Gold & Silver Meltdown Stories

compliments of Terry and Kim Kovel, Kovels Komments

Gold and silver prices are going up and down but are still very high. We took some commemorative silver dollars and other gold and silver items to be melted. The $1 coins brought $20 each. A gold charm that was a wire circle, 1 1/4 inch in diameter with a small half-mask inside, had a meltdown value of $270. A tooth with a large gold filling was worth $30. (We wonder why we had saved a filled gold tooth.)                                                  

Related articles

• How do you get the gold nugget in the wild west in poptropica (wiki.answers.com)
• Thief who took $400K in gold nuggets from Sussex County museum may have melted stolen goods (nj.com)
• Did You Know You Could Rip Apart Your Computer and Melt the Circuit Boards for Gold? [Gold] (gizmodo.com)
• VIDEO: Turning electrical goods to gold (bbc.co.uk)

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)

Old-Fashioned Diamond Jewelry Cleaner

Ingredients

1 oz. dry borax

1/2 oz. washing soda

1/2 oz.  mild soap shavings

2-1/2 oz. liquid ammonia

1 pint water

Mix first three ingredients in the water and boil until dissolved.  Partly cool, and stir in liquid ammonia.  Add enough water to make 2 quarts.  When ready, place jewelry in an enamel pan, cover with the solution and bring to a boil.  Using a soft toothbrush or mascara brush, rub jewelry gently and rinse in hot water.  Pat dry. 

Here's another way to clean your diamonds:

     Place your diamonds in a tea strainer and dip them into a pot of boiling water containing several drops of ammonia and a spoonful of soapflakes.  Hold for a few seconds, then remove and rinse in cold ater.  Soak for 5 minutes in alcohol, and finally rinse and pat dry.

Cleaning pearls: 

     Dampen a soft cloth with olive oil, then rub each pearl with the oiled cloth. 

Cleaning silver jewelry:

     Make a paste of lemon juice and baking soda.  Brush it onto your jewelry with a toothbrush and allow to dry.  Finally, brush it off and then polish it gently with a soft cloth.

Cleaning costume jewelry:

     Put your costume jewelry into a small container.  Pour a little rubbing alcohol over the item and allow it to soak for three or four minutes.  Remove it and wipe dry with a soft cloth.

                                          or

     Fill your bathroom sink with hot water and drop in a couple of denture tablets.  Place your costume jewelry in and leave for a while.

     Note:  I wouldn't recommend using toothpaste because they sometimes contain abrasives that will scratch your jewelry. 

   

Coating your costume jewelry with clear nail polish can be a good idea to protect the jewelry from exterior elements like soap, water, hairspray, cologne and your own body oils This will also protect your skin in case of a bad reaction to the metal.



Related articles

• How to clean my costume jewelry? (lejanefashion.wordpress.com)
• Casa Quickie: Costume Jewelry as Ornaments (casasugar.com)
• How-To: Assemble A DIY Home Cleaning Kit (casasugar.com)