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Silver is one of the most popular metals from which to make jewelry and that is true of heart jewelry too. This popularity arises from many different reasons: for example, silver provides a perfect setting for practically any variety of gemstone, thereby making it a great choice for moderately priced heart rings, earrings and pendants featuring either natural or created gems.
A variety of birthstones including amethyst, garnet and topaz regularly appear in dazzling silver heart jewelry pieces (added to which, today’s man made and artificially created jewels look so much like the real thing that once set in silver they will look as if they cost an absolute fortune). Furthermore, silver’s natural qualities permit it to be made into an incredible spectrum of designs from a delicate sterling silver heart bracelet to chunky cuffs and linked chains. And the color of sterling silver lends it the look of platinum or white gold at a small fraction of the cost. However, because pure silver on its own is too soft a metal to be used in jewelry making, it is made into an alloy (usually with copper 92.5% pure silver, 7.5% copper) to give it strength and enable it to be made into far more intricate designs.
One effect of this is that although the copper adds strength to the silver it also means that silver has a tendency to tarnish as it reacts with sulfur in the air causing the silver to look dull and a patina to form on it. For this reason some people are put off buying silver heart jewelry which is a pity, because the silver color is so versatile that it complements any outfit from jeans and a shirt to an elegant ball gown. Your sterling silver heart bracelet can last a lifetime if you look after it and store it properly.
One of the best ways to keep your silver heart jewelry shiny and looking like new is to wear it frequently. The oils in your skin tend to put a coating on the metal making it less prone to tarnish. I have had a silver heart ring for years that I wear every day and it still has its lovely shine. When using household cleaning chemicals or hair care products (especially those containing ammonia and bleach) it is best to take off your silver jewelry as it will turn black if it comes into contact with some of these products. Even some make up products, soaps and perfumes can react with the silver, taking away its shine. So it is always best to leave putting on your silver heart locket and earrings until you have finished doing your face and hair.
If you cannot wear your silver heart jewelry everyday then you need to store it properly to minimize the amount it tarnishes. Keeping it in an airtight container out of the light will certainly help to stop the sulfur in the atmosphere from getting to it. Wrapping your silver heart bracelet in a tarnish preventative cloth (this will also prevent the metal from getting scratched by other pieces) and putting it in an airtight plastic bag and placing it in drawer is the best way of storing it.
To clean the tarnish off silver jewelry it is best to choose one of the products that you can buy from the jewelers. Silver dips are probably the easiest way to clean all pieces, from earrings, rings and sterling silver heart charm bracelet to chains and brooches, but you need to follow the instructions carefully especially if the pieces have gemstones set into them. Sometimes these cleaning products can have devastating effects on some gems such as pearls and opals so choose one that says it is gentle and suitable for gemstones. If in doubt it is beat to take the item to the jeweler’s to be professionally cleaned.
Following these guidelines will help to keep your sterling silver heart bracelet looking shiny and new and ensure you enjoy wearing it for years to come.
