper jewelry for tarnish to form on and, therefore, more tarnish for you to clean. To prevent tarnishing between wearings, store your jewelry in a zip-top baggie to limit its exposure to air (squeeze as much air out the baggie as you can).
TRADITIONAL METHOD TO CLEAN: Clean your Copper jewelry after each time you wear it to keep the tarnish, dirt, and oil buildup to a minimum. First, wash your Copper jewelry with shampoo or dish soap to remove any oil and dirt. Then use a solution of about one cup of lemon juice or white vinegar and one tablespoon of salt in a jar with a lid. Drop your jewelry into the jar, close the lid, and swish and swirl your jewelry for a moment. Remove your jewelry, rinse very well, pat dry with a clean cloth, and let air dry. Repeat if necessary. Make sure your jewelry is completely dry before storing. Note: This lemon/vinegar and salt solution can be stored in your refrigerator and can be used many, many times.
MOSTLY MAILLE'S METHOD TO CLEAN #1: Wash your Copper jewelry with Suave 2-in-1 Professionals Shampoo and Conditioner (grey bottle with green/teal lettering). Start with just shampoo and your jewelry and rub your hands together. Swipe the hand with the jewelry through very hot water (as hot as you can handle without getting hurt...rubber gloves are helpful), and rub your hands together some more. Swipe through the hot water, rub, swipe, rub...then finally rinse very well. Repeat as needed. Pat your jewelry dry with a soft cloth and let it completely air dry before storing.
MOSTLY MAILLE'S METHOD TO CLEAN #2 (the "out and about" method"): (I discovered this method totally by accident one day while shopping at Target®.) The next time you are out and about wearing your Copper jewelry and notice that it just isn't as shiny as you'd like, stop into a public bathroom. Wash your Copper jewelry using the foamy soap most stores have and water, preferably very warm water. Start with just the soap and your jewelry and rub your hands together. If you're wearing a bracelet or a ring, you don't even need to take it off. Swipe the hand with the jewelry through some water (as hot as you can handle without getting hurt), and rub your hands together some more. Swipe through the hot water, rub, swipe, rub...then finally rinse very well. Repeat as needed. Dry your jewelry with the paper towels or the air dryer, and continue with your day!
MAKING YOUR COPPER GLOW AGAIN: If your Copper jewelry looks a bit matte (not shiny) after cleaning, use a paste of baking soda and water and a soft toothbrush or soft cloth to scrub your jewelry in the palm of your hand. Rinse well and pat dry with a clean cloth. Repeat as necessary. Your jewelry will have a wonderful, warm glow.
STERLING SILVER
ABOUT THE METAL: Sterling Silver is 92.5% fine silver (hence the ".925" stamp on the jewelry). Tarnish is caused by the Copper in the Sterling Silver reacting to the air. It's called oxidation. Your Sterling Silver jewelry should be cleaned after each time you wear it, then properly stored in an air-tight zip-top baggie. I do not use Sterling Silver when making my jewelry as I believe Argentium® Silver is a superior metal. The only exceptions are for certain ear findings (post-style earrings, tiny ear wires, and some clip-on earrings).
TO CLEAN: Clean your Sterling Silver jewelry after each time you wear it to keep the tarnish, dirt, and oil buildup to a minimum. Polish your Sterling Silver with a paste of baking soda and soap and a soft toothbrush in the palm of you hand. Rinse well and pat dry with a clean cloth. If your Sterling Silver is extremely tarnished, it can be covered in this baking soda paste and left overnight. The next morning, rinse well, use a soft toothbrush to get all the paste out of the nooks and crannies, pat dry with a clean cloth, and let air dry. Make sure your jewelry is completely dry before storing. To prevent tarnishing between wearings, store your jewelry in a zip-top baggie to limit its exposure to air (squeeze as much air out the baggie as you can). Silver polish is also acceptable...see suggestion links under Argentium® Silver.
ABOUT THE METAL: Sterling Silver is 92.5% fine silver (hence the ".925" stamp on the jewelry). Tarnish is caused by the Copper in the Sterling Silver reacting to the air. It's called oxidation. Your Sterling Silver jewelry should be cleaned after each time you wear it, then properly stored in an air-tight zip-top baggie. I do not use Sterling Silver when making my jewelry as I believe Argentium® Silver is a superior metal. The only exceptions are for certain ear findings (post-style earrings, tiny ear wires, and some clip-on earrings).
TO CLEAN: Clean your Sterling Silver jewelry after each time you wear it to keep the tarnish, dirt, and oil buildup to a minimum. Polish your Sterling Silver with a paste of baking soda and soap and a soft toothbrush in the palm of you hand. Rinse well and pat dry with a clean cloth. If your Sterling Silver is extremely tarnished, it can be covered in this baking soda paste and left overnight. The next morning, rinse well, use a soft toothbrush to get all the paste out of the nooks and crannies, pat dry with a clean cloth, and let air dry. Make sure your jewelry is completely dry before storing. To prevent tarnishing between wearings, store your jewelry in a zip-top baggie to limit its exposure to air (squeeze as much air out the baggie as you can). Silver polish is also acceptable...see suggestion links under Argentium® Silver.