Frequently asked questions about jewelry.

Q- When you wear a piece of silver and it goes black, what does that mean?

     A-Silver can turn black for many reasons. Acidic skin; hand creams and some perfumes; tight fitting wide band may cause you finger to sweat; or there may be some polishing compound residue left on it after it was polished.  Silver wadding can remove the black from the piece of jewelry, just make sure you wash it well and dry it before wearing it again. But if this doesn't work then the ring may be rhodium plated. Becasue the rhodium wears off replating may have to be done every couple of years. 

       TIPS:  ++When your piece of jewelry isn't worn keep it in a box with a piece of aluminum so that the aluminum will react instead of the silver. ++Never keep your silver jewelry in a container with copper (coins, etc.). If that does happen you can try cleaning it with silver wadding. The silver dip used for silverware is not recommended for fine jewelry. If the item has stones set in then take a babys toothbrush (the softest one you can find) and gently brush the stone from underneath and all around with water and a drop of dishwashing detergent. If that doesn't work  then just take it to a professional to have it cleaned and polished. ++ Don't wear silver in a pool because the chlorine will react with the silver.

Q- If you accidentally wear silver while using bleach and it turns black, can it be saved?

     A- You can use a silver cleaning cloth. The  liquid silver cleaner used for silverware is not recommended. The silver cleaning cloth can be found at your grocery and  hardware store or a  jeweler. Be sure to read the instructions carefully. Use a toothbrush if your item has filigree or engraving. If you are not successful then just take it to a jeweler to clean and polish it.

Q-Why does amber go dull and can it be polished?

     A- Amber is a soft stone. It goes dull and becomes scratched when the jewelry is not stored properly. It can be washed in warm soapy water then buffed with a soft dry cloth with a drop of linseed oil or olive oil on it. As always if this doesn't work send ito to a professional.  TIP:  ++Store your amber jewelry  where it cannot be scratched which will eventually dull its surface.

Q-Is there any way ring sizes can be changed short of getting them done at a jeweler due to fingers that change in size because of arthritis or weight loss or gain.

      A-There are metal ring clips that fit on the inside of a ring to make it smaller. When your fingers swell the clips may be removed so the ring fits again. The clips may snag on clothing so be aware of it. They can be gotten from most jewelry stores.