There is something special about silver jewelry. It might be the simplicity of the metal itself, or the beautiful shine, or perhaps how versatile it is, but whatever draws so many of us towards it, there is just one downside; it can tarnish quickly. Tarnishing is what happens when oxygen and sulfur come into contact with silver – and it can ruin the look of it. Thankfully, there are some easy ways to take care of your special jewelry – here are some that will help you keep your silver looking its best.
Wear It
If you have bought or been gifted a beautiful piece of jewelry from a quality store such as Lowndes London, then you will want to wear it as often as possible, which is great when it comes to keeping it looking amazing. Wearing your silver jewelry regularly actually helps to keep it safe because the oils in your skin rub against the metal and clean it, so it always looks shiny and stunning. After all, if you’re the proud owner of a piece of jewelry from Tiffany & Co. or Lowndes London, then you should be wearing your accessory with pride.
Take It Off
Although wearing your jewelry as much as possible is fantastic, there are times when it’s much better to take it off and leave it somewhere safe. When you’re doing the housework, for example. Household cleaning products contain chemicals which are harmful to your precious silver. Even wearing rubber gloves won’t protect your jewelry since rubber can damage it too. In fact, any substance or material that contains sulfur (including eggs, onions, wool, and latex) can cause damage and corrosion. Don’t wear your silver jewelry when you go swimming either, as the pool chemicals won’t be kind to it either.
Wear It Last
Despite being one of the most beautiful metals, silver has a lot of ‘enemies’ around the house, so you do need to be careful. Many skin lotions, hair products, and perfumes can cause corrosion and tarnishing. The key is to leave your silver until the very last thing, when all other preparations have already been made!
Store It Well
Silver should be stored in an airtight plastic bag to protect it as much as possible. Exposure to the air will tarnish it, so the bag really must be airtight. You can even add some anti-tarnish strips in with the jewelry to ensure that nothing can harm your lovely items. Remember to put each piece in a separate bag since if you put a few in together, they can easily scratch each other (silver is a notoriously soft metal).
Polish
If you do find that your silver jewelry is tarnished, then polishing should be able to remove the tarnish as long as it’s not too severe. If you choose to do this, then you will need to use a special silver cleaning cloth to avoid scratching the metal. If you don’t have or can’t find one of these, a lint-free flannel or a microfiber cloth will work as well. Never use a paper towel on silver jewelry as the fibers will damage it, and scratches are the one thing that can’t be removed from silver. However, the best way to ensure the best care for your silver jewelry is to look to jewelry experts like Pandora, who offer care instructions for their products. Before polishing your jewelry, always contact jewelry sellers for advice.
