Opal Inspirations would like you to know that there are different products that you can purchase that are safe for pearls, opals, soft stone, costume jewelry and antique jewelry.  One in particular is Jewel Brite Jewelry Cleaner.  We've used it and recommend it.  It contains no alcohol and has a pleasant fragrance.  Jewel Brite Jewelry Cleaner is a professional jewelry cleaner that we provide for sale here, as well as other excellent cleaners that are safe for your jewelry.

If you prefer not to use a professional cleaner, here are some hints for keeping your jewelry clean.  Always wipe off any makeup or oils before storing.  When cleaning sterling silver, remember that it is easily scratched, so you must use soft cotton to gently rub any fingerprints away.  You may also use a soaking bath of mild liquid soap and warm water, rinsing with clear water afterwards.  Toothpaste is NOT recommended because it is abrasive and will scratch the surface.  Never use bleach or chlorine products on your jewelry.

 Try storing your fine jewelry separately in plastic bags; wrap any sterling silver in jeweler's tissue paper to help retard tarnish before storing in a plasic bag.

Soft stones and pearls should be stored separately so as not to acquire scratches and mars from other harder jewelry.  Extended soaking of soft stones may be harmful to their finishes.

JEWELRY METALS GUIDE

Argentium - Has 92.5% fine silver and requires no maintenance at all. You never ever have to polish it at all and it will stay fresh and bright. It has more strength than sterling.

Gold-Filled - Items are made by combining a layer or layers of gold alloy to a base metal (usually brass), then rolling or drawing the metal to the desired thickness and shape.  It has a long life and can be worn by most people without reactions or any difficulties.

Gold-plated, Silver-plated and Nickel-plated - Items have an industry standard of .15 to .25 mils thickness of gold, silver or nickel which is plated to the surface of the base metal.

Karat - The measure of the fineness of gold.  24kt is pure gold.  14kt is 14 parts pure gold.  The balance is alloy.  14kt gold is the standard fineness used for most jewelry in the US.

Nickel Silver - Are items made of an alloy, mostly containing nickel.  Nickel silver resembles sterling silver in color, with a greyer tone to it.

Pewter - Available in both genuine and lead-free varieties.

SS or Sterling Silver - Items are made of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% copper or other alloy, proportions fixed by law.  Sterling silver will patina over time and take on an antique look. The use of silver for its medical and therapeutic benefits date back thousands of years. The "magical healing" powers of silver were first documented by the ROMANS who used it it cover wounds. In the 5th century BC, Cyrus the Great would only allow his troops to go to war if they carried water in silver vessels - keeping their water supply clean and safe. Silver foil was used as a wound dressing at the turn of the century and considered the first antibiotic. Today silver is used for its antimicrobial properties in healthcare products where infection control is critical. The majority of us are first exposed to silver at birth, when silver nitrate eye drops are used to prevent infection. Silver is the most thermally conductive element on the planet. Silver possesses the highest electrical conductivity rating of any element. Silver is used in a wide range of medical devices for its therapeutic qualities. Many people claim to experience acupuncture-like effects, the elimination or reduction of swelling & increased energy!

Vermeil - Items are made of sterling silver, heavily electroplated with 18kt or 22kt yellow gold.

                                                           GEMSTONE ENHANCEMENT GUIDE

The gemstones that we use in our creations are purchased from a variety of locations and dealers.  Any information regarding the stones that are disclosed to us, will in turn, be provided to you.  Many stones are natural but there are also enhanced, synthetic and imitation (manmade) gemstones.  All the symbols we provide in our site are used by the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA).  The following is a partial list explaining the symbols we may use in our descriptions of any gemstones.

(ASBL) - Assembled.  Products made of multiple layers or combos of manufactured and/or natural materials joined together

(B) - Bleaching.  The use of chemical agents to lighten or remove a gemstone's color.

(C) - Coating.  Surface enhancements to improve appearance, provide color or add other special effects.

(D) - Dyeing.  The introduction of coloring matter into a gemstone to give it new color, intensify its present color or improve its color uniformity.

(E) - Enhanced.  This indicates that this type of gemstone is routinely enhanced.

(F) - Filling.  As a by product of heat enhancement, solidified borax or similar colorless substances, which are visible under properly illuminated 10 times magnification, may be present.

(H) - Heating.  The use of heat to effect desired alteration of color, clarity and or phenomena.

(I) - Infilling.  The intentional filling of surface breaking cavities or fractures usually with glass, plastic, opticon with hardeners.

(IMIT) - Imitation.  Man made products fabricated in such materials as glass, ceramic or plastic designed to imitate or resemble natural gemstones.

(MM) - Man made or fabricated products.

(N) - Natural.  Stones which are not currently known to be enhanced.

(S) - Stabilization or Bonding.  The use of a colorless bonding agent (commonly plastic) with a porous gemstone to give it durability and improve appearance.

(Syn) - Synthetic.  These are man made materials which have essentially the same optical, physical and chemical properties as a naturally occuring counterpart.

(W) - Waxing/Oiling.  The impregnation of a colorless wax, paraffin and/or oil into porous opaque gemstones to improve their appearance.