Shopping for artisan jewelry at Silpada means that you’re buying a piece with an inspired backstory and a high level of craftsmanship. It’s the perfect choice for those looking to add something special to their look and jewelry collection. In addition, every piece purchased contributes to the success of a female entrepreneur’s small business and helps make her dreams come true. (Our favorite part of artisan jewelry!)

From our origins, Silpada has always had a long history and deep respect for artisans and the work they do. Fast forward almost two decades, and we’ve only built on that sentiment, becoming a destination for artisan jewelry. We’ve worked with a number of artisans throughout the years and in 2021—we’ve decided we need to think bigger. 

Sterling silver jewelry will last for decades if maintained properly, so a little regular cleaning goes a long way. There are some special considerations for cleaning your sterling silver jewelry with gemstones, as some of the common methods for cleaning sterling silver can damage delicate gemstones. 

Read on to learn about safe, effective, and easy solutions for cleaning your sterling silver jewelry with gemstones. 

Tools & Materials to Use for Cleaning Sterling Silver Jewelry with Gemstones

When cleaning your sterling silver necklaces, rings, earrings, and bracelets with gemstones, you’ll need a small set of tools and materials to make your cleaning effective. Better yet, some of the best ways to clean your sterling silver jewelry involve ingredients that you might already have around the house. Here are some of our favorite items to keep handy for cleaning jewelry:

• Gentle dish soap
• Lint-free microfiber cloths
• A soft-bristled toothbrush
• A polishing cloth
• Steam (from a steam cleaner or boiling water—just don’t put the jewelry in the water!)
• Silver jewelry cleaning solution

When shopping for sterling silver jewelry, it may be hard to know which types of gemstones you or your gift recipient may want.

It can be tempting to go with the first piece that draws your eye, or to reference one of the trending popular gemstones and jewelry styles for inspiration. However, when doing your research you may want to consider some additional factors, such as:

• Resistance to scratching
• Color
• Occasion (birthstones or anniversaries)
• Ease of care

A rating system such as the Mohs Hardness Scale can help you decide which type of gemstone to purchase based on how scratch-resistant the jewelry is. Based on a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 being the softest to 10 being the hardest mineral, the Mohs Hardness Scale can be a great tool to identify what minerals are more prone to scratching than others. If you or your recipient lives an active lifestyle, a gemstone higher on the Mohs Hardness Scale, such as a diamond or topaz, might be more practical.

At Silpada, we’re always working to come up with ways to support and empower women. From keeping them heart-healthy (WomenHeart) to preserving the world they live in (One Tree Planted), we’ve tried to leave no rock unturned when it comes to our mission for change. 

As we continue to explore ways to help our communities, a thought occurred—women didn’t start as women. We were all little girls once. Curious, courageous, colorful little girls. Little girls that have to face personal and societal challenges and barriers. Little girls that, we believe, can learn and grow up intelligent, strong, and bold in spite of it all—with some support and guidance. 

With this new commitment at the forefront of our minds, we started looking for organizations where we could be a supporter for girls in our communities. Coincidentally (and fortuitously!), our Director of Marketplaces and Merchandising, Laura Parker, has an 11-year-old daughter. She’s part of an excellent group called Girls Inc. They teach girls of all ages how to value themselves, take risks, and discover and develop natural strengths and skills. 

Buying jewelry for a special person in your life—whether a girlfriend, wife, mother, best friend, sister, or someone else—can be tricky. The right piece can be the perfect gift for a special day, celebration, or “just because.” However, jewelry that doesn’t quite make her heart skip a beat could end up gathering dust in a drawer. 

But, how do you know what jewelry will thrill your loved one? Do they want silver or gold? Would they prefer a necklace or earrings? Are they a fan of gemstones? How do they feel about personalization? 

No need to stress—or risk giving away the surprise gift you have planned by asking too many questions! At Silpada, we recently conducted a survey about the most popular jewelry styles of 2021.

We are here to help you find the perfect piece of jewelry for Mother’s Day, an anniversary or birthday, or simply a way to tell a woman in your life how special they are.

How We Found Out What Jewelry is in Style

Jewelry preferences and popular choices change over time, so we set out to discover what types of jewelry today’s women really want. To learn more about the most popular jewelry of 2021, we talked to a diverse group of 600 women from across the United States to tell us about their dream jewelry.