Care of sterling silver jewelry

Some individuals react to the copper in the sterling silver alloy, due to different body chemistry and the quick tarnishing would stain the skin. Tarnishing is a natural process of sterling silver and is not a negative indicator of the quality of the product.

With proper care your sterling silver jewelry will last a lifetime.

You should always remove your jewelry before putting on makeup, lotions, and perfumes or using hair products. Make sure these products have had time to absorb into your skin before you put your jewelry back on. Do not handle your jewelry after putting on hand lotion, as this can leave fingerprint marks that are very difficult to remove.

Don’t wear your jewelry when working with detergents, bleaches, or any other household chemicals, as they will cause discoloration of the silver. Never wear your sterling silver jewelry in a hot tub, mineral spring, swimming pool, or any other chemically treated water.

Wearing your jewelry often, may be one of the best ways to keep it looking beautiful and reduce tarnish buildup. After wearing, clean your jewelry by washing it with warm water and a mild soap, rinse well and dry thoroughly with a soft cotton cloth. This will help to remove any buildup of dirt, skin oils, makeup and perspiration. After it is thoroughly dried, you can use a silver polish cloth to quickly brighten it back up before storage. Always be sure your jewelry is completely dry before storing.

Do not allow your jewelry to come in contact with items containing sulfur. Examples would be latex gloves, rubber bands, wool, and item’s containing elastic. Also several foods may cause silver to tarnish more rapidly, a few examples would be things like eggs, onions, olives, vinegar, salad dressings, salt, and fruit juices. Be sure to wash your hands after handling these items.

Store your sterling silver jewelry in a cool, dark place away from sources of sunlight, heat and moisture. To reduce scratching and tarnishing we recommend you store your pieces individually in small zip-lock plastic bags, removing as much air as possible. Do not store your jewelry in paper, cardboard, or cotton filled boxes as these may contain traces of sulfur which will cause tarnishing.

Cleaning sterling silver jewelry

In its pure form silver doesn’t tarnish much, however, because of the nature of its alloy sterling silver does. This is not a defect in the material or an indication of inferior quality, but a natural chemical process in which the silver reacts with sulfur particles in the air. Regular cleaning of all your sterling silver jewelry is the best way to keep it bright and beautiful. One of the easiest ways to remove minor tarnish buildup is to use a silver polish cloth specifically designed to be used on jewelry. Regular light polishing with a polish cloth, being careful not to polish oxidized, plated or brushed finish areas, should be enough to keep your jewelry tarnish free.