Jewellery Care

Jewellery Care Tips From Electric Lollipop

Your jewellery works hard to earn you those compliments, whether sparkling, highlighting your best features or adding that elegant final touch to your outfit.So here are a few tips on how to take care of that special piece that graces your wrist, ears and your neck. If you show them a little love they'll love you right back!

About Sterling Silver

All sterling silver pieces will be stamped with "925" in very, very small writing on the inside of the piece. Pure Silver on its own is much to soft to be made into anything fun and durable, it's mixed with other metals to give it some strength. The "925" symbol means that the piece you have in your hand is made of 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals, usually copper and zinc, but different manufactuers uses different mixes.

STERLING SILVER CARE TIPS

Wear it! Wearing your silver actually helps keep your silver in good shape.
Store your silver in a resealable plastic bag. It helps slow the oxidation process.
Be careful when storing your jewellery. Try to not leave them in a heap as they will scratch each other.
Tarnishing is normal for sterling silver. To clean it use a silver cloth and gently buff it back to a shine.
Don't wear your silver swimming or get hairapray on it. It's speeds up the oxidation process and you end up with black silver.
PLEASE don't use silver dip too often and NEVER EVER use it on a piece set with stones. Not only are the chemicals in it not too good for you, it actually makes the silver yellow with repeated use and would damage any type of natural stones.

About Akoya and South Sea Pearls

Pearls give off a unique lusture and lumiousity not found in other gems. The term "Akoya" refers to pearls from the Akoya Oyster, from Japan. These are usually smaller pearls, ranging from 2mm-10mm per pearl with colours ranging from creamy white to pale rose to light gold. These are great everyday pearls, as they tend to give everything a touch of class.

Akoya pearls can come on several classic lengths: 16-inch("choker"), 18-inch ("princess"), 24-inch("matinee")and 30-inch ("opera"). Of course, there's no hard and fast rules when it comes to length. But one thing to remember that pearls should always be strang with silk: no "and"s,"if"s or "but"s !!

South Sea Pearls are usually larger, from 10mm all the way up to 25mm, (Think a small marble!) with colour ranging from a blinding white to deep, sexy black, depending the type of oyster the pearl came from. The most sought after colour is a vibrant peacock green. South Sea pearls uaually come in 16- and 18-inch strands.

PEARL CARE TIPS

"Last On, First Off!" Remember that pearls are organic, hence proious. Hairspary, perfume, deodarant would all damage pearls in the long run. Finish getting ready, and put on your pearls last.
The oils on your skin actually helps protect your pearls.(See tip #1: Ironic isn't it) If you find that your pealrs are dirty, wipe it with a damp, soft cloth.
Don't leave your pearls in direct sunlight.
Have a seprate compartment in your jewellery box for your pearls. While pearls are pretty shock absorbent, they can get scratched by your other jewellery.
Don't leave your pearls in the safety deposit box for extended periods of time. The lack of humidity inside the box will actually cause the pearls to crack. Besides, they get lonely :)