Shiny, Shiny Jewellery
Most of the jewellery I wear is silver.
I don't really feel comfortable in gold. I don't think it really suits my skin tones.
It's funny, I didn't really work that out until my late teens. Up until I was 17 or 18, I only wore gold.
So sadly, a lot of the jewellery received as gifts in my teens, I haven't worn since then. I still have it all – rings, earrings, bracelets – because I can't bear to part with it, but I won't ever wear it again.
Should I be so sentimental, or should I just cash it all in while the price of gold is high and go splurge on something I will wear for years to come?
Conundrum.
***
Anyway, that's not what this post is about.
It's about how our jewellery gets grubby from everyday wear, or just from natural oxidisation, and that 'like new' feeling you get when you give it all a good clean.
Which is what I did recently.
These are all my nice shiny, shiny baubles after a thorough cleaning.
I swear, when you see all your jewellery sparkling clean, it makes you want to wear them all again. You realise how you wear some of the same pieces over and over, and neglect others to just sit there getting tarnished.
This is what I use to clean my jewellery.
The coolest one is the O-So-Bright plate. I think I picked up from a demo at a craft fair for $5.
I think the thin metal plate is zinc, but don't quote me. I'm not a scientist, but I do get that it's something to do with the metal and the salt in the washing soda (I use Lectric Soda) plus water, that causes a reaction that cleans the dirt and tarnish off your gold and silver.
It's pretty cool to watch. You see your jewellery starting to shine right before your eyes. The best thing is it's not abrasive so won't wear away any of the gold or silver, which is great for plated stuff.
It's brilliant for chains and pendants and anything that will kind of sit flattish on the plate. Not as good for, say, rings or earrings with intricate bits where the dirt/tarnish kind of hides. For that I use the silver cleaner in the tub and a toothbrush, or the silver cloth.
Have I inspired you to go and give all your jewellery a clean? I hope so… it's so satisfying!
***
Here's another piece of jewellery, a brooch, that I bought recently. Well, a couple of old friends gifted me some money when I was unwell to treat myself with, so this is what I bought, because the two little birds will always make me think of them when I wear it 
They're made of ponyskin and wire, and they're a fairtrade item, made by artists in Africa.
I love it because it's very bright and different from what I usually buy. It makes me smile whenever I wear it, so I think it was a good choice for a 'get well' gift.
I think I'll wear it tomorrow.
xx Kiki
Have you considered getting your yellow gold jewellery rhodium plated to turn it into white gold? It might be an option? It would allow you to wear the pieces again… I do love that bird brooch – any chance you could share where you bought it from?
Kitty – How funny – I was just reading something about rhodium plating yesterday. You know, that’s probably not a bad idea. I will have to look into that. Thank you
I bought the brooch in a gift/homewares shop in Ormond Rd, Elwood but I can’t remember the name
I will swing by and find out, but I do remember it’s practically opposite the Turtle Cafe. Will let you know!
Kitty – the shop is called Eclectic Trading, 22 Ormond Rd, Elwood, Ph.9531 0014. Take money – lots of money (not because it’s overly expensive – but because you will want to buy so many things!). One of the best gift shops I’ve been to in a long time.
Thanks for that, Valankuay… saved me a trip
Hello! This might be awfully boring and nerdy but I thought you might be interested in how the cleaning plate works . Basically you’re creating a home version of a galvanic cell (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galvanic_cell), or a battery. The soda acts as an electrical conductor and a spontaneous reactions occurs where electrons are transferred from the silver to the zinc plate, carrying the tarnish and dirt with them
SkekTek – No, not boring or nerdy at all. I find it fascinating. I actually wiki’d ‘electrolytic’ when I wrote the post but your explanation is much easier to understand. Who would have thought a battery could have a cleaning action. Thank you!