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How To Clean Silver Jewelry

Many people wonder just how to take care of their silver jewelry. When you first purchased that silver necklace, ring or broach it was shiny and beautiful. In time silver tarnishes from the interaction of silver and sulfides in the air.

First the tarnish will take on a golden hue, and eventually, it will turn the piece black. This is a natural process. Higher sulfide levels are associated with humidity and/or air pollution. Keep in mind that the more humid the climate, the faster sterling will tarnish. On a summer day in Jackson, Mississippi, all you have to do is walk out the door and the silver starts turning black very quickly.

(1) Sterling silver will polish up by rubbing or buffing it with a soft cotton cloth.
A chemically treated cloth, like a Sunshine Cloth, makes the job a lot easier and faster.

(2) Sterling silver dips are fast and easy. However, be careful!
First, many dips will take the color and polish off many gemstones.
Second, when using a dip, if you leave the piece in too long, or don't rinse it well enough with fresh water, white residues will be left on the piece when it dries. The residue is difficult to rub or pick off. When using a silver dip, dip the piece quickly in and out of the dip. Then immediately rinse it in clean water. When the piece dries, buff it with a soft cotton cloth or a Sunshine Cloth. The buffing brings out more of the shine, helps take off any residue left on the piece, and with a Sunshine Cloth, leaves a little bit of a protective anti-tarnish coating on the piece to keep it shiny longer.
A dip should only be used when a buffing with a dry cloth doesn’t work.

(3) Tarnish Shield, or similar lacquer shield, will keep the piece of jewelry shiny until the tarnish wears off. You should be aware that pieces that have been lacquered don't age well, until all the lacquer has worn off. In spots where the lacquer has loosened from the sterling, but not worn off, the silver will tarnish, but you won't be able to buff it.

If you use a dip to clean a piece that has a tarnish shield, often the dip will get under parts of the lacquer, leaving a residue, wherever the lacquer is beginning to wear off.
If the piece is a chain, or a filigree, the lacquer will form a film within the openings and cracks. This obviously makes the piece ugly.

The simplest way is usually the best way. Get a clean, soft cloth and polish your silver. It will be beautiful again!

Measuring Your Finger & Finding Your Ring Size

Please follow the directions below to measure your finger and to find out your ring size. How To Measure Your Finger Find a piece of string or strip of paper no wider than 1/2". Wrap it around the base of the appropriate finger. Use a pen to mark the point on the string/paper where it overlaps, forming a complete circle. With a ruler, measure the length from the starting end of the string/paper to the pen mark. Use this measurement and the chart to the right to determine your ring size. For more accurate measurement or if the finger is not available please click here to download and print our ring sizer and conversion chart . If the finger is not available you will still be able to find out the needed size using existing ring. Tips For Measuring Ring Size Here are some tips to make your ring size measurement more accurate: After sliding the ring sizer on, make sure it slides off fairly easily over the knuckle. Don't measure cold fingers. This is when fingers are their smallest. For the most accurate reading, measure the finger at the end of the day when the finger is the largest. Tips For Buying Ring as a Surprise Getting it just right can be tricky, but not impossible. Ask your partner's mother or one of her friends if they know her finger size. Borrow one of your partner's rings (from the correct finger) and slide it down a tapered candle. Then measure according to the ring sizer you received in the mail or using the chart above. USA & UK(GB) Ring Size Chart Ring Size Ring Size Measured Size (USA) (UK) Europe (mm) 3 F 44.1 3.5 G 45.4 4 H 46.7 4.5 I 48.0 5 J 1/2 49.2 5.5 K 1/2 50.5 6 L 1/2 51.8 6.5 M 1/2 53.1 7 N 1/2 54.3 7.5 O 1/2 55.6 8 P 1/2 56.9 8.5 Q 1/2 58.2 9 R 1/2 59.4 9.5 S 1/2 60.7 10 T 1/2 62.0 10.5 U 1/2 63.3 11 V 1/2 64.5 11.5 W 1/2 65.8 12 X 1/2 67.1 12.5 Z 68.3 13 Z1 69.6 13.5 Z2 71 14 Z3 72.3