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| Silver
Care 101 At Phoenix Sterling, Ltd. we design and produce our jewelry with the express intent that it last more than a lifetime and increase in value with each year that passes. To insure that your great-grandchildren enjoy your sterling as much as you, only a minimum of common-sense care is required. First of all, as we’ve explained elsewhere, our sterling is easier to care for than most because it’s made better than it has to be. Phoenix sterling contains 94% pure silver in most of our applications. The law only requires 92.5%. This seemingly small difference in silver content means that Phoenix jewelry is better looking to start with and is easier to keep looking that way. The higher silver content in Phoenix sterling makes it naturally whiter and slower to tarnish than the “barely legal” sterling normally sold elsewhere. What causes sterling to tarnish is the interaction between silver (as well as the metals that accompany it in the sterling alloy) and humidity, chemicals in the air, food (especially onions, eggs, mayonnaise, salad dressing), salt, wool, felt, rubber bands, latex gloves, carpet padding, sulfur in the air, and oily residue from hands and fingers. Interestingly some people have perspiration/body oil that is quite corrosive to a number of metals, including silver and brass, as examples. One factor apparently affecting this corrosiveness is diet. Those who consume more than normal amounts of soft drinks and salty junk foods seem to be more prone to have this problem. One of the easiest things you can do to delay and reduce tarnishing of your jewelry is simply to wear it. Of course, it’s a good idea after wearing to wipe it clean with a soft cloth, such as a jewelry-polishing cloth, before putting it away. If you expect not to wear a piece for some time, wrapping it in a clean, soft, cotton cloth and sealing it in a locking plastic bag will help maintain its appearance. Before that board meeting or special evening, or whenever you notice your sterling seems to have lost some of its luster, simply polish it with a good, commercially available silver polish. We recommend 3M’s Tarni-Shield™. This a good non-abrasive cleaner/polish and provides an effective tarnish barrier. Just follow the instructions on the bottle. Tarni-Shield™ is available at grocery stores, mass-merchandisers, etc. Any tag, sticker, or other goo that finds its way onto your jewelry can usually be easily removed with a cotton ball and a bit of common rubbing alcohol. We recommend against silver dips, toothpaste, or any other aggressive chemical or abrasive product. We also recommend against scrubbing or brushing your silver in efforts to clean or polish it. Inappropriate products or techniques used on your jewelry may scratch the surface or remove the factory-applied patina that we use on many of our pieces to increase contrast and highlight the texture, depth, and design. Should you ever have scratches to remove or require heavy-duty cleaning, we suggest you seek local professional assistance, which you should find to be effective and inexpensive. |
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mail with questions or comments to:
contact@phoenixsterling.com