UK Handmade Jewellery

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Comment by Louise Crawford on June 7, 2013 at 19:20

Evening UK Jewellers, as a new member I just wanted to say hi. My craft is making leather jewellery, although I did start with beaded. You can find me on facebook under Liquorice Jewellery.

Comment by THERESA HING on May 26, 2013 at 22:55

Just listed this new ringset on Folksy & Etsy.

Also last day of Open Studios so now I can concentrate on making more!

Comment by Diana Coe on April 16, 2013 at 17:12

Hi everyone :)

I am new to UK Handmade and this group.

Beads are my business, the really tiny ones that I make into beadwork jewellery.

Diana from Beadwork & Coe

Comment by Tricia - Tricky's Boutique on December 11, 2012 at 16:54

I'm a new member to this group -just wanted to say hello from Tricky's Boutique :)

Comment by Katie Morton on December 8, 2012 at 20:23

hi, everyone. I make crocheted jewellrey. Iv just started to do it as a bussiness recently.  This is a collar from my collection Candy Girl

Comment by Lulu Whitehead (Pattenden-Gregg) on October 30, 2012 at 11:47

Hi everyone, I've just joined UKHandmade and your group. I make 'Fine & Bridal Jewellery' from Skipton, Yorkshire and specialise in classic, chic and quality pieces. As I've just started I'm looking for all the help I can on the marketing side - my jewellery is quite expensive, gemstones / pearls and all handcrafted. I sell online but would like to find an up-market reputable store to approach as my one 'visible outlet', so I'm open to all and any advice anyone has!

Many thanks :-)

Comment by Lorraine Jones on May 28, 2012 at 20:18

Thank you for all of that Theresa.  Yes it is sterling silver.  I presume the pieces I have from the same time haven't tarnished because I store all of my boxed jewellery together in large plastic containers. I can sympathise with her shock at getting one ready to gift and seeing it tarnished - I just hope she realises that it is a problem with the humidity over there and not my jewellery.  I do have tarnish preventing inserts but I think with the humidity over in Cyprus there is only so much these can do.  I'm a little unsure of how to deal with the customer really - they did ask regarding returns but I hope they take my offer of a silver cloth and that they are happy once they polish up.  Thanks again :)

Comment by THERESA HING on May 28, 2012 at 19:57

Hi Lorraine - I am assuming the items are sterling silver? I found this for you, but really your customer cannot expect the tarnish to be your fault.  I have to constantly polish any of my items that are left out on display. Even after just a couple of weeks they start to tarnish. I think be helpful, commiserate and offer her advice and yes even a polishing cloth and/or tabs and see what happens next.

 'Sterling silver jewelry is easy to care for if you follow a few simple steps with a minimum amount of time and effort. Storing silver jewelry for a prolonged time without proper care causes it to tarnish.

Tarnish on Sterling Silver Jewelry can look different depending on how long it's been oxidizing. It usually can be yellowyish in color or in extreme cases, black. Tarnish occurs when sterling silver reacts with oxygen in the air to form silver oxide on silver surface. Other factors that cause tarnish are exposure to humidity, sulphur, certain acids and cosmetics such as lotions, perfume etc.,  Contact with rubber bands also may cause tarnish due to the sulphur in the rubber band.

Store your jewelry in a cool, dry place. The more moist the climate, the faster it tarnishes. Store them in individual small plastic sealed ziploc bags. This prevents scratches and other substances in the air that speeds up tarnish. There are jewelry boxes available in jewelry stores that is lined with a tarnish-free material to keep your silver in it's original condition. Bigger pieces can be wrapped in an anti-tarnish cloth. Include an Anti-tarnish strip in individual jewelry bags and change the strips in every two to three months. Silica Gel packs are also useful in absorbing moisture in the air.

A new technology eliminate the need of anti-tarnish strips to prevent tarnish on your silver or gold jewlery. Use anti-tarnish recloseable plastic bags made of Carbon-impregnated plastic to store your silver or gold jewelry. Thanks to the new technology developed by Nicholas Kotov, a chemical engineering professor at the University of Michigan. Carbon-impregnated plastic neutralizes the gases and moisture in the atmosphere that corrode and oxidizes silver and ensures your silver jewelry is tarnish-free for upto two years. Do not wear your silver jewelry while cleaning, swimming and taking a shower. The chemicals such as ammonia, bleach and chlorine in water could cause tarnishing. Before returning your silver jewelry to storage, wipe and clean them with a soft cotton cloth preferably a professional jewelry polishing cloth to remove any body oils, dirt, lotions etc., Do not use paper towels or tissues to dry your jewelry as they contain fibers that can scratch silver surface.

To clean lightly tarnished silver jewelry items, wash in warm water with phosphate free mild soap, rinse and dry thorougly with a soft cotton cloth. It is a good practice to clean your silver jewelry once in a year using an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner. However, silver jewelry studded with gemstones should not be cleaned using an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner as the chemical used in the cleaner might damage the gemstone. Silver is a soft metal and can be easily scratched so be sure to use a clean soft cotton cloth to remove any dust or dirt before using polishing cloth on the jewelry. When in doubt about the methods or materials you use to remove tarnish, clean or polish your silver jewelry, please take it to a Professional Jeweler.'

If you Google'how to prevent silver tarnishing' you will find lots of advice.

Good luck

Theresa

Comment by Lorraine Jones on May 28, 2012 at 19:19

Hi All

I'm looking for a little bit of advice.  I've just had an email from a past customer who bought a substantial amount of stock from me when I was still living in Cyprus.  She's complaining that the silver has tarnished - she bought them for gifts.  Now I know that necklaces I have here and now from the same time are not tarnished and that the advanced stage of tarnishing is either from wearing or from the humidity in Cyprus.  What would you do in the same situation?  I've offered to send, free of charge, a silver polishing cloth and I've suggested sealing the boxed necklaces in bags to protect them from the moisture.  I'm not sure I can afford a total refund :(

Comment by Lorraine Jones on May 8, 2012 at 10:26

Thank you - same to you too!   :)

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