With These 6 Tips Give You 925 Sterling Silver The Boon Of Long Life!

Silver jewellery is absolutely prepossessing, but it can tarnish with time. Luckily, there are easy ways to keep that tarnish at bay. Silver is a dense, silvery metal that masculates when it comes to exposure to oxygen and other environmental factors like water or air. Over time, the tarnish builds up on your jewellery and makes it discolour, turn grey or even black. It’s that peeling, dulling or corroding feeling you get on your finger when you’re wearing gold jewellery. This post will teach you how to take care of your 925 silver jewellery so you never have to worry about your precious pieces turning into the ugly green-grey color associated with old copper coins.

Why Does Silver Tarnish?

Remember when you were a kid and you’d put a paperclip in a glass of Coke because your friend told you it would make the paper clip ‘disappear’? The same thing happens when silver touches sulfur (a gas released from all sorts of natural processes, such as volcanoes, trees and humans). As the silver and sulfur mix, the silver molecules react with the sulfur to solid compounds. This process is known as tarnishing. Jewellery made of 925 sterling silver is considered the highest quality for any type of jewellery. But, surprisingly, this precious metal tarnishes much more quickly than other types of metals. 

• The oxygen in the air causes the silver molecules to react and form a thin layer of tarnish on the metal.
• The silver ions in saliva and sweat react with the sterling silver because they have a slight negative charge.
• Finally, as lotions and oils enter into contact with your jewellery, they create an unfavourable environment for precious metals like sterling silver. 

The good news: You can take preventative steps to eliminate tarnish damage from your jewellery by adding now-accepted procedures such as cleaning regularly or using appropriate care products designed for your type of jewellery.

How Can You Take Care Of This Tarnishing?

• Don’t Wear Your Jewellery in the Shower

The water will cause 925 sterling silver to tarnish, so take it off before entering the shower or bath. Don’t worry if your jewellery gets wet when you are swimming though, as water won’t damage it. However just like with every other type of metal, if you get it too hot or cold, it can warp or break. If you have a delicate piece of jewellery, then beware of harsh hair dryers, as the air coming out of them can be very hot. There are also other types of cleaning fluids that can damage silver, so always check the label before using anything. Or you can get anti-tarnish jewellery from AMPkrafts to make it last longer.

• Store Your Silver Jewellery Carefully

The length of a piece of jewellery depends on the weight, and it is recommended that you store it in a small box or in a velvet bag so that it doesn’t become squashed. If you have to travel with your silver jewellery, use an empty cosmetic compact box, as these boxes are made for delicate cosmetics. Other types of boxes (for example those for printed items) won’t be able to take the weight. Gently pull the jewellery out and place it in your pocket before putting them back into its original place then store them securely in its boxes/pockets. But AMPkrafts jewellery come with a designed box to make sure you don’t have to turn around your whole finding something to store your delicate pendant or necklace in!

• Avoid Using Any Cleaning Products When Storing Your Silver Jewellery

It is important that you store your stored 925 sterling silver in an environment free of chemicals, which can go ahead and damage it. This means that you should try not to store your silver jewellery in the bathroom or any place where people have used soaps, products with disinfectants or deodorants and similar things. Your silver jewellery should be stored at room temperature too so that it does not get damaged from either high or low temperatures.

• Clean the Jewellery with a Soft Cloth

After you have taken your jewellery off, use a soft cloth to wipe it clean. The most important thing is to make sure that you don’t rub hard at all. When using a soft cloth for cleaning your silver jewellery, be sure to avoid getting any drops of water on the metal when rinsing off the cloth. This will only go ahead and damage the metal further. A soft cloth with a tiny amount of warm water or dishwashing liquid is all that you need to clean your silver jewellery. 

• Avoid Contact with Perfumes and Lotions on the Skin

Be careful not to wear perfumes or lotions as these can damage your silver jewellery. Be sure to wear your jewellery in a ventilated area when washing it as well. If you do get perfumes or lotions on your silver jewellery, then simply wipe them away with a dry cloth or soft towel. It is also important to be careful when you are bathing and swimming with your jewellery on. Avoid getting it soaked in the water as this can go ahead and damage it.

• Avoid Leaving Your Jewellery Out In the Sun for Too Long

It is best not to leave your silver jewellery out in the sun for too long. Leaving it lying around for a long time can cause it to tarnish prematurely, as well as cause dark spots on the metal’s surface and alter its colour in certain areas too. The sun’s rays can also discolour precious stones, so if you want to take your jewellery with you on holidays, be sure to cover it up thoroughly.

Heavy Silver Tarnish Removal Using Science:

An easy 5-step procedure is provided in an article titled “Clean Your Silver Jewelry With Chemistry!”. This is it:

1. Use an aluminium pie plate or a bowl that has been lined with aluminium foil.
2. Fill the container with hot water until the jewellery is covered.
3. Equal parts of salt and baking soda should be added. 1-2 tablespoons of each might work, but make sure they can dissolve completely.
4. Make sure the jewellery touches the aluminium when you submerge it in the solution. Give it five minutes or so to sit.
5. Rub dry after rinsing. If any spots are still visible after rubbing them off, add a little more salt and baking soda to the solution and let the jewellery soak for a little longer.

There will always be a variety of items to pick from, whether it be a toe ring, thigh jewellery, pair of earrings, or necklace, thanks to silver’s malleability. 

Addicted to silver jewellery? Discover the silver/rose/yellow gold jewellery selections at AMPkraft. For more information and options of your choice please contact us today or visit your website for an infinite variety!