Silver Jewelry Care

Posted by admin On October - 5 - 2008

1) Sterling Silver tarnishes from the interaction of silver and sulfides in the air. First the tarnish will take on a golden hue, and eventually, it will turn the piece black. This is a natural process.

Higher sulfide levels are associated with humidity and/or air pollution. Remember, the more humid the climate, the faster sterling will tarnish. On a summer day in Miami, Florida, all you have to do is walk out the door and the sterling starts turning black very quickly.

(2) Sterling silver will polish up by rubbing or buffing it with a soft cotton cloth.

A chemically treated cloth, like a Sunshine Cloth, makes the job a lot easier and faster.

(3) Sterling silver dips are fast and easy. However, be careful!

First, many dips will take the color and polish off many gemstones.

Second, when using a dip, if you leave the piece in too long, or don’t rinse it well enough with fresh water, white residues will be left on the piece when it dries. The residue is difficult to rub or pick off.

When using a silver dip, dip the piece quickly in and out of the dip. Then immediately rinse it in clean water. When the piece dries, buff it with a soft cotton cloth or a Sunshine Cloth. The buffing brings out more of the shine, helps take off any residue left on the piece, and with a Sunshine Cloth, leaves a little bit of a protective anti-tarnish coating on the piece to keep it shiny longer.

When using a dip, it is better to do an in-and-out dip, then rinse and dry, then another quick in-and-out-dip, then rinse and dry, than to leave the piece in the solution for a long time.

We use a dip – Rey’s Tarnish Remover – which works better, and has less of a residue problem, than many dips you’ll find in your local drugstore, like Tarn-X. Any dip, however, including Rey’s, is a last resort. The piece would have to be very difficult to buff up with a soft cloth.

(4) Tarnish Shield, or similar lacquer shield, will keep the piece of jewelry shiny until the tarnish wears off. We rarely use this ourselves. We primarily use this when we make a lot of jewelry that has to be on display for a long time, such as when we’re selling our pieces at an arts and crafts fair.