I get this question a lot and the answer is relatively simple so let’s dig in. Copper is the prime suspect when it comes to your skin turning green. Copper is present in a lot of jewelry either in pure or alloy form. Brass and bronze are two main culprits, while sterling silver and lower karat gold can also cause green skin. The reason this occurs is because chemicals and...

Jewelry care is a topic I love educating others about because there’s literally so much misinformation. A quick search can render a lot of information but it isn’t exactly accurate information. When it comes to caring for any natural gemstone avoid using chemicals or any other cleaning solution. Soapy water and a toothbrush is all you need to clean them. If that doesn’t get the job done, please bring it to your...

You’ve noticed your jewelry looks dull and dirty, now what? If you’re like me, you’ll google how to fix it only to realize your jewelry is tarnished and probably needs a good cleaning. There are many ways to accomplish getting your jewelry back to its original shiny and sparkling state but let’s talk about what’s gotten you there in the first place. Here are 5 jewelry mistakes to avoid:  1....

We’ve all been there, having a beloved piece suddenly break on us. Nothing worse than a clasp coming loose or chain breaking. Most repairs are fairly simple, however if you’re dealing with fine or demi-fine jewelry you’ll need to get it repaired professionally to ensure quality. Having spare parts for jewelry is always a good idea and I would suggest keeping spare ear nuts and jump rings on hand. Here’s...

We’ve all been there, grabbing a piece of jewelry to wear only to realize it’s turned a dark color or may even begin to smell metallic. Unfortunately the sulphur in air is to blame as it reacts with metals to cause tarnishing. The good news is that tarnish is easy to remove with products you probably already have at home.  There are many, many articles out there suggesting various ways...

We all likely own some gold and/or silver plated jewelry. The cost of plated jewelry is just plain attractive and plated jewelry appears no different then gold or silver pieces. If you're like me (and even if you aren't) then eventually the plated jewelry starts to smell which totally turns you off to ever wanting to wear the piece again. If you're also like the teenage me, you've probably tried...

Before I learned about the science of metals, I didn't own a polishing cloth.  My jewelry sat in a jewelry box and when it started smelling or turning black I hid it away never to wear again.  What I didn't know back then was there was a really simple solution to this problem; polishing cloths.  Just like everything else in life, polishing cloths come in many options and everyone ultimately...

When it comes to jewelry, prevention can go a long way to preserve pieces and keep them looking like new.  Understanding the whys behind some of the questions commonly asked is helpful to prevent or avoid damage.  Tarnished jewelry can sometimes be the reason why people won't wear their pieces because they think it will require too much work to get it back to its previous state.  But if you...