So, How Do I Clean & Care for my Silver Jewellery??

Over the past twenty years, one of the most frequently discussed subjects with my customers is how to care and clean silver jewellery. As a natural material, silver reacts with its environment, especially the chemicals in the air and, over time, silver does become tarnished. This doesn’t mean that your fabulous new piece of jewellery is defective, far from it; it just proves that your beautiful accessory is good quality silver.

Many people also encounter tarnishing or discolouring to silver jewellery caused by oils & acids from the skin or perfume and hairspray. It’s very simple to get your silver jewellery back to its former glory and, like most things, the earlier you catch the tarnish the easier it is to get rid of it. My advice falls simply into these few steps.

1. You can clean your mildly tarnished silver at home with Sterling Silver dips - but be warned, you do need to be careful! Jewellery dips, while very effective at removing tarnish, are equally as effective at removing the colour and polish off some gemstones. It’s a good habit to try not to dip any jewellery with stones, but the gemstones that are particularly affected are pearls, sodalite, malachite, lapis lazuli, white opals, turquoise or any soft or porous stones. Remember not to leave your jewellery in the dip too long and don’t rinse it off with cold water otherwise you could find your jewellery gets a white residue which can be as hard to remove as the tarnish. To make sure your jewellery stays perfect, always read the manufacturer’s instructions.

2. To clean untarnished silver (and keep it that way), use a phosphate-free detergent or non-abrasive cloth made for cleaning jewellery - these cloths should come with a built in jewellery cleaner.

3. Try to keep your silver jewellery away from chemicals, in particular strong detergents. I would always strongly suggest removing your silver jewellery before swimming or bathing. Chlorine in swimming pools, salt in the sea & soaps at bathtime don’t react favourably with your silver jewellery.

4. I would also recommend that your silver jewellery is stored in a self seal bag. This isolates the piece from air conditions that may contain sulphides. Also try and store it a dry and cool environment. The hotter the environment the greater the chance of more sulphides which cause more tarnish.

Following these simple guidelines will ensure your silver remains beautiful and sparkling. Above all, make sure to wear and enjoy your jewellery. That’s what it was designed for after all.