I am often asked “how do I keep my silver jewelry from tarnishing?”. That is the million-dollar question for which there are a million answers. It seems that everyone has an opinion, some work well, some not so well. I am going to tell you what works for me and the steps I recommend to all my customers.
It is important to understand that sterling silver is an alloy. In most cases, sterling silver is a combination of 92.5% fine silver and 7.5% copper. Adding another metal to fine silver gives silver more durability and strength. The amount of pure silver required in sterling silver is regulated and must be at least 92.5% pure silver the other 7.5% is not regulated and can be copper, zinc or a mixture of several metals.
When buying jewelry all “silver” is not the same. If someone is selling jewelry as silver, please ask if it is sterling silver or fine silver. The jewelry should be hallmarked with 92.5 or .999. There is also Nickel silver which is an alloy made from Zinc and Nickle and gets its name from its silver color, there is no silver in it. You may even run across Silver Filled and Silver Plate. It is always best to buy your jewelry from a reputable jeweler or jewelry artist that offers a guarantee on their work/jewelry. This way you are certain you are getting quality pieces.
The reason your jewelry tarnishes is simple, it is called Oxidation. Metals react to the air around them as well as the impurities in the air and the chemicals they are subjected to. The same is true for silver. The higher the silver content the slower the oxidation. Sterling because of the copper alloy will tarnish faster than pure silver.
Now that you understand why your jewelry tarnishes you can take the necessary steps to minimize the tarnish as much as possible.
- Keep your jewelry clean- soap and water clean! Not just wiping it off with a jewelry cloth. I cannot tell you the number of times people have brought me a necklace and said they can’t get the tarnish off. They did get the tarnish off what they didn’t remove was the dirt. Sweat, skin cells, oil and grim all cling to necklaces and must be removed with soap and water. A little dawn and a nail brush or toothbrush can work wonders.
- Dry your jewelry thoroughly and store it in a clean dry location. I prefer a small Ziploc jewelry bag this way I can push all the air out and seal the bag. I have kept jewelry clean and tarnish free for 8-10 months this way.
- Avoid wearing your jewelry when you will be sweating heavily or using cleaning products, hand lotions, hairspray, or wash with soap and water after each occurrence.
- When tarnish appears use a good, gentle tarnish remover. Something nontoxic. I used to use Connoisseurs Jewelry cleaner, but I found that it was hard on the silver and would some time take off the polish. Now I am using Goddard Sterling Silver foam cleaner and I am happy with it so far.
There you have it, my simple techniques for keeping my sterling silver jewelry beautiful and tarnish free. Let me know if they work for you.
Addie Luhinec
Gilded Heart Designs
9/27/2023