How to Care for Sterling Silver Chandelier Earrings

Chandelier Earrings are the hottest accessory this year and they are here to stay. Chandelier earrings are very popular with current celebrities because it helps them bring attention to themselves in the red carpet or because it can make an outfit striking. Most common chandelier earrings are made out of sterling silver because sterling silver is very easy material to handle and give various shapes. Most people do not know that sterling silver is also too delicate of a material that needs to be care for on a regular basis. Because of its chemical compound sterling silver tarnishes over time. The tarnish process can also be accelerated by perspiration from humans and contact with other elements. Sterling silver earrings and jewelry should be cared for and cleaned on a regular basis. Some chemical cleaners can be too harsh on sterling silver jewelry. Here are some tips on how to clean your sterling silver earrings and jewelry with every day products that can get the job done without harming your sterling silver jewelry.

How to clean your Chandelier Earrings

Your piece of jewelry can be clean in several ways using a delicate brush:

- Hot water with salt and lemon

- Hot water and baking soda

- Hot water and detergent (with no bleach)

- Brush it with toothpaste

- Jewelry and glass cleaner

Whatever the method of cleaning you choose for your chandelier earrings, follow it by rinsing with clean water and completely dry your filigree with a hair drier or exposing it to the sun. Remember to maintain your silver jewelry away from other silver jewelry preferably on a pouch. When wearing your filigreed chandelier earrings please keep contact with perfumes, lotions, oils, make up and other chemical substances at a minimum or clean your filigreed chandelier earrings on a regular basis.

Marifer Vergara is the lead designer of silver filigree jewelry at http://www.EarringsETC.com and an writer at http://www.QueenofCheap.com where you can find other great fashion discounts and reviews.

Tiara of Lights: The History of Chandeliers

Chandeliers have always seemed synonymous with elegance, wealth, and beauty. Immortalized by Hollywood, one might believe that no grand house was complete, unless it had a lavish cut-crystal chandelier hanging in the formal dining room. Surprisingly, the true history of the chandelier dates back to a time long before beautiful southern belles and movie stars. In fact, the first chandeliers were quite humble, when compared to their modern counterparts.

The word 'chandelier' comes from the French word 'chandelle,' meaning candle, and the earliest forms of these lights simply consisted of a wooden cross, designed with a small spike at each end. Candles, made of animal fat in those days, were attached to each of these wooden spikes and the chandelier was then supported from the ceiling. Since there was no electricity, the only alternatives were a small sputtering tallow that could be carried about, wall sconces which only illuminated small sections of rooms, or the glow of a fireplace. The chandelier, therefore, offered a better form of lighting and was commonly used in places such as medieval churches and abbeys during the 15th century.

The first chandeliers that were designed for private use, were only found in the homes of the very wealthy or powerful. The humble farmer or common tradesman had little use for such forms of lighting, most planning their days around the rising and setting of the sun. Modest homes were often poorly constructed and tiny, the concept of a chandelier being little more than a fire hazard to such domiciles.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the chandelier began to find its way into the homes of more prosperous merchants and, as housing quality began to improve, finally into the homes of the working class. While wealthier homes boasted ornately-crafted chandeliers of brass, the more common households used wood, wrought iron, and tin sheet for their chandeliers. Additionally, the chandelier began to evolve as artisans began to experiment with light refraction, using mirrors, polished brass plates and quartz crystals.

In 1676, an English glassmaker, George Ravenscroft, introduced leaded glass to the world of lighting. Softer to work with and better able to refract light, this soon became the preferred material for chandeliers. By the late 1800's, a better method of cutting the leaded glass would be perfected by Daniel Swarovsky, of Austria. This would mark a turning point for the chandelier, where it would cease to simply be functional, but would now become a work of art.

The invention of electric lighting and better methods of manufacturing have only served to help the chandelier survive throughout the ages. Modern creators have taken this art form to new levels, creating chandeliers beyond one's wildest imaginations; glass slippers, martini glasses, chandeliers that look like thousands of glowing flower blossoms or even u.f.o.s, it would seem that the possibilities are endless. Ranging in price from hundreds to thousands of dollars, there is a chandelier for every home and, seemingly, every d?cor theme imaginable. Having outlived the test of time, it appears to be a lighting form that is bound to remain, and keep surprising us, far into the future.

James Hunt has spent 15 years as a professional writer and researcher covering stories that cover a whole spectrum of interest. Read more at www.chandeliers-central.info

Which Style of Chandelier Suits Your Lighting Needs?

When it comes to lighting effects, not all chandeliers are alike. Here is a run down of the different types of chandeliers and the type of light they are likely to cast over your dining room table.

Late Victorian: The late Victorian style of chandelier lighting is very similar to the late seventies style of chandelier. This style consists of stacked circular glass blown globes that are stacked in brass wheels of usually eight and then four tiers. This type of chandelier casts a very soft pearly glow and look best in a dim wood paneled room. The more stark seventies versions with the pure white opaque glass look best hanging over a kitchen table and tend to cast a much brighter light.

Gas Electric: This style of chandelier consists of tulip shaped flutes and is usually made of heavy engraved glass. In Victorian times there would have been candles inside these frosted flutes but now a days there is candle shaped light bulbs or regular light bulbs. This style of chandelier which is usually mounted on a metallic wheel, whether it be brass, iron or metal, are usually very bright and sometimes look better somewhere like a bathroom where you need lots of light and not necessarily in a dining room where something more subtle is required.

Arts and Crafts: You know you are looking at an Arts and Crafts style of chandelier if the glass shades are dangling downwards from the wheel rather than sitting like cups on the rim of the wheel. This is characterized by balanced mobiles that consist of two to four to six lampshades on a rustic looking metal frame that hangs from the ceiling.

Mission Style: If the chandelier has black iron limbs or wheels then it is probably mission style. Mission style chandeliers usually also have square shades made of streaked white or pearly opaque glass. This type of chandelier usually casts a dimmer light then most.

Wagon Wheel: This eclectic chandelier was a common sight in the suburbs in the seventies and basically consisted of a wooden wheel that was topped with miniature lamps shades. It casts a nice, yellowish dim light for a dining room.

Atomic Age: Also known as a fifties revival style, these are the chandeliers that look like metal starbursts from which shoot multicolored Christmas bulbs. This unique style never seems that dated as it looks both modern and antique at the same time and the light that it can cast is often pretty because of the different colored bulbs. It does however cast a dimmer light than most.

Art Deco Chandeliers – These are getting rarer and rarer and cast beautiful soft lights the colored round pendant drops and flower shaped fluted shades that are characteristic of the style. The glass on an art deco chandelier is often green or pink and it can also be frosted or streaked with color.

There are hundreds of more styles of chandelier lamp lighting, especially if you want to get into discussing crystal pendant chandeliers but the above represents the most common and affordable styles that you can find online or in stores.

Lauren Tyler writes exclusively for LampLightWorld

Ways on How to Maintain the Beauty in Your Chandeliers

How would you like to decorate your home with beautiful crystal chandeliers? Do you have any idea on how to maintain the sparkle in your chandeliers?

Well nowadays crystal chandeliers are very demanding. Before we usually see crystal chandeliers in expensive hotels, elegant function halls, and corporate buildings. But now even in homes you’ll be able to see crystal chandeliers. Well crystal chandeliers are very nice decorations that we can use to add attraction to any commercial or residential project. A crystal chandelier can make a residential or commercial structure more attractive for it has magical colors. These magical colors sparkle all over the place. It can reflect on your ceilings, walls and even furniture. In order for you to maintain the beautiful sparkling effect of your crystal chandeliers make sure that you maintain the cleanliness of the lighting fixtures. So here are tips for you to remember for maintaining your crystal chandeliers. But be reminded that the frequency of cleaning your chandelier depends on the type of chandelier you have.

First you must remember that crystal chandeliers need to be clean especially when they look dirty, full of dust or look dull. It’s easy to determine if your chandelier is dirty, you can see the black dust all over. Secondly, when cleaning your chandeliers be sure to use an antistatic brush to avoid breakage. Be aware that when you clean your chandeliers the crystal pendants should not rub each other. Rubbing of the small pendants in a chandelier can cause small cracks that can turn into big cracks for a long time. Never ever use cleaning fluids even though it says that its safe for crystal surfaces, the cleaning fluid may contain an ingredient that is ammonia and other chemicals that will have an effect at the frame finish of the chandelier.

According to experts from Schonbek, if you’re using modern newly designed chandeliers you can clean them up without removing the pendants from the chandeliers frame. All you have to do is wear white cotton gloves, and then hold the pendants. Afterwards spray the chandelier with a solution consisting of ¼ of isopropyl alcohol and distilled water about ¾. Make sure that you spray a little amount of the said solution to the alcohol and wipe it with a dry cloth. On the other hand if you are using the old chandeliers its advisable that you detach the crystal pendant from the chandelier, give it a hand wash using a lukewarm using a mild soap, hypoallergenic soaps are better to use. Afterwards rinse it with clean water and dry it with a soft cloth. When removing the pendants make sure that you draw the trim diagram of the chandelier so it will serve as your guide when reassembling the chandelier again. It’s a big no no to put back the pendants on the chandelier if they are still wet for it may cause an erosion to the metal parts of the chandeliers. Never rotate your chandeliers when cleaning for it could fall down. Always wear gloves when cleaning your chandeliers for your safety. Do remember that crystal chandeliers are very delicate so be sure that you take an extra care.

So for a long lasting beautiful crystal chandelier just follow these tips and be 100 percent sure that you maintain the beauty in your chandeliers. Eliza Maledevic from http://www.Jump2top.com, a SEO Company. Know more about Crystal Chandeliers & Lighting Fixtures at http://www.goldenageusa.com