Luckily, you only need to clean silver items a few times each year, though more often if the item is displayed in the open where it will tarnish faster. Before cleaning silver, do a simple test to determine whether your item is pure silver, sterling silver, or silver-plated.
Tarnish should be removed as soon as you notice that the silver is looking dark or cloudy. Tarnish will not go away on its own and regular cleaning is easier than waiting until the surface is completely black. For silver pieces you use or wear daily, cleaning every other month is usually sufficient.
It is better to wash your silver by hand in hot, sudsy water as soon as possible after use. Rinse well in clear hot water and hand-dry immediately and thoroughly. For silver that is tarnished, clean with a good quality silver polish and avoid "dip" polishes.
The best way to keep sterling silver from tarnishing is to take proper care of it. This includes restricting contact with water, chemicals, and other elements. It is also important to store the jewelry separately in airtight packaging and avoid exposure to extreme temperatures.
Absolutely! Sterling silver jewelry is a great choice for daily wear due to its versatility, durability, hypoallergenic properties, and affordability. Just remember to take proper care of your jewelry, avoid prolonged exposure to water, and remove it during vigorous activities to ensure its longevity.
Can you shower with sterling jewellery? Showering with sterling silver jewellery won't necessarily harm the metal. However, silver is a natural metal and therefore reacts with certain things. The water can oxidise the silver, meaning it is likely to tarnish and will therefore start to darken.
While 925 silver can touch water, we promise fast contact with hot water once or twice won't significantly harm the sparkle of your items; however, too much or prolonged exposure (like in a steamy shower) can eventually cause your silver pieces to appear dull and lifeless over time.
The answer is - Yes, it can. Sterling silver is made up of 92.5 percent silver and 7.5 percent of other metals that form an alloy. Some of those other metals, primarily copper, can cause sterling silver to tarnish over time when they interact with moisture that's in the air.
The higher tarnishing rate of sterling silver is due to the copper in the silver-copper alloy. Copper is more reactive than silver (Graedel 1992). In general, the tarnishing rate of silver-copper alloys increases with increasing copper content (Selwyn 1990).
Sterling silver normally lasts 20 to 30 years if the owner cares well for it. However, your sterling silver can last forever if you care for it properly. Made up of 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper, sterling silver requires some special care. If you own any sterling silver jewelry, you should know how to care for it well.
The biggest question that people tend to ask about their new silver jewelry is, “Can you get sterling silver wet?” The short answer is yes. In general, water does not negatively affect sterling silver. However, there are certain situations where chemicals mixed in water can lead to quicker tarnishing or damage.
Mix ½ cup lemon juice with 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large bowl. Then, use a small microfiber cloth and dip it in the solution. Use this cloth to polish your sterling silver, rinse and dry.
Tip: It may seem counterintuitive, but there is actually a thing as cleaning your silver too much. Polish is by nature abrasive, so you'll want to limit polishing sessions to a minimum. So while you might be tempted to clean away tarnish as soon as you notice it, you should clean silver as infrequently as possible.
Polishes will damage gilding. Silver dips, if used without care, will over-clean silver that has a chased, engraved, or embossed decoration. If the object is silver plated, any method of tarnish removal may be very damaging.
If you leave it in over the recommended amount of time, it won't harm your jewelry, however if a chemical reaction does occur that discolors your jewelry, use a polishing cloth to remove the color and restore the original color.
When a ring turns your finger green, it doesn't necessarily mean that it's a cheap piece of jewelry. This is a common misconception - all metals oxidize at some point, regardless of the worth of the piece. Your finger turns green from sterling silver because of a chemical reaction between the metal and your skin.
For silverware, jewelry, and other small silver items, soak them in a glass bowl with a half-cup of distilled white vinegar and two tablespoons of baking soda. Let the silver soak for three hours, rinse the items, and dry and polish them with a microfiber cloth.
Because harsh polishing and buffing can permanently damage and devalue a piece of antique silver, valuable items are typically hand-polished to preserve the unique patinas of older pieces.
Tarnishing doesn't impact the value of items with lower premiums, such as silver rounds and silver bars. These kinds of bullion products are typically valued by their weight and purity and not specifically by their condition and look. Regarding numismatic items and silver jewelry, tarnishing may affect the price.
Pure silver is not susceptible to tarnish in a pure oxygen environment. However, the copper that is contained in 925 sterling silver may react to the ozone and hydrogen sulfide in the air and cause sterling silver to tarnish. Perfumes, hair sprays, and profuse sweating can also cause a quicker formation of tarnish.
Our fashion jewellery ranges are made of alloy and then plated for colour. We advise you not to wear your fashion jewellery in water, when using cleaning products, lotions or perfumes. These chemicals can cause tarnishing. We also offer polishing cloths in store and online.
You can even wear your sterling silver jewellery to bed. However, be cautious of getting your clasps or earrings caught while you sleep, as this could cause damage to your favourite pieces.
To prevent your sterling silver from tarnishing, keep it away from harsh chemicals, keep it dry, store it correctly, and clean and polish when needed. Take it off when washing your hands or swimming, and keep it in a secure bag or box when you're not wearing it. You also want to take it off when exercising.
Sterling silver has multiple health benefits. The contact of this metal with your skin can improve your body heat and mood, making it a wellness jewelry piece. Silver has properties that involve the offsetting of electrical disturbances and those can help with your circulation and heat regulation.