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Three Foolproof Methods for Removing Verdigris from Fine and Costume Jewelry

Verdigris is what happens when metals are weathered and exposed to air and moisture over time. The good news is that it’s easy to remove, and it’s easy to remove from costume jewelry and fine jewelry alike.

sterling silver statement necklace

How to Identify Sterling Silver Jewelry

Sterling silver is a common metal for jewelry because it ages well, is easy to manipulate, and is more affordable than gold or platinum. By definition, sterling silver is silver that is 925/1000 parts silver, or 92.5% silver. Pure silver (99% +) is too soft for jewelry-making so the highest silver content in jewelry is usually…

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siam sterling

What is Siam Sterling?

Siam Sterling jewelry was manufactured from the 1930s through the 1980s, and was a very popular motif in the 1950-60s. Although Siam officially changed its name to Thailand in the 1940s, the “Siam” nickname for this style of jewelry stuck.  Siam silver is officially called “Nielloware.” Niello is a black mixture of copper, silver, and lead, used as an inlay on engraved…

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How to Identify Stanhope Jewelry

Several months ago, I lucked out and found a large stash of Stanhope novelty pieces at a garage sale. The collection I had to choose from was mostly religious icons, like tiny paintings of saints, the Lord’s Prayer, and other iconography hidden in keychains and cross pendants. The naughty Stanhopes, however are highly collectible —…

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Star City Vintage

Star City Vintage was built in order to promote my online jewelry business and solicit the opportunity to purchase jewelry in the Greater Lafayette area. This is a good example of how existing themes and tools can be utilized to throw together a nice-looking site with ease and speed.

MidCentury Jewelry

MidCentury Jewelry is a full-service jewelry store based out of Ohio, and the site was built to order with a light and airy theme with an Art Deco motif. MCJ’s previous website was built before a shop and blog could easily be integrated and hosted together, and the administrator found the old e-commerce sites difficult…

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