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| Did you know... Metals, Stones and Caring for them | We use eco-friendly Sterling Silver and Copper "Go Green and Look Gorgeous doing it" 
Why be ordinary...create your own unique style and get noticed! | 
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| What are the various types of metals and how do you care for them?
STERLING SILVER (SS) Sterling Silver is an alloy made up of 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals, usually Copper. It is strong and beautiful and when polished it has a lustrous sheen.
A lovely patina, which has a soft glow with darkened areas, will develop on Sterling Silver jewelry that is worn often. If you prefer a shiny look, use a mild-low abrasive cleaner or polishing cloth.
NEVER use toothpaste to clean your sterling silver jewelry. This will result in fine scratches that can dull the surface.
Store your Sterling Silver jewelry in anti-tarnish cloth bags or in plastic bags. This will also protect your jewelry from scratches.
ARGENTIUM STERLING is a .925 sterling silver with the addition of germanium, making it tarnish resistant.
Handle and care for Argentuum Sterling Silver the same as Sterling Silver.
SILVER PLATE (SP) A thin layer of silver is deposited on a base metal by electrolysis. A silver plated piece is not the same as sterling silver and will wear off over time.
GOLD Gold is a precious metal that does not oxidize or tarnish like other metals do. Common gold alloys are made by mixing silver, copper and other metals to produce 22K, 18K and 14K gold. K or Karat is the measure of fineness of gold.
The ratio of added metals determines its hardness and karat. It is very malleable and can be melted and cast into various shapes and sizes.
WHITE GOLD is an alloy mixture of gold, palladium and or nickel and zinc. Because of the nickel content in the alloy, white gold is whiter and brighter than silver.
ROSE GOLD Rose Gold is an alloy mix of gold and copper.
GOLD FILLED (GF) Gold Filled is made by fusing a layer of Karat Gold to a supporting metal or alloy, which produces a bond that is permanent and durable. With reasonable care, it should last a lifetime.
Clean gently with a polishing cloth or use a mild soap and warm water. Rinse completely and dry.
Store your Gold Filled jewelry in a plastic or cloth jewelry bag.
GOLD PLATE (GP) A thin layer of gold is applied to a base metal. This finish will wear off over time.
COPPER Since copper naturally tends to tarnish easily, it will acquire an antiqued look.
Handle and care for Copper Jewelry the same as Sterling Silver. To keep it looking bright, use a gentle copper cleaner and polishing cloth to remove tarnish. Store your copper jewelry in an anti-tarnish or plastic bag.
PEWTER Pewter is an alloy made up of tin, lead (U.S. pewter manufactuers are required to make lead free pewter) silver, antimony and copper. Copper and antimony are added to make the pewter harder.
PLATINUM Of the three precious metals, platinum is the rarest. It is harder than gold or silver, making it very durable. It resists oxidation or tarnish and has a whiter color than silver.
VERMEIL Vermeil is made by coating a core of sterling silver with a thin layer of 14K gold. It has the look and feel of pure gold.
PATINA, OXIDIZED OR ANTIQUED FINISH can be a highly desired look, achieved by the application of silver black or by normal wearing. Do Not use a silver cleaner if you want the patina because this will remove most of the blackened areas. A soft polishing cloth will keep the raised area looking bright.
BASE METAL Base Metal is a non-precious metal that is used as a core or frame for plating. Nickel & Brass are often used in base metal jewelry.
| Make a habit of putting on your jewelry after you do your makeup and hair, so it is not exposed to to any harsh products. Never wear your handcrafted or Gemstone jewelry in a swimming pool, in salt water or while bathing. The chemicals can discolor and dull the luster of Gemstones, Beads and Pearls and can weaken some components.
If you do expose your handcrafted or Gemstone jewelry to harsh chemicals, wash in warm water with gentle soap,rinse and dry completely as soon as possible. Store your handcrafted or Gemstone jewelry separately in a dry place to avoid damage. Little plastic bags are great for protecting and keeping track of all your special pieces.
Most Gemstones may fade if exposured to the sun for long periods of time.. Protect your Gemstones from impact or dropping, as this could damage its beauty. Metal closures and wires that are tugged, bent or pulled can weaken and break over time. To keep your jewelry clean, wipe with a clean soft cloth after wearing. It will be ready for the next time and will enhance the luster and shine. DO NOT use tooth paste or chemical cleaners on your Gemstones. This can erode the luster. | What are different types of Glass beads? ART GLASS is made by individual artists one piece at a time. SWAROVSKI CRYSTALS are considered to be one of the finest of its kind in the world. LAMPWORD BEADS are hand made by a process dating back to the middle ages in which glass rods are heated over a flame to form molten glass over a stainless steel rod, called amandrel, to create beads into all kinds of fun shapes and designs. DELICA (registered trade name), a Japanese seed bead made from cut glass, are uniform in shape, size and consistent in color. DICHROIC GLASS is made by layers of ultra thin layers of alumium, chromium, silicon and a metal alloy such as titanium or zirconium. The individual look to these glass creations are a result of pure light manipulation and will look different with lighting. DRUK refers to a round smooth glass bead. MILLEFIORI BEADS are created by the fusion of several glass rods to make a floral pattern or mosaic. MORETTI is a transparant and opaque soft glass made in Italy SEED BEADS are small beads made from glass tube segments. | What are Precious & Semi Precious Gemstones? PRECIOUS Gemstones are Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald and precious Opal. SEMI PRECIOUS Gemstones are any stone that is not classified as precious such as Adventurine, Turquoise, Aquamarine, Jade, Agate, Pearl, Rose Quartz | Blackdog Handcrafted Jewelry uses professional quality beading wire that has extreme flexibility and strength. Usually a medium 19 or heavy 24/49 strand nylon coated stainless steel depending on size and weight of bead and length of strand. Unless stated, all pieces are made using .925 Sterling Silver, Copper or quality Gold Filled materials. The Gemstones we use are genuine, although some may have been heat treated to provide stability and deepen colors. The Freshwater Pearls we use are genuine cultured pearls. Each piece is indiviually made by hand, designed for comfort, beauty and FUN! Because our jewelry is made by hand, peices and may vary sligthly. |
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