INSPIRED JEWELLERY QUALITY & HALLMARKS
What is .925 STERLING SILVER?
Pure (99.99%) or ‘fine’ silver is a soft metal meaning it can dent or bend far too easily to remain in use as jewellery as it is, so is usually mixed with other metals to create an alloy that’s stronger, yet with the same beautiful brightness we love. Hallmarks indicate the purity of the silver alloy used in the manufacture of silver items and jewellery marked as .925 silver means the metal meets the minimum standard of 92.5% of fine silver and just 7.5% other metals.
‘Silver Plated’ or ‘filled’ jewellery contains only a surface layer of real silver which is electroplated over a cheaper metal and unfortunately often results in areas wearing thin to reveal the lesser material underneath.
Every piece of INSPIRED jewellery is made with .925 quality Sterling Silver through and through, meaning the metal elements of your ‘wearable art’ piece will stay glowingly beautiful no matter how many times you wear or polish them!
See below information on caring for your INSPIRED jewellery.
INSPIRED GEMSTONE JEWELLERY
Gemstones are formed through natural and yet highly specific geological processes to create variations of stone with extra special qualities. Depending on the prismatic structure of each type of stone, energy and light flows through them in measurably different ways and it is exactly this reason that means they can be put to work (as well as on display for their beauty).
Some stones are heated or dyed to appear more colourful or to mimic other more expensive stones but this can alter the very structure, and therefore the performance, of the stone.
The subtle healing and supportive energies of the gemstones I choose to work with are as important to me as getting the right colours or shapes to craft a scene with, which is why only genuine varieties find their way into INSPIRED designs where they can work their natural magic on the wearer. Information on the particular energies of the stones are included on each listing and are included on a small care sheet inside the gift box for each order.
Since gemstones are a natural material and vary from stone to stone - the exact patterns or ‘flaws’ that make them so appealing and uniquely beautiful will vary slightly in each art piece, like the three lovely Moss Agate beads pictured here. Each sphere is like a tiny forest landscape of it’s own, these particular beads becoming a glistening centre piece in a line of dark lava for the ‘EDEN’ design bracelet.
This also means that while it’s impossible to specify the exact pattern you will receive (trust that the universe will guide the right stones to the recipients), you can be sure that no-one else will ever have the exact same thing!
HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR SILVER AND GEMSTONE JEWELLERY
When metals react to the oxygen or other pollutants in the air they can corrode or tarnish, though .925 Sterling Silver is easy to care for. Another reason to love it! By following the advice below, your ‘wearable art’ jewellery should be admired for many seasons to come…
Silver tarnishes quickly when exposed to sulfur in the air or environment - resulting in a darkened layer on top of the metal. This can be easily polished away, or avoided by storing in an airtight container when not being worn.
Polish the silver elements of your INSPIRED jewellery regularly (using a soft cloth to avoid scratching) to keep it shining brightly, and in the rare case that your ‘wearable art’ piece requires a deep clean, do so gently using just soap and water. Do not ‘scrub’ the cotton as it will cause it to weaken and fray, and be sure to dry your jewellery quickly and thoroughly after cleaning.
Some gemstones such as Quartz are famously tough, yet others are soft and can be scratched easily or dulled by harsh chemicals. Never store your jewellery where it can tangle with or scratch/be scratched by other jewellery pieces.
Take care not to expose the cotton elements to dyes or other colourants (eg. be careful with fresh spray tans!) as it might not come clean. Always remove your jewellery before going swimming (Chlorine is a form of bleach), and get into the habit of putting your jewellery on last - after you have finished applying perfume and hairsprays etc.
Each stunning piece of INSPIRED gemstone jewellery goes through a lengthy process before it becomes what you see ready for purchase.
It’s a lot more than merely stringing colours together; many hours of research, painting, and igniting sparks of inspiration go into each design!