Mexican jewelry care
Mexican jewelry is most vibrant and beautiful when it is free from tarnish
and scratches. It can be difficult keeping sterling silver jewelry looking
its best, especially if all you know to use is a bottle of polish. Many
times we let our Taxco silver get good and tarnished and then use some
silver jewelry polish when it's just too dull to wear.
Well it doesn't have to
be that way. With a little care, your sterling silver jewelry will retain
its luster for long periods of time without polishing
and will stay beautiful for a lifetime. Here are some easy tips for keeping
your Mexican jewelry looking shiny and new with minimal cleaning.
- First of all, humidity, air, and sunshine are the biggest tarnish culprits.
So if you will not be wearing a piece for an extended period of time,
store it in an airtight bag or container - such as a zip-lock bag.
- Put an anti-tarnish strip in your jewelry box. These are little carbon
paper strips that absorb tarnish-causing compounds in the air.
Remember
that they need to be changed every 6 months.
- Fine silver jewelry, such
as handmade 925 Taxco silver, is polished to a high shine. Protect
your jewelry from scratches as best you can, and do not
throw your jewelry all together in your jewelry box or it will rub
against
each other.
- Wait to put your jewelry on until after you've put
on your perfume and hairspray.
- Take your jewelry off before cleaning
with or using harsh chemicals. Chemicals such as bleach, ammonia, and
finger nail polish can dull and damage
the surface
of your silver jewelry.
- When your Taxco silver does get a little tarnished,
use a sunshine cloth. Sunshine cloths work like a charm and are quick
and easy to use. You can
find them
at most local jewelry stores.
These cloths run at about $4 a piece, but they last a long time.
- Wear
your silver jewelry (except for the occasions noted above of
course). Believe it or not, your own body oils help retard the tarnish
process. So wear your Mexican jewelry and enjoy it for life.
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