14 Unknown Facts About Jewelry

Wearing Your Jewelry

Long drop earrings give the illusion of length to your face.  So they're a great thing for those who have chubby cheeks or maybe a double chin.

Perfume oils will discolor gold, pearls and other gems.  Don't spray perfume over your jewelry.  This goes for hair spray too.  This can easily be avoided by putting your jewelry on after you are completely dressed with hair and makeup in place.

Cleaning Your Costume Jewelry

Jewelry made with some stones and with imitation gold & silver can be washed in mild dish washing liquid and warm water.  Wash in bowl not sink ( you don't want to take the risk of losing something down the drain).  Individual pieces of jewelry should not touch each other in solution so as not to scratch.  After soaking for a minute, brush individual piece with soft toothbrush and dry with chamois cloth or facial tissue.  Before you dump left over solution make sure to check the bowl for lost pieces.  DO NOT use bleach because it will damage metal mounts beyond repair.

Absolute Clean Online

Special Treatment Required

     Ivory - Dust ivory pieces regularly with soft cloth; using a clean, soft toothbrush to reach into carved areas.  Sunshine keeps ivory from yellowing but too much sun can cause ivory to crack.  Perfume and hair spray can cause discoloring.
     Jade - Combine 1 tablespoon ammonia and 1 cup hot water.  Swish jewelry briefly and dry immediately with soft cloth.  Jade scratches easily.
     Jet - Never soak in water or any type of chemical solution.  Just wipe with damp soft cloth.
     Diamonds - Swish these stones briefly in 1 tablespoon ammonia and 1 cup hot water.  Then dip in rubbing alcohol and pat dry with tissue paper.

Interesting Jewelry Facts Not Well Known

• Only one natural pearl will form out of every 10,000 oysters. That's it. 
• 100,000 year old beads made from Nassarius shells is officially known as the oldest ever found
• Americans spell it jewelry, everyone else spells it jewellery.
• "Jewel", from the old French jouel, which comes from the latin jocale, translation - plaything.
• For the past 100 years Africa has been the top producer of gold.
• The #1 producer of silver is Mexico. A close second is Peru.
• Real Amber, fossilized tree resin at least a million years old, will float in water.
• In Asia, the Middle East and Africa, 24K gold is used in the making of jewelry.
• In the USA and across Europe, most jewelers believe 24K is too soft for jewelry making.
• A large, perfect, gem quality ruby is worth more than a diamond the same size and quality.
• Peridot, Lapis Lazuli and Pearls were ground up and used as eye shadow in ancient times.
• Naturally colored diamonds are extremely rare. The most expensive and rarest are red, purple and then pink. Their white cousins are abundant and cost considerably less.
• Burma Rubies are not allowed out of Burma. These rubies are quite valuable and can only be purchased on the secondary market.
• Live insect jewelry was popular at certain times in history. You heard me right. Egyptians wore scarab beetles into battle. A Mexican Maquech Beetle and the Giant Madagascar Hissing Cockroach  were also used in jewelry. Victorians in Britain could often be seen sporting live beetles attached to their clothing by tiny, fine gold chains.

    Lots of jewelry history to be found at this link by by clicking here.

   Instructions for jewelry you can make. I especially like the dainty knot ring. #13

A Lot To Know When Cleaning Jewelry

 

You won't believe all the different ways people have come up with to clean their jewelry.  Some of these I knew about.  But some of these ideas are new to me.

•  paste of baking soda and water
• Colgate toothpaste
• Dow bathroom cleaner
• denture cleansing tablets
• whitening formula Mentadent toothpaste
• Parsons' ammonia
• hand sanitize  (don't use on pearls)
• Simple Green
• Smirnoff vodka
  

If it's a paste, just rub on rub off then polish.  If it's a liquid, mix with water, let item(s) soak, rinse and polish dry.

Obviously I did not think up this stuff on my own.  It came from a new book of mine, Clean It Fix It Eat It by Joey Green.  People wrote in giving up their ways of doing just about anything using name brand products.  Name brand products not used for their intended use that is.  Sometimes discovered by accident.  And, I bet sometimes the listed ingredients gave them a hint it might work.  And that's okay.

I would love to hear about any other ways someone might clean their own jewelry that has not been listed above. Leave in a comment before you go.

Resource 

I stumbled upon this informative guide by Olive Yew.

Comprehensive Jewelry Cleaning Guide 

Bonus Tip 

Remove a ring stuck on your finger...

•           Johnson's baby oil
•           Miracle Whip
•           Preparation H
•           Windex 

Tackling Jewelry Chaos

Literally. 

A plastic tackle box with shelves that pop out when the lid is opened can make a perfect jewelry box. Really?  These tackle boxes have a lot of small compartments that are designed to hold a single lure. So why not re-purpose one of these boxes to keep your jewelry organized and tangle free.

It might take a little cleaning (who am I kidding, a lot of cleaning) but you might look for one at a garage sale if your budget is tight.  Or splurge and get a brand new one.  And have fun decorating the outside, get creative.  You will for sure save time and frustration by not having to untangle necklaces or look for the other earring if it's all nice and neatly stored in your customized jewelry box.
 

You have a few choices when it comes to storing and sorting earrings.  Like an empty egg carton, ice trays or a 28 day pill container.

Take a frame and attach plastic canvas to it.  A wire screen could work too for holding earrings.

Bracelets are the ideal length to display on a coffee mug tree.  Remember those?  They were a big hit not too long ago.  Does anybody know if they are still sold in stores.  If not, I am sure you'll find one in your local thrift store.
 
Here's another idea for necklaces.  A bulletin board and some tacks work perfectly. Decorate! I have seen some decorative tacks in stores that would be perfect for this project.  Paint the frame or glue jewels around the frame or both!!!  You decide.


Tell us your creative ideas for storing, sorting or displaying your jewelry.  Or maybe you sell your jewelry at craft shows or flea markets.  Tell us how you display your items for sell.

Website Review of Step by Step as Resource

     I recently discovered a website with a lot of articles based on several different categories.  I zoned in on the jewelry articles of course, for example "How to Identify Bakelite."  I was also drawn to the article "How to Identify Vintage Costume Jewelry."
     There were a lot more articles of interest in the jewelry category, "How to Tell Real Gold From Fake", or "How to Become a Jewelry Maker."  How to Grade Pearls or How to Buy Jewelry Repair Tools and many, many, many,  more articles about jewelry, jewelry making, jewelry storing, metals, gemstones and on and on...
     Oh, did I forget to tell you the name of the website?  Of course I did.  If you have clicked on any of the links above you probably already know it.  But, just in case you have not went there yet, let me just say this.  It's worth a click.  The amount of information on this one website is tremendous.  Here is a link to their category page.
     The extensive list of categories will leave you breathless, and you don't even have to climb any stairs to get to it.  If you still haven't indulged by clicking a link, here it is, your final link, which just happens to be the title of the website.  It's a very appropriate title because that's exactly what each and every article will explain to the reader; how to do things, "Step by Step".
     Go ahead click on it, you won't be sorry.
     Website Rated: 

DIY Cleaners For Any Type Metal Jewelry

Air and water oxidize metals and can make them dull.  Keep them looking new with periodic cleaning.  Save money and the environment by making your own inexpensive jewelry cleaner.


Basic recipe for cleaning jewelry
* 1 tbsp dish washing detergent
* 1 tbsp baking soda
* 1 tbsp household ammonia
* 3 cups warm water

Combine ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Pour into a glass jar and cover tightly. Label jar for future use and keep out of reach of children. To use, soak jewelry in the solution for 1-10 minutes (depending on how tarnished it is). Swish intricate pieces in the solution to get into the cracks and crevices. Use a toothbrush or a well-washed mascara brush for hard to reach places. Rinse and dry with a soft clean cloth.

Don’t soak pearls in this solution.
Instead, rub them gently with a soft chamois cloth dampened in the solution.
Pearls will dissolve  in vinegar.
Do not combine this solution with chlorine bleach – hazardous fumes will result!

CLEANING GOLD JEWELRY
Pour cider vinegar in a shallow glass container. Place gold jewelry in the vinegar so that it is covered completely.  Keep all pieces separated.  Nothing should be touching.  Let the jewellery sit in the vinegar for 15 minutes. Remove the jewelry and wipe clean with a soft, clean cloth. The gold should be completely clean.

CLEANING SILVER JEWELRY
1. Line a glass bowl with aluminum foil, shiny side facing outward.
2. Place the jewelry you want to clean in the bowl making sure it’s touching the foil
3. Cover the jewelry with baking soda – just enough so that you can’t see it.
4. Add boiling water – enough to immerse the jewelry.
5. Let soak for 3 to 5 minutes ( or less if it’s not really dirty).
6. Use tongs or a fork to lift out the jewelry ( you don’t want to get burned) and rise under cold water. And voila ………. you have sparkling jewelry.
If the jewelry is very dirty or very tarnished, then you may need to repeat the process.  Just add a little more baking soda and more boiling water.  Making sure the water is boiling is the secret, if there is one. This method works great on sterling, silver, gold and costume jewelry metals.  But do be careful if there are crystals glued into a setting and limit soaking.  No more than 90 seconds or you might melt the glue. Also, don’t immerse natural pearls in this solution - it’s too caustic. It is however, fine for most gemstones and works wonders on cubic zirconia And in case you’re wondering ….it also works fab for cleaning silverware, silver frames or any silver home decor.

If you don’t have aluminum on hand, you can use white distilled vinegar. Mix 2 tbsp. baking soda in 3.4 fluid oz. or almost 1/2 cup (100 ml) of vinegar. Soak silver items in the mixture for 10 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with water and dry the items with a soft, clean cloth. Repeat if necessary

CLEANING COPPER, PEWTER & OTHER METALS
Dissolve 2 tsp. of salt in a cup of white distilled vinegar. Place a few tablespoons of flour (any kind) into a shallow container. Add some of the vinegar mixture to the flour until it forms a paste. Spread a thick layer of the paste on the metal that needs to be cleaned. Let stand for 15 minutes. Scrub clean with a soft, clean cloth.

CLEANING PLATINUM JEWELRY
The way to clean platinum is to make a mixture of half ammonia and half water. Let the platinum soak in the mixture and then polish with a soft cloth. Be careful if the jewelry contains gemstones. The mixture may discolor or harm gemstones except diamonds.  This mixture is not harmful to diamonds.  

Good Gemstones Warrant Good Care.

All stones, including diamonds and sapphires, can chip and are easily scratched.  Harsh chemicals can damage both stones and metals.  You should always take jewelry off when:

• doing hard work or working out hard.  If you lose a stone, you'll never find it.
• cleaning the house.  Chemicals can damage your jewelry beyond repair.  Plus you're running the risk of catching it or knocking it on something
• bathing, swimming or soaking in a hot tub.  Chlorine is a big no-no.  The salt at the beach is also a bad idea for your gems.

     Most people don't like to take off their jewelry for fear they'll lose it.  But if you leave jewelry on during these activities you risk losing it for good.  Place a special container where you normally would take off your rings.  You won't have to fear the drain, plus you'll always know where you put them. 

     All your pieces of jewelry will need an occasional cleaning to remove grunge.  Most pieces can be cleaned by soaking for a few minutes in a bowl of lukewarm water with a lil' bit of hand dish washing soap, scrubbing gently with a toothbrush.   

     NEVER use toothpaste, however, it's too abrasive.

     Ultrasonic cleaners should only be used for all-metal jewelry or diamonds.

• If you use silver polish, make sure you don't get it on the stones.  Polish with a soft all-cotton cloth, because paper can scratch silver.
• Let gold or silver chains soak in soapy water.  If they get tangled or knotted, apply a drop of baby oil and unravel with a needle.  Cornstarch and a toothpick also work.
• A little ammonia dissolved in water will remove any oily film on diamonds.
• Soak your crystals for just a few minutes in a warm solution of dish soap and water.  Scrub gently with a toothbrush.  Polish dry with a clean cotton cloth.
• Turquoise, malachite, onyx, lapis, etc. are rocks, not crystals, and they are absorbent.  Do not soak or expose them to any chemicals.  Simply wipe with a damp cloth and polish with a soft dry cloth.
• Opals are fragile stones.  Clean with soapy water and quickly wipe dry.  Absolutely no ultrasonic cleaner or exposure to chemicals.
• Unlike other jewels, pearls get better and more lustrous with exposure to the skin's natural oils.  They are absorbent so do not wear while showering or cooking.  Store lying flat because the string will stretch over time.
• Emeralds are soft stones.  Clean using just a lint-free cotton cloth.

Note:  Resist the urge to toss your jewelry together in a pile when storing. Chains get tangled, gemstones damaged and metals scratched.  Best to store individually in fabric bags.  Light causes silver to tarnish.  Don't store any of it in plastic bags.  Cool, and dark storage for opals because they will dry out if exposed to light.

Related articles

• Opal - Colored Gems - Learning Guide - Helzberg Diamonds (helzberg.com)
• Tourmaline - Colored Gems - Learning Guide - Helzberg Diamonds (helzberg.com)
• Emerald - Colored Gems - Learning Guide - Helzberg Diamonds (helzberg.com)
• Colored Gems - Learning Guide - Helzberg Diamonds (helzberg.com)
• Peridot - Colored Gems - Learning Guide - Helzberg Diamonds (helzberg.com)