Red Nymph Jewelry
It’s known that females are jewelry lovers, who are enthusiastic about a variety of jewelry ornaments regardless of silver, gold, diamond, jade and things like these. Moreover, in ancient times, jewelry was must-have dowry of the bride. Even in modern times, females in well-off families are willing to buy some jewelry as ornamental accessory. Of numerous jewelry wares, silver ones are moderate in price, so many buyers choose silver jewelry, but they often confuse about some common problems, then how do we solve them? Following are two frequently asked questions and answers regarding silver jewelry.
FAQ 1 about silver jewelry:
Q: Why does silver jewelry present different effect among wearers? Is my silver jewelry a fake?
A: Once there were two customers A and B, who bought the same type of silver jewelry from the same silver store, it turned out that A’s silver jewelry became brighter by the wearing time, while B’s silver jewelry became darker. Then, B was skeptical of buying a counterfeit silver jewelry, and she went to the storekeeper with A who bought the same type of product. Finally, it was appraised that her silver jewelry was genuine. However, B didn’t believe it. The storekeeper cleaned B’s silver jewelry and ask A to wear it. Surprisingly, B’s silver jewelry was darkened before long. What is the cause behind this effect? It turned out that A was of oily skin, which helped nourish the brightness of her silver jewelry. By contrast, B was physically weak and sweaty, the sulfuric sweat was the cause of the darkened silver jewelry. Each wearer varies in the structure of internal secretion, resulting in different effects. However, some believe that darkening is a testimony of detoxifying function of silver.
FAQ 2 about silver jewelry:
Q: Silver jewelry does not look good once it’s oxidized, then how to avoid this problem?
A: Silver jewelry tends to darken from the effect of oxidation, then how to avoid it? In FAQ 1, customer A was of oily skin, leading to brightened silver jewelry over time. If you’re physically of this type of skin, frequent and prolonged wearing is OK. Sealed storage during idle time can avoid oxidation. If you’re of the type of physique like customer B, it’s advisable for you to learn more about maintenance than others. For example, if your silver jewelry is not fully darkened, clean it with polishing cloth, otherwise you’d better have it cleaned by the jeweler or consult the store assistant for solution. Sure, it’s better to take good care of physique from the threshold.
In addition, you’re likely to encounter some other problems from wearing silver jewelry. If you have any doubt, do not deal with it blindly, but consult professional for direction, or send an email to [email protected] for help, which we’ll do our best to help you solving the problem, so to avoid damage of aesthetic sense of jewelry due to lack of knowledge.
Sterling silver makes an attractive material for jewelers and designers — but what about your personal jewelry collection? Below, we’ve listed our top five reasons to include sterling silver pieces in your regular jewelry rotation. From its hypoallergenic qualities to wide accessibility, sterling silver jewelry is a must-have for any collection.
1. HYPOALLERGENIC
Up to 10 percent of people are allergic to nickel, but the percentage can reach 20 percent in women due to exposure to the metal through jewelry. A nickel allergy can result in frustrating symptoms, such as irritated and itchy skin and scabbing.
Other inexpensive metals like brass can also cause an allergic skin reaction, causing redness, swelling and blisters. Even if you’ve never experienced a reaction, the threat of a nickel or brass allergy is enough to make most people steer clear of the metals.
Sterling silver, made from 92.5 percent fine silver, is a perfect hypoallergenic alternative. It’s much less likely to cause an allergic reaction than nickel or brass, which means you can wear pieces of sterling silver jewelry without risk of infection or irritation. This quality is especially important when wearing accessories like earrings, which remain in constant contact with the skin.
2. INCREASED STRENGTH
As we’ve discussed throughout this guide, sterling silver is considerably stronger than pure silver as well as other precious metals such as gold. Scratch-resistant and durable for generations, sterling silver can cast for a lifetime.
The quality and longevity of a sterling silver piece are incredible, especially considering its comparative affordability. Sterling silver jewelry will hold its shape even with daily use, which makes it a perfect go-to option in a jewelry collection. If you love the gleaming look of silver but dislike constantly bending your bracelets back into shape, a sterling silver bangle will be a breath of fresh air.
Besides lasting through daily wear, a well-cared-for piece of sterling silver jewelry can last through generations of use. Who knows — your beautiful new sterling silver piece could become your family’s next treasured heirloom!
3. HIGH CUSTOMIZATION POTENTIAL
Because sterling silver is easy to work with, designers are free to experiment, which means you can find timeless and classy pieces as well as fun and whimsical accessories. With sterling silver jewelry, you can also easily personalize an item — maybe you want a necklace stamped or engraved with your children’s initials, or you want your grandchild’s birthstone to be the focal point of the piece. Workable and affordable, customized sterling silver pieces are effortlessly individualized to suit any occasion.
Sterling silver also allows you to keep up with the newest fashion trends without spending a fortune. Because of its popularity and classic appeal, sterling silver will always be “in,” and craftsmen are constantly creating new designs to fit with current trends.
The options for a piece of sterling silver are endless, and with such a wide range of choices and artistic expression available, you can personalize your jewelry collection to express your beautiful and unique personality.
4. INCREDIBLE VERSATILITY
Like gray is considered a neutral color, silver is a well-established neutral metal. As a result, silver jewelry is appropriate no matter the occasion.
Were you invited to a white-tie gala? Wear a sterling silver diamond necklace paired with silver diamond studs for an elegant and effortlessly dignified look. Did old friends ask you out to a casual dinner at your favorite restaurant? Slide on a chic sterling silver bangle for some easy bling. Silver adds a classy touch to any look, which makes it a must for any jewelry collection.
Silver also works with other metals. If you already have white gold or platinum pieces, you can add sterling silver into the mix without worry — the three metals might have slight differences in tone, but combining them creates a gradient of depth that’s interesting and sophisticated.
No matter how or where you wear it, sterling silver jewelry is a timeless and seamless addition to your jewelry collection.
5. ACCESSIBILITY AND VARIETY
Due to the wide range of available sterling silver designs, you can quickly build an interesting and varied jewelry collection.
The relative affordability of sterling silver means that you can easily invest in a new statement piece or add another daily staple to your rotation, depending on your needs. Sterling silver allows you to routinely update your collection, so you can feel free to keep up with current trends without fear of overspending.
Alternately, if you’re looking for some high-end jewelry to complement your current collection, sterling silver is a perfect place to begin your search. Because of the metal’s versatility, many renowned designers construct their most innovative designs from sterling silver.
Why is my silver jewelry turning strange colours? It’s a question I get asked a lot. I recently had a customer complain about a necklace “tarnishing” just a few weeks after purchase. His wife decided to use the polishing cloth to give the sterling silver a wipe, and was aghast when it came away black.
So he wrote me to express his surprise that his new necklace would discolour so quickly. It made me realize it’s probably a great education opportunity.
tarnishes in environments containing various sulphuric gases, even in very low concentration. The amount of tarnishing is determined by the relative humidity, ambient temperature, gas concentration, and the length of time the silver is exposed to the gases.”
With sterling silver this process is normal, natural, expected, and yes, it can occur relatively quickly.
Many things can speed tarnish; air pollution, the minerals in your water (and as such wearing your silver jewelry in the shower can speed this process too), living or working near a chemical, electric or manufacturing plant are all things that can cause discolouration more quickly.
Recent studies have shown tarnish develops microscopically within hours of being cleaned and exposed to air again. You may not see it on the piece for several days or weeks, but it’s there, and will show up as a black residue on a polishing cloth. A great way to keep seldom worn jewelry clean (and silverware if you have it), is to store sterling silver in a ziplock bag with all the air squeezed or rolled out of it. You can wrap it in a soft cloth first too. Oxygen and thus tarnish may still seep in and can still cause blackening especially if the pieces are stores for long periods of time, but it should keep things to a minimum.
Coincidentally at the same time as this customer contacted me, I had a friend show me some rings I’d made for her. The shiny sterling silver had turned a deep, dark black. This was no tarnish effect, and she admitted she’d immersed her baubles in some household cleaner (Lysol) to spruce them up. Instead, they’d become instantly and deeply chemically oxidized.
Now, she actually liked this look and referred to it as ‘edgy’, so she’s leaving them as they are for now. If she did want them restored it should be a relatively simple process of buffing the chemical scarring off the surface layer, and exposing clean shiny silver beneath. But this also serves as a leaning moment; only soap and water, silver polish or a silver polishing cloth should be used to clean silver. Many household cleaners and chemicals can alter your precious silver. In fact, I once had a ring turn bronze after accidentally spritzing window cleaner on it, and had other silver turn grey by getting baking soda onto it. That too buffed out, but you’ll want to be careful with your jewelry.
If you love the look of silver pieces but don’t enjoy polishing them to keep them looking their best, there is a DIY cleaning method that doesn’t require any elbow grease.
When tarnished silver, salt, baking soda, aluminum foil, and water are combined, a chemical reaction occurs known as ion exchange.1 During this process, the tarnish on the silver (silver sulfide) is released and becomes aluminum sulfide on the foil. If the silver is tarnished enough, you may see brown or yellowish tarnish flakes on the aluminum foil. The process can be used on sterling silver or silver-plated items.
When the silver is added to the cleaning solution, the chemical reaction will create fumes (hydrogen sulfide) that smell like rotten eggs. Be sure to work in a well-ventilated area. You will also be using boiling water so take precautions to prevent accidents.
Silver should be cleaned at least once a year, though silver pieces may need to be cleaned more frequently depending on how often you use them and how they are stored. For silver pieces you use or wear daily, cleaning every other month is usually sufficient. Tarnish does not go away on its own and cleaning is easiest if the piece is only slightly dull or tarnished.
Tips to Keep Your Silver Clean Longer
Don’t be afraid to use your silver jewelry and silverware—silver that’s used more often tends to tarnish less.
Store all silver items in a cool, dry place. Higher humidity increases the likelihood of tarnishing.
When storing silver, keep it free from moisture by wrapping it in acid-free tissue or fabric that deters tarnish, such as unbleached cotton, silver cloth, or tarnish-resistant flannel.
Use chalk or silica bags in the storage area to help absorb moisture that can speed tarnish development.
For a quick polish, make a paste of baking soda and water. Dip a soft cloth in the paste and gently rub it on the silver. Keep moving to a clean area of the cloth as tarnish is transferred. Rinse well and dry the silver with a microfiber cloth.
Silver should be cleaned at least once a year, though silver pieces may need to be cleaned more frequently depending on how often you use them and how they are stored. For silver pieces you use or wear daily, cleaning every other month is usually sufficient. Tarnish does not go away on its own and cleaning is easiest if the piece is only slightly dull or tarnished.
If you select a pan that can be placed directly on the stovetop, you can create the cleaning solution, submerge the silver, and heat the water to boiling on the stovetop. This method works best for heavily tarnished items that need to stay in the heated solution for a longer period.
Tarnish is a thin layer of corrosion that forms on metals and appears as a dull grey or black coating. Surprisingly, tarnish actually protects the inner layers of the metal, only reacting with the outer layers. The tarnish is silver sulphide and it forms as the silver reacts with sulphur compounds in the atmosphere.
Why does silver tarnish?
Tarnish is a product of chemical reaction that is caused by the other metals that are mixed with silver reacting to moisture and sulfur in the air. Sterling Silver will generally tarnish quicker in high humidity climates and places with high levels of air pollution. Things like perfume, hairspray, deodorant and moisturisers can all contribute to further tarnishing of your silver due to the chemicals reacting with the silver.
How to stop silver jewellery from tarnishing
To keep your silver from tarnishing you should store it in a cool, dry place away from sunlight. Keep your silver jewellery separate from other pieces.
How to clean tarnished silver jewellery
Clean your tarnished silver with a polishing cloth, or a solution of cloudy ammonia and warm, soapy water.
While I acknowledge the many at home methods of cleaning silver jewellery, such as baking soda and aluminum foil, cleaning with laundry detergent or tomato sauce, She doesn’t recommend any of them.
Be careful with what you use to clean your silver as some products are abrasive and will scratch and damage your metal. I suggest using a soft bristle toothbrush if you need to give it a good scrub. When in doubt though, go see a professional jeweler or silversmith for help.
Sterling silver is made of silver and alloys. It’s 7.5% other metals, primarily copper, and 92.5% silver. Copper is added to silver to make it stronger and more durable. Copper, reacting primarily to sulphur in the air, is what makes silver tarnish. But, the copper can also react to a variety of other compounds. Hence, silver tarnishes faster in areas where there is greater pollution and higher levels of humidity, or even when contact is made with cosmetics.
Since there are so many variables in tarnishing, a piece of silver jewelry that didn’t tarnish in the past may suddenly tarnish a lot. Recently, a customer wrote, “Months ago I spoke to you about my most favorite earrings. I can’t seem to prevent them from turning black where the silver part is…they never used to do this with other jewelry. Is there anything I can do so they don’t need to be polished every time I wear them, like when they get wet in the shower, bath or swimming?”
The writer of the email lives on Salt Spring Island, off Vancouver Island and British Columbia. It’s extremely humid and the exposure to rain, ocean water, and showering all could be contributing to the oxidation issue. In arid New Mexico, where we live, tarnishing is not as much of a factor as someone who lives in a humid climate. Fortunately, for us, we can leave our entire collection of jewelry out in our gallery cases for months without a care about tarnishing, but unlike our concerned customer from Vancouver, that is not the case.
The metal used in the earrings is the same now as it was before. So, in conclusion something has changed in the environment. Photographic chemicals can tarnish jewelry, and even other harsh chemicals such as nitric acid or cleaning agents which create salt solutions which blacken the skin. Even changes in body chemistry can cause silver to tarnish. The skin contains thousands of perspiration glands. These glands emit enough fatty acids to actually cause a chemical reaction. The use of heavy antibiotics has also been known to create a reaction that darkens silver.
Another factor which can cause excess tarnishing is makeup. Makeup on the skin or clothing is the most common cause of the blackening or smudging. Interstingly enough, cosmetics often contain chemical compounds which are harder than the jewelry itself. Metallic abrasion occurs when these hard compounds, found in most makeup products, come in contact with the metal of the jewelry and wear or rub off very tiny particles of metal which appear as black dust.
Yet another factor in the tarnishing of silver is the silver itself. Some silver actually tarnishes more than other silver, depending upon whether the silver is actually sterling or not. Sometimes silver is stamped sterling silver but in fact is not really 92.5 percent. This cheaper silver can have more copper content, which causes greater tarnishing issues. A lot of silver coming out of Asia is actually stamped sterling but in fact is not sterling at all.
Cleaning Your Silver
In our shop, we intentionally oxidize our two tone gold over silver jewelry using a sulphuric compound. The silver is darkened or “antiqued” while the gold, which does not tarnish, provides a contrasting design element. In dryer climates, cleaning is not necessary as often. The best way to clean is to use a polishing cloth. Take note that using liquid cleaners will remove all the oxidation which will impact the two tone design.
One additional note on rings: some of our solid unique artisan gold wedding rings are also antiqued, and this darkened element is actually a finish that is painted on, rather than a natural chemical oxidation process. The coating is relatively permanent, but can fade due to exposure to bleaching agents, or simply because of wear over time.
How to Clean Silver Jewelry
You can prevent tarnish by storing silver jewelry in felt away from jewelry made of other metals. Felt can help prevent tarnish and moisture build-up. When it is time to clean, follow these steps.
Supplies
Tinfoil / Pan / Baking soda / Salt / Boiling water / Lint-free cloth
STEP 1: Line a pan with tinfoil, shiny side up.
Line a pan with tinfoil with the shiny side facing up. Choose a pan that’s on the small side because you’ll fill it with water in a later step. (A smaller pan requires less water to cover the jewelry.)
STEP 2: Place jewelry on the tinfoil.
Make sure silver touches the tinfoil.
STEP 3: Sprinkle baking soda and salt on the jewelry.
Sprinkle baking soda and salt on top of the jewelry. You’ll need 1 tablespoon of each for every 1 cup of water that you pour into the pan.
STEP 4: Pour boiling water into the pan.
Pour boiling water into the pan, covering the jewelry. The baking soda and salt will dissolve in the water, creating a solution that removes tarnish.
STEP 5: Let the jewelry soak in the solution.
The tarnish will disappear as the jewelry soaks in the solution. Once it’s gone, take the jewelry out and pat it dry with a lint-free cloth.
Tip: You can use a good jewelry cleaner or silver jewelry cleaner, but check the ingredients. Avoid solutions that contain ammonia or other harsh chemicals that could damage sensitive metals and gemstones in the silver. Silver polish is another option and can also leave behind a protective layer to slow the development of future tarnish.
Sterling silver is composed of 92.5% of silver. However, it’s not strong by itself (it takes on a liquid form), so the other 7.5% is a combination of other metals; most commonly, copper and zinc. These other metals give sterling silver its durability to be used in items like jewelry, plates, and silverware.
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. Copper is usually the culprit; it reacts with the pH levels on your skin to create the green color where your skin and the metal meet.
Take a look at the hand cream next to your bed, too – some of the chemicals in these creams will also cause the metal to oxidize, even if your skin isn’t normally sensitive.
Tarnishing is a chemical reaction that gradually darkens and dulls metals. Exposure to sulfur in air and water creates a coating of tarnish on the surface of the metal, resulting in a loss of brightness and shine.
Pure silver, like pure gold, is not a very reactive metal. It doesn’t react with oxygen or water, and as a result, it doesn’t easily tarnish. Sterling silver is more sensitive to air and water than fine silver, which makes it prone to tarnishing. While sterling silver is more functional than pure silver, it requires a little more care to stay in pristine condition.
If your beautiful sterling silver piece begins to show signs of tarnishing, don’t worry — sterling silver is easy to clean! For more information, be sure to check out a complete guide on cleaning sterling silver jewelry.
In jewelry making, the three most common precious metals are silver, gold and platinum. As a type of silver, sterling silver is considered a precious metal alloy, and it’s often compared to other precious metals. Here’s a brief look at how silver holds up against sister metals white gold and platinum.
Appearance: Especially when dealing with white gold, the three metals can have a similar shimmering, gray appearance. However, sterling silver typically has a brighter tone than the other two metals.
Functionality: Platinum is considered a soft metal and scratches or damages easily. Both white gold and sterling silver are much stronger metals, although white gold is slightly more scratch-resistant than silver.
Affordability: Sterling silver is the least expensive of the precious metals, making it a more affordable option for those who want high-quality, beautiful jewelry without a painful price tag.
Weight: The lightest of the precious metals, sterling silver is not a heavy material. While some people like the feel of substantial jewelry like platinum and gold, sterling silver’s lightness makes it a practical choice for daily use when you don’t want to be weighed down by heavy pieces.
Maintenance: Because it’s vulnerable to tarnishing, sterling silver requires more care to maintain than other precious metals. While tarnishing is easy to prevent and clean, this characteristic of silver makes it less popular for pieces like engagement rings.
Sterling silver can more than hold its own against the other top precious metals on the market — lovely, functional and affordable, a piece of sterling silver jewelry will compare well against white gold and even platinum pieces.
Sterling silver makes an attractive material for jewelers and designers — but what about your personal jewelry collection? Below, we’ve listed our top five reasons to include sterling silver pieces in your regular jewelry rotation. From its hypoallergenic qualities to wide accessibility, sterling silver jewelry is a must-have for any collection.
1. HYPOALLERGENIC
Up to 10 percent of people are allergic to nickel, but the percentage can reach 20 percent in women due to exposure to the metal through jewelry. A nickel allergy can result in frustrating symptoms, such as irritated and itchy skin and scabbing.
Other inexpensive metals like brass can also cause an allergic skin reaction, causing redness, swelling and blisters. Even if you’ve never experienced a reaction, the threat of a nickel or brass allergy is enough to make most people steer clear of the metals.
Sterling silver, made from 92.5 percent fine silver, is a perfect hypoallergenic alternative. It’s much less likely to cause an allergic reaction than nickel or brass, which means you can wear pieces of sterling silver jewelry without risk of infection or irritation. This quality is especially important when wearing accessories like earrings, which remain in constant contact with the skin.
2. INCREASED STRENGTH
As we’ve discussed throughout this guide, sterling silver is considerably stronger than pure silver as well as other precious metals such as gold. Scratch-resistant and durable for generations, sterling silver can cast for a lifetime.
The quality and longevity of a sterling silver piece are incredible, especially considering its comparative affordability. Sterling silver jewelry will hold its shape even with daily use, which makes it a perfect go-to option in a jewelry collection. If you love the gleaming look of silver but dislike constantly bending your bracelets back into shape, a sterling silver bangle will be a breath of fresh air.
Besides lasting through daily wear, a well-cared-for piece of sterling silver jewelry can last through generations of use. Who knows — your beautiful new sterling silver piece could become your family’s next treasured heirloom!
3. HIGH CUSTOMIZATION POTENTIAL
Because sterling silver is easy to work with, designers are free to experiment, which means you can find timeless and classy pieces as well as fun and whimsical accessories. With sterling silver jewelry, you can also easily personalize an item — maybe you want a necklace stamped or engraved with your children’s initials, or you want your grandchild’s birthstone to be the focal point of the piece. Workable and affordable, customized sterling silver pieces are effortlessly individualized to suit any occasion.
Sterling silver also allows you to keep up with the newest fashion trends without spending a fortune. Because of its popularity and classic appeal, sterling silver will always be “in,” and craftsmen are constantly creating new designs to fit with current trends.
The options for a piece of sterling silver are endless, and with such a wide range of choices and artistic expression available, you can personalize your jewelry collection to express your beautiful and unique personality.
4. INCREDIBLE VERSATILITY
Like gray is considered a neutral color, silver is a well-established neutral metal. As a result, silver jewelry is appropriate no matter the occasion.
Were you invited to a white-tie gala? Wear a sterling silver diamond necklace paired with silver diamond studs for an elegant and effortlessly dignified look. Did old friends ask you out to a casual dinner at your favorite restaurant? Slide on a chic sterling silver bangle for some easy bling. Silver adds a classy touch to any look, which makes it a must for any jewelry collection.
Silver also works with other metals. If you already have white gold or platinum pieces, you can add sterling silver into the mix without worry — the three metals might have slight differences in tone, but combining them creates a gradient of depth that’s interesting and sophisticated.
No matter how or where you wear it, sterling silver jewelry is a timeless and seamless addition to your jewelry collection.
5. ACCESSIBILITY AND VARIETY
Due to the wide range of available sterling silver designs, you can quickly build an interesting and varied jewelry collection.
The relative affordability of sterling silver means that you can easily invest in a new statement piece or add another daily staple to your rotation, depending on your needs. Sterling silver allows you to routinely update your collection, so you can feel free to keep up with current trends without fear of overspending.
For silver jewelries, Please Consider using common household products for less rare or less valuable pieces. They will usually work to remove tough tarnish, but may cause damage such as pock marks or scratches. Try them at your own risk.
Try toothpaste. Select a plain white toothpaste without the special whitening options. Take a soft, dampened cloth or a damp sponge and put some toothpaste on it. Gently rub over the silver jewelry in straight, back-and-forth motions. Be very gentle, and if you notice scratching at any point, stop and rinse the toothpaste off. As the cloth or sponge becomes dark with tarnish, add more toothpaste to a clean part of the dampened cloth/sponge and continue gently polishing. Rinse thoroughly with warm water and dry with a soft towel.
Baking soda may remove stubborn tarnish, but don’t use it unless you don’t mind the risk of damaging the silver. Make a paste of baking soda and warm water, gently rub it into the surface of the jewelry, and rinse when the tarnish is removed.
There are two ways to remove tarnish: gently rubbing it away or reversing the chemical reaction that caused it. As with many cleaning projects, it’s best to start with the most gentle method and then work your way through the others if needed.
TIP: For any antique silver or heirloom jewelry, it’s best to seek professional cleaning. Many jewelry stores offer this service for free or little cost. A professional will also inspect the item for signs of damage and make any needed repairs.
Be Careful About Following Silver-Cleaning Hacks
You may have read that lemon juice, lemon-lime soda, Coca-Cola, salty water, ketchup, vinegar, or even window cleaner will get tarnish off your silver jewelry. They might work at first, but they’re all acidic substances that will weaken your silver jewelry. Over time, you’ll wind up with pitting and other problems.
Soap and water or baking soda paste both rely on the mechanical removal of tarnish. The aluminum foil method uses science to reverse the chemical reaction that caused it by turning the silver sulfide back into silver. (Here are more surprising ways to use aluminum foil around the house.)
In the past, toothpaste made a great silver jewelry cleaner. It has to be a non-gel type that doesn’t contain whiteners, breath fresheners, activated charcoal, or silica. That kind of toothpaste is tough to find nowadays. Fortunately, baking soda works just as well.
Stir 3 parts baking soda into 1 part water to form a grainy paste. (Example: 3 tablespoons baking soda and 1 tablespoon of water.)
Apply this paste with a soft cotton cloth and gently rub along the silver’s grain. Do not scrub — abrasion can damage the surface. Use a soft toothbrush or cotton swab in crevices.
Turn your cloth as it grows grey, so you’re always using a clean spot to wipe.
Wash or wipe the piece with soapy water, then buff it dry with a soft cotton cloth.
When silver tarnishes, it’s a surface discolouration caused by the interaction of oxygen (air) with the silver. As the British Assay Office explains it, silver naturally interacts with oxygen and sulphur-bearing pollutants to create silver sulphide, resulting in a visible discoloration of the metal’s surface. Silver tarnishes in environments containing various sulphuric gases, even in very low concentration. The amount of tarnishing is determined by the relative humidity, ambient temperature, gas concentration, and the length of time the silver is exposed to the gases.
It can tarnish due to a variety of reasons and exposures to elements, such as body moisture, chemicals, heat, sunlight. Don’t think its purely based on just a person’s body health/medical condition, more environmental, unless you body is emitting some extreme levels of sulphur. But you can quick easily reverse some of the effects of black tarnishing through proper use of solvents, depending on the cause of the black tarnish and types of effects/restoration you prefer. And sandpaper, harsh abrasives probably isn’t a good choice.
Recent studies have shown tarnish develops microscopically within hours of being cleaned and exposed to air again. You may not see it on the piece for several days or weeks, but it’s there, and will show up as a black residue on a polishing cloth. A great way to keep seldom worn jewelry clean (and silverware if you have it), is to store sterling silver in a ziplock bag with all the air squeezed or rolled out of it. You can wrap it in a soft cloth first too. Oxygen and thus tarnish may still seep in and can still cause blackening especially if the pieces are stores for long periods of time, but it should keep things to a minimum.
With sterling silver this process is normal, natural, expected, and yes, it can occur relatively quickly.
Many things can speed tarnish; air pollution, the minerals in your water (and as such wearing your silver jewelry in the shower can speed this process too), living or working near a chemical, electric or manufacturing plant are all things that can cause discolouration more quickly.
I’ve purchased cleansers from grocery stores that just don’t work. If you’re going to get a cleanser from somewhere other than a jewelry professional, test it first on a small area. If the cleaner doesn’t remove tarnish instantly, it’s not working. Proper liquid silver cleaners will remove all tarnish in about 3 seconds. If you need to soak, or scrub, stop using it, rinse your silver, and return the cleaner to where you bought it and get your money back. (Keep your receipt!)
only soap and water, silver polish or a silver polishing cloth should be used to clean silver. Many household cleaners and chemicals can alter your precious silver. In fact, I once had a ring turn bronze after accidentally spritzing window cleaner on it, and had other silver turn grey by getting baking soda onto it. That too buffed out, but you’ll want to be careful with your jewelry.
Saddened that my silver jewelry didn’t look as beautiful as I wanted it to, I investigated the best, most effective way to clean silver that yielded exceptional results. I was so excited. I cleaned every piece of silver I could find in my house. It was amazing, I felt really accomplished. This doesn’t preclude other silver pieces, such as family heirlooms, silverware and service pieces, picture frames, coins, heck even silver bars. I tested a few techniques out but this one seems to be the magic combination. It can be used on all kinds of silver alloys, but cannot be used of other metals or costume jewelry. Silver only! if you want to know more, please leave your Email here
Salt Bath can help
Pour two cups of hot water into a bowl. You just need enough to cover the jewelry you’re cleaning. This method works as a gentle cleanser that removes tarnish without abrading the silver.If your silver is lightly tarnished, the salt bath should take the tarnish right off.
If you’re cleaning a lot of jewelry at once, you can use more water. For just one piece of jewelry, use less water.
If your jewelry has gemstones, make sure they won’t be affected by being submerged in a saltwater solution. This solution is gentle on most stones, but if you’re cleaning very fine jewelry with expensive gemstones, you’re better off taking it to a professional just in case. You can also contact your jeweler for advice.
Add salt and aluminum foil. Stir one tablespoon of salt it into the hot water with a spoon until it completely dissolves. Take a sheet of aluminum foil and tear off a few strips, then put them in the bowl. The combination of salt and aluminum will react with the tarnish on the silver’s surface and create a bright, shiny surface in place of the tarnish.
Tarnish happens when the surface of silver combines with sulfur and turns into silver sulfide, which is black. When silver sulfide reacts with aluminum in a salt solution, the chemical reaction between the substances turns the silver sulfide back to silver. The reaction happens faster when the solution is warm.
If you don’t have table salt on hand, you can use baking soda instead. It has the right properties to facilitate the same chemical reaction.
Submerge your jewelry in the solution. Allow it to sit for 5 minutes. Stir it around a bit to see whether the tarnish is going away. When you see that the silver’s shine has been restored, remove the silver from the solution.
If you’re working with deeply tarnished silver, you might need to repeat the process two or more times. Make sure the solution is completely heated, since the reaction is much slower if the solution is cool.
Rinse the jewelry. Run it under cool running water to rinse off the salt, then gently dry it using a soft cloth or microfiber towel. The jewelry should be good as new. If you still see signs of tarnish, repeat the process until it looks clean.
Maintaining Your Jewelry
Clean it often. Clean your silver jewelry often, and clean it promptly after use. Silver jewelry that is frequently used rarely has tarnish problems. When tarnish is not yet present, or when it’s just beginning to develop, simply wash your silver jewelry in warm (not hot) water with a gentle, phosphate-free detergent.
Prompt cleaning is especially important when the silver jewelry has been exposed to certain foods containing sulfur, or those which are acidic or salty. In particular, common foods such as table salt, eggs, some fruits, onions, mayonnaise, and vinegar are harmful to silver.
In any case, wash your silver jewelry right away or at least rinse it well with warm water, and don’t leave silver sitting in dishwater that may contain traces of these foods.
Wash it separately. It’s a good idea to wash silver separately from your other silver pieces, like bowls or silverware, because metal sinks and utensils can scratch silver jewelry.
You should also avoid using rubber gloves when washing silver, as rubber corrodes silver jewelry.
Stainless steel can also damage the finish if it comes into contact with your silver jewelry, so avoid putting it in the sink; use a bowl to wash it in instead.
Dry it with a polishing cloth. Use a special polishing cloth or simply a soft, lint-free cloth to gently rub the silver clean after washing. Make sure it gets completely dry.
Silver can be so soft that even using a scratchy, rough towel could be enough to make indentations in its surface. Make sure to use a soft cloth.
As you dry the jewelry, gently buff the shine back with a soft cotton cloth.
Store your silver jewelry correctly. Beyond prompt and frequent cleaning, the best way to preserve your silver is to store it correctly. Make sure each piece is completely dry before storing it. You can buy special bags for storing silver jewelry that prevent them from getting tarnished. If you don’t have the bags, use this technique:
Wrap each piece of silverware in acid-free tissue paper or anti-tarnish paper. You can also wrap pieces in flannel.
Store the silver in a compartment separate from the rest of your jewelry. Never store silver jewelry where it can contact rubber, stainless steel, or paint.
Deep Cleaning Silver Jewelry
Purchase a silver polish. When tarnish develops on silver, a simple salt and aluminum bath may not suffice to remove it. Specially formulated silver jewelry polishes are your safest option for polishing silver jewelry, especially if you are dealing with an antique or a piece that has intricate designs etched into it.
Even special polishes can remove a layer of silver, so get a professional cleaning if you’re dealing with a delicate piece.
Instead of buying silver polish from the drugstore, consider getting it from a jewelry store or a store with a high-quality jewelry department.
Rub the jewelry with a little polish. Moisten a soft silver-polishing cloth or the sponge included with the silver polish and take a little bit of polish onto the cloth. Rub the polish into the silver jewelry gently. Use only a straight-line, back-and-forth motion. Avoid scrubbing or rubbing in circles, since this can leave scratches or patterns in the surface of the jewelry. Just let the polish do the job.
Rinse and dry the silver jewelry. Rinse it under cool running water. Be sure to clean off all of the polish residue so it won’t continue working on the surface of the jewelry. Dry it completely using a soft cloth.
Consider using common household products for less rare or less valuable pieces. They will usually work to remove tough tarnish, but may cause damage such as pock marks or scratches. Try them at your own risk.
Try toothpaste. Select a plain white toothpaste without the special whitening options. Take a soft, dampened cloth or a damp sponge and put some toothpaste on it. Gently rub over the silver jewelry in straight, back-and-forth motions. Be very gentle, and if you notice scratching at any point, stop and rinse the toothpaste off. As the cloth or sponge becomes dark with tarnish, add more toothpaste to a clean part of the dampened cloth/sponge and continue gently polishing. Rinse thoroughly with warm water and dry with a soft towel.
Baking soda may remove stubborn tarnish, but don’t use it unless you don’t mind the risk of damaging the silver. Make a paste of baking soda and warm water, gently rub it into the surface of the jewelry, and rinse when the tarnish is removed.
Try a silver dip. Commercial silver “dips” can dissolve stains without rubbing the silver jewelry, although they may take off a layer of silver. For this reason, they should only be used as a last resort. Contrary to what the word “dip” implies, professionals rarely actually soak silver in these products, at least not for long. Dips are generally harsh, potentially dangerous chemicals, so follow the directions carefully and consult a professional when in doubt.
Boil the water. While it’s simmering up, line the bottom of the bowl with the tinfoil, shiny side up. I literally covered the bowl with tinfoil. Then, add the salt and baking soda to the bottom of the bowl. Add the vinegar slowly (prepare for the fizz) and mix everything together to dissolve the salt and baking soda. You want all the granules to dissolve so that they don’t scratch your pieces.
Add the boiling water to your bowl and then gently drop each piece of silver in the bowl. Just let it sit, the chemical reaction does all the work for you. If you wish, you can flip them over (like burgers on a Q) with salad tongs, just to ensure that both sides get exposure to the tinfoil.
Take each piece out carefully, being sure not to burn yourself, and buff it gently with your polishing cloth. You should start to see all the tarnish come off and all the original glory of your silver come back!
If you have charms or stones, you can try massaging good old ketchup onto the silver and rinsing it clean…I don’t think this mixture is OK for enamelled charms (although I did it on mine – I was willing to take the risk).
Before swimming and strenuous activities. Salt water and chlorine can damage your jewelry. Add sweat to the list when it comes to sterling silver.
Before applying sunscreen and bug spray. Lotion can get into the crevices of chains and prongs. Also, lotions and sprays create a film on your jewelry, making it dull and dingy.
In direct sunlight. The sun can bleach certain materials, especially natural elements and some plastics.
In cold water. Cool temperatures cause your fingers to shrink, creating room for your ring to slip off. And when in water, you may not even notice until it’s too late.
Before going into a hot tub or swimming pool. Chlorine can damage and discolor metals (like gold and platinum) and can slowly erode the finish and polish of gemstones.
Before playing in the sand (or gardening.) Dirt and small rocks are abrasive. If not cleaned right away, your jewelry can be permanently damaged. Beware the dangers of gardening gloves, too.
Clean your jewelry regularly. Your own sweat and body oils can dull the shine of your jewelry. DIY cleaning calls for warm soapy water and a soft toothbrush.
Store your jewelry in a clean, dry place. Keep your pieces in a fabric-lined jewelry case, or in a box with compartments and dividers to prevent pieces from scratching each other. Invest in a safe place to store your jewelry on-the-go, too.
Watch for warning signs of vulnerabilities in your jewelry. From symptoms of a loose stone to bracelet, necklace and earring red flags, there are six major signals that your jewelry’s about to break.
Visit your jeweler to check for loose gem stones, prongs and clasps. It’s easy to lose a piece of jewelry or individual stones if you’re not giving your jewelry regular check-ups. Your jeweler will deep clean your pieces for a brilliant shine, too!
Get your favorite jewelry insured. You’ll have the peace of mind that regardless of your surf and turf adventures, your jewelry is protected.
I’ve purchased cleansers from grocery stores that just don’t work. If you’re going to get a cleanser from somewhere other than a jewelry professional, test it first on a small area. If the cleaner doesn’t remove tarnish instantly, it’s not working. Proper liquid silver cleaners will remove all tarnish in about 3 seconds. If you need to soak, or scrub, stop using it, rinse your silver, and return the cleaner to where you bought it and get your money back. (Keep your receipt!)
Recent studies have shown tarnish develops microscopically within hours of being cleaned and exposed to air again. You may not see it on the piece for several days or weeks, but it’s there, and will show up as a black residue on a polishing cloth. A great way to keep seldom worn jewelry clean (and silverware if you have it), is to store sterling silver in a ziplock bag with all the air squeezed or rolled out of it. You can wrap it in a soft cloth first too. Oxygen and thus tarnish may still seep in and can still cause blackening especially if the pieces are stores for long periods of time, but it should keep things to a minimum.
When silver tarnishes, it’s a surface discolouration caused by the interaction of oxygen (air) with the silver. As the British Assay Office explains it, “silver naturally interacts with oxygen and sulphur-bearing pollutants to create silver sulphide, resulting in a visible discoloration of the metal’s surface. Silver tarnishes in environments containing various sulphuric gases, even in very low concentration. The amount of tarnishing is determined by the relative humidity, ambient temperature, gas concentration, and the length of time the silver is exposed to the gases.”
With sterling silver this process is normal, natural, expected, and yes, it can occur relatively quickly.
Many things can speed tarnish; air pollution, the minerals in your water (and as such wearing your silver jewelry in the shower can speed this process too), living or working near a chemical, electric or manufacturing plant are all things that can cause discolouration more quickly.
Fortunately, this is a quite common problem for jewelry owners. So thankfully there are many quick fixes for this issue.
Warm Water Bath. Sometimes, the simplest solution is the best! Add mild dish soap to warm water and simply place your jewelry in the bath to soak. You’ll want to soak each piece for at least 30 minutes, though you can soak multiple pieces together. Rinse the jewelry in clean water afterwards. Using a soft toothbrush, wipe the tarnished areas of the jewelry. This process should help remove the dullness. You may need to repeat the process a few times until you completely clean the jewelry.
Silver Polish. There are specialty-made cleaners for your jewelry. They are typically inexpensive and easy to find online and in stores. While using the liquid versions of these can be messy, you can find packs of small, disposable clothes soaked in the solution for a quick and easy way to clean!
Lemon Juice. Combining 1 part lemon juice and 2 parts water, you can create a solution to place your tarnished jewelry in. Adding a little bit of olive oil into the mix can help protect the metal for this, too! For this method, only leave the pieces in the solution for 15 minutes at a time. Remember to dilute the lemon juice before you use it! You don’t want to put anything too abrasive on the metal!
Baking Soda. Another popular mixture to clean your jewelry, combining three parts baking soda and one part water will make a thick, white paste. Using a clean, lint-free cloth, apply the paste to the wet jewelry and begin rubbing over the surface. Work the mixture into every part of the jewelry, including all the nooks and crannies, to remove the tarnish. Once you’ve gotten most of it off, rinse the jewelry thoroughly.
Visit a Professional! If you have expensive, beloved pieces of jewelry, it’s always better to invest a little money to have those pieces professionally cleaned. If you’re afraid that your at home methods might not work, check your local jewelry stores for referrals. This way, you can be sure your jewelry remains safe, as it will be in the hands of someone who can use professional methods – like ultrasonic cleaners! – to really bring that shine back to your jewelry. After all, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
No matter how experienced you are in taking care of your jewelry, you are likely to run into challenges. Some of them you can anticipate but others can certainly take you by surprise. Whether it’s expensive gemstones, beloved costume jewelry, or sentimental antique jewelry passed down through your family, we all love our jewelry and want to take care of it.
We all have special jewelry pieces that we treasure because they were a gift or used to belong to a loved one or maybe they remind us of a special time in our lives etc. If not cared for properly, they could become worn, damaged, and keep us from continuing to enjoy them for years to come.
There is a popular saying: jewelry should be the first thing you take off at night and the last thing to put on before you start your day.
Hairspray, perfume and lotion are some of the biggest factors that contribute to tarnish. Spraying sticky hairspray at your earrings and spritzing concentrated perfume at your silver and gold jewelry will build up a coating with the metal making it look dirty and speckled.
Hand lotion that is put on over your jewelry will get into the cracks of the design, collect dirt and keep light from shining through your gemstones. It’s pretty gross to think about but it can harden underneath certain types of stone settings and cause stones to be worked loose over time if not cleaned. This sounds a little crazy but I have seen it happen.
Many gemstones such as Turquoise, Opal and Pearl just to name a few can be permanently stained by body sprays and products and it’s better just not to risk it.
Silver and gold can not be worn together, which will cause the silver to turn yellow and lose its luster. The silverware purchased is insufficient in silver and contains many other metallic elements. These easily oxidizable metals are easily oxidized with air to darken them.
Know the above principle, is there any relationship between silver blackening and illness? Let us first look at the reports of biological research. When our body is immune, muscles produce more hydrogen sulfide gas. When we are sick, our immune system will have a lot of immune reactions in order to protect our body. It will produce more hydrogen sulfide gas, which will make the silverware black. Therefore, people who are often sick, silver ornaments may be more likely to turn black. However, the silver is black, and there is no absolute relationship with illness. The wearing of silver cheap personalized jewelry is black, and it is related to personal physique. There is no absolute relationship with health.
Simple things – like paying attention to how you store, wear, and clean your sterling silver jewelry, can prolong its life dramatically. Remember to always store your jewelry in a dry and air-tight place. Wear your jewelry often, but be sure to remove it when showering, swimming, or working with certain chemicals or foods that contain sulfur. As a general rule, it’s always best to put on your jewelry last when getting dressed. Polishing your jewelry before it becomes too tarnished will minimize the amount of work needed, but be sure to use the right type of cloth and stroke pattern. These small and simple steps will help keep your sterling silver jewelry looking brilliant for years to come.
Protect your silver jewelry by wiping it off thoroughly with a polishing cloth or other soft material, like a cloth diaper, before storing it.
Place the silver in an area that is dark and dry, such as a jewelry box or drawer. Allow plenty of room for each piece of jewelry.
It is best to store the jewelry so that other pieces are not on top of it and are not touching each other. Storing your silver jewelry in this manner ensures that it will stay looking attractive for many years.