With gold and platinum prices at all-time highs, lots of folks are buying sterling silver jewelry instead. Did you know that silver is the whitest metal, even whiter than platinum or rhodium? That’s why a flat, polished silver surface makes a perfect mirror. Some silver jewelry is plated with rhodium to prevent tarnish, so you should NOT polish this type of silver, because it will remove the plating! Though rhodium is a platinum-group metal, it is not quite as white as silver, so there are some advantages to leaving the silver au naturale, and we will talk about that in a minute. By the way, the Viridian Gold Jewelry Store will always tell you if one of our jewelry pieces is rhodium-plated, so that you will know how to care for it. Rhodium plating is also commonly used on white gold jewelry.

It doesn’t need regular polishing, because tarnish is kept at bay by skin oils and regular washing. That means that an item worn against the skin, such as a cross on a chain, or a ring, tends to stay relatively tarnish-free. Except when it is exposed to some harsh chemicals which accelerate oxidation. For instance, if you wear a silver neck-cross and go swimming in a chlorinated pool, the cross will quickly turn black! But, swim in a lake or spring-fed pool (like our Barton Springs pool here in Austin!), and nothing happens. Silver is, as the chemists say, “highly reactive”. Some substances besides oxygen, especially sulfur and chlorine, will combine with the silver to form compounds which are black in color. So, if your water supply is high in sulfur (well water is sometimes this way), or is loaded with chlorine, you will have a problem with silver tarnish. And, some folks’ skin oils contain chemicals which can accelerate tarnishing, because of their particular body chemistry or diet.

So, how to clean the polish? Well, you could use silver polish, and that works great–some polishes leave behind a film which helps prevent tarnishing (but that quickly wears off of a piece of jewelry that gets handled). Or, you could do what I do–just put a little toothpaste on your fingers and rub it on the piece, then rinse with water. Quick, convenient and cheap. Remember, though: Don’t polish silver that is rhodium plated. If the silver item is something that is not in constant contact with your skin, such as earrings or a brooch, then you need to make sure you store the jewelry item in an air-tight container or in a tarnish-inhibiting cloth.

Natural color diamonds are unique as they exist in almost every imaginable color, size and price range. Colored diamonds will vary from the faintest shade of pastel pink, blue or yellow to the most deep or vivid shade of brown, green or orange. The value of natural color diamonds is based on the rarity, strength and variation of color within each diamond.

When it comes to wearing beads around your neck, there are rules for similar color and type just like for any fashion accessory. Just like you simply can’t wear white after Labor Day, there are certain colors and types of jewelry to stay away from for the fall!

The bright, spring and summer than it was. So while you may want to wear something more remote, like many of quartz or rock particles of different items, you instead want to tone it down just a bit.

Amber is perhaps the most fall-like colored bead material there is for jewelry. Not only does its rich, warm orange perfectly match the fall foliage, but it gives off an air of sophistication and mystery. Being a completely natural occurring material you can be sure that there were very little environmental consequences to wearing amber beads.

Darker and deeper colors for stone beads is also a better idea for the fall. While bright and rich turquoise beads are great for spring and summer necklaces and bracelets, they generate images of the sunny Southwest and so are less fitting when the temperature gets frigid and chilly.

Instead of turquoise, go with the darker blue of lapis lazuli. Lapis is the color of the bluest ocean you’ve ever seen. A dark, mysterious blue that is more attuned to the darkened skies of a Northeast autumn. You can find lapis lazuli beads in just about any size or shape, from round to faceted.

Natural color diamonds are unique as they exist in almost every imaginable color, size and price range. Colored diamonds will vary from the faintest shade of pastel pink, blue or yellow to the most deep or vivid shade of brown, green or orange. The value of natural color diamonds is based on the rarity, strength and variation of color within each diamond.

Likewise, the rich green of malachite, with its alternating light and dark layers is well-suited for the shorter days marking the end of the year. You can however, find malachite beads in solidly lighter or darker greens. If you run across these go for the darker greens for fall and save the lighter green, and light green jade, for the long hot days of summer.

If you are looking at gemstone beads, you want to again go for the darker looks. Dark red ruby beads will cost more, as well a dark green emerald and dark blue sapphire, but their luster and depth will stun those around you at cocktail parties and autumn events.

If you choose to intermix gold or silver with any of the precious or semi-precious stone beads for your fall look, go for the darker, tarnished beads instead of the highly polished and bright beads. The shiny gold and silver will detract from the dark richness of the stone beads, which should be the focal point of your necklace, earrings or bracelet.

Beaded jewelry, from necklaces to bracelets, is an important accessory to complement any wardrobe. Whether you make them yourself or buy them off the shelf, it’s important to get the right look.