How To Care For Your Sterling Silver Jewelry

Store Correctly To Minimize Tarnish

You can minimize tarnish as well as scratches by storing your jewelry in individual small plastic bags.  There are also anti-tarnish paper strips that you can place inside your jewelry box, or cut the strips into small pieces and place one in each small plastic bag with your jewelry.  You'll find anti-tarnish paper at a craft or hardware store.

Cleaning Your Silver Jewelry

Some silver jewelry just doesn't need regular polishing, because tarnish is kept at bay by skin oils and regular washing.  That means that an item worn against the skin, such as a cross on a chain or a ring tends to stay relatively tarnish-free.  Except when it is exposed to some harsh chemicals which accelerate oxidation.  For instance, if you wear a silver cross necklace and go swimming in a chlorinated pool, the silver will quickly turn black.  But, swim in a lake or spring-fed pool and nothing happens. 

Use A Polishing Cloth

One of the best ways to clean your jewelry is with a professional jewelry polishing cloth.  The cloth is treated with cleaning chemicals and not only will the cloth last a long time, it will give you an amazing shine each and every time.  Give your jewelry a polish after wearing and before you place it in its plastic bag.  This removes oils, fingerprints and dust, and will keep your jewelry in pristine condition.  Polishing cloths are available to purchase on this page.

How To Clean Tarnished Silver

You can use a quality silver polish, they work great.  Some polishes leave behind a film which helps prevent tarnishing, but wears off quickly as the jewelry gets handled.  Never use anything abrasive, silver can scratch easily.  Remember: Don't polish silver that is rhodium plated.

What Could Possibly Be Good About Silver Tarnish?

Well, the tarnish adds a beautiful aged effect to silver items, because it tends to darken the recesses of the piece where the silver polish does not reach.  This effect gives a unique dramatic character to silver jewelry that sets it apart from gold and platinum, making it a great choice for both casual and formal wear.

Please Don't Dip

Please.... never dip any silver jewelry in "dip" solutions or commercial cleaning solutions even though it may say that it is for silver jewelry.  Dip cleaners will work the first few times, but after that the silver jewelry may turn in color and will never look the same.

Warning: jewelry cleaning solutions will ruin oxidized silver jewelry and any gem stones.

 We do not recommend cleaning your jewelry with toothpaste and a toothbrush as this could scratch the silver.

Rhodium Plating

Some silver jewelry is plated with rhodium to prevent tarnish.  So you should not polish this type of silver, because it will remove the plating.  Rhodium is a platinum-group metal.  We will always tell you if one of our jewelry pieces is rhodium plated, so that you will know how to care for it.  Rhodium plating is also commonly used on white gold jewelry.

Mineral Spas, Swimming Pools and Hot Tubs

Mineral spas, swimming pools and hot tubs are great - just remove your silver before you jump in.  Please don't wear your jewelry in these, your jewelry can turn very black.