Our Products, Hallmarking & Cleaning
Our Products
Silver by Victoria provides our customers with Sterling Silver jewellery. A large portion of our products are handcrafted and unique, designed and created by me. A small amount of our products is outsourced by other makers. These items are handpicked with our customers in mind, allowing Silver by Victoria to provide jewellery which can be diverse and afforded by everyone, for all budgets and styles. Our sterling silver jewellery is clearly 925 stamped or hallmarked for your quality guarantee.
Why Hallmark?
Hallmarking can be dated back to 1300 when it was introduced to protect the public and traders against fraud. As silver must be alloyed with other metals to be workable, hallmarking was put in place to check the levels of silver and other metals used. Hallmarking of precious metals is a legal requirement in the UK. If it has a hallmark, you can be sure you are getting the genuine article.
All our items will hold either a full hallmark, issued by the Sheffield Assay Office or is stamped 925. This is decided by the weight of each individual item. It is law to hallmark any item which weighs over 7.78 grams.
The only items which are exempt from hallmarking are those which are under the legal weight threshold, 1 gram for gold, 0.5 grams for platinum and 7.78 grams for silver.
Current hallmark symbols until 1998, a hallmark consisted of four compulsory Marks. Since 1998 the date Mark has become optional but the other three symbols remain compulsory. There are optional marks, the maker has the option of adding. All items created by Silver by Victoria, hold our makers mark which is VLB.
Cleaning Silver Jewellery
For Jewellery that is just dull, filmy, or starting to discolour, mix a few drops of soap with warm water, and dip in a soft cloth. Rub over the jewellery, then rinse in cool water and polish with a cloth until dry.
For more tarnished items, mix a paste of three parts baking soda to one part water. Wet the silver and apply the cleaner with a soft, lint-free cloth. Work the paste into the crevices, turning the cloth as it gets grey.
You can also use Aluminium Foil to clean tarnished silver. Line a tray with a piece of crumpled aluminium foil and place your jewellery on the foil. Sprinkle a layer of baking soda over the jewellery and then pour boiling water over it. The tarnish will transfer from the jewellery to the foil. You may need to turn the jewellery around so all sides meet the foil.
Other methods to keep your silver jewellery shining is to purchase a specially impregnated silver polishing cloth or Silver Dip only use it very occasionally followed by a gentle wash in soapy water to remove any residue. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Don’t soak silver; this speeds up rather than removes tarnish. Don’t use abrasive cleaners on silver jewellery. Don’t use tissues, cotton wool, paper towels or anything abrasive for cleaning silver. These products can scratch the silver.
Cleaning Copper & Brass Jewellery
Copper and Brass jewellery can lose its bright shine and take on a patina of its very own. This can be wonderful to a point, but when it starts to discolour your skin a strange shade of green, it can discourage you from even buying copper jewellery again. The simplest way to clean dull copper jewellery is to use anything with a high acidic content such as Lemon Juice, Tomato Ketchup or Worcestershire Sauce. Place your copper jewellery in a glass, or plastic container, not metal and pour the chosen cleaning agent over the item and allow it to sit for about 10 to 20 minutes.
You may have to change the cleaning liquid a couple of times if the copper is extremely dirty. You may use your old toothbrush to gently scrub into the cracks and crevasses when you have achieved the desired cleaning, rinse in water and pat dry with a towel. Please DO NOT leave your jewellery in the acid soak for any extended period OR if you’re copper or brass jewellery has pearls, or any other soft stone DON’T use any of these ways of cleaning!
Cleaning Soft & Porous Materials
Jewellery that has pearls and turquoise, you need nothing more than soap and water to get them looking their best. Place them quickly in a solution of 2 cups warm water and a few drops of soap. Wipe each pearl with a soft, dry cotton cloth and lay flat to dry. Turquoise doesn't even need soap to come clean. Simply dip a soft-bristled toothbrush into warm water and scrub the stone clean. Dry with a clean, soft cloth, it’s important to let these items air-dry for several hours before storing.
Storing Your Jewellery
Ideally store your jewellery separately in re-sealable plastic bags or wrap up in soft material to protect them. Keep in a dark place in an airtight container or jewellery box. Silver is more prone to tarnishing caused by over-exposure to light and air, so if you can limit this when you aren't wearing it, the less tarnish will occur.