Caring for Yor Silver

Sterling Silver is a popular material for jewelry because of its versatility and beauty. However, the metal can tarnish over time, so it's essential to properly care for your Sterling Silver jewelry to keep it looking as beautiful as the first day you received it. Proper care includes being mindful of storing, wearing, and cleaning your jewelry.

Tarnishing, or oxidation, occurs when oxygen or sulfur comes into contact with Sterling Silver, giving it a darker color. Sterling Silver comes in different levels of purity. Most of our jewelry is 925 Sterling Silver. 92.5%, AKA 925 is the standard for Sterling Silver Jewelry. You can find purity information for the piece(s) you are interested in in the description section of each item.

If your jewelry appears darkened or dirty, your silver has tarnished; but you can get it brand new by following the steps below. 

NOTE: Some pieces are oxidized during creation, resulting in a black patina, which gives them an antique look. It's also helpful to contrast gemstone colors. 

HOW TO CLEAN STERLING SILVER JEWELRY

Clean/Polish: We recommend using the provided polishing cloth designed explicitly for Sterling Silver.

• Frequently rotate to a new section of the cloth.
• Avoid areas that are intentionally oxidized.
• Do not rub in a circular pattern,      
• follow the grain of the silver.
• Avoid rubbing too hard on engraved sections.

Baking soda and water: Make a paste from baking soda and water, apply a small amount onto a cloth or toothbrush and scrub gently, then polish with our provided cloth· 

White vinegar and baking soda: This gentle cleaning method removes heavy tarnish. Soak your sterling silver in ½ cup of white vinegar and 2 tbsp of baking soda for two to three hours. Rinse jewelry, pat dry, then polish with the cloth we provided. ·

Severe Tarnish: If your sterling silver jewelry has severe tarnishing, consider sending it to a professional for cleaning. Keep up with regular cleanings to remove tarnish as it builds. Your job becomes much more difficult if you let a piece accumulate a lot of tarnish and then try to remove it all at once. 

TARNISH PREVENTION TIPS. Knowing what harms your Sterling Silver jewelry helps combat tarnish. Here's a list of general care tips.

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Wear it often: Your skin's natural oils will help keep silver jewelry shiny. One of the easiest ways to prevent tarnish is to wear your silver often instead of letting it sit in a jewelry box unworn. 

Remove during household chores: Household cleaners or foods with sulfur and chlorinated water will accelerate tarnishing. It's good to obliterate sterling silver before cleaning or preparing sulfur-rich foods.

Keep out of pools and saltwater. Before heading to the beach or pool, remove your silver jewelry. 

Put your jewelry on last: Lotions, makeup, hair spray, and perfumes will accelerate tarnishing.

Use our jewelry cloth: We provide a jewelry cleaning cloth with all purchases, use it often to keep your jewelry looking great.

HOW TO STORE STERLING SILVER JEWELRY

Use an airtight container to store your silver. Zip-lock bags are great, but specialty jewelry bags are a more attractive option.

Keep in a cool, dark place: Keep your silver in a cool, dark place.

Store pieces individually: Storing your pieces separately prevents any chance of jewelry scratching or tangling with each other.

Anti-tarnish cloths: It's great to line your jewelry box with our anti-tarnish cloth. These cloths absorb sulfur and moisture from the air and are chemically treated to prevent tarnish. You can also keep anti-tarnish strips with your jewelry. 

Store jewelry with chalk: If you place a few pieces of chalk in with your Sterling Silver, the chalk will absorb the moisture and help prevent tarnishing.

Store jewelry with silica packs: When you buy new clothes or shoes, sometimes you'll find silica packs with them. Keep these and place them in your jewelry box. They're great for absorbing moisture. 

Do not store in paper, cardboard, or cotton-filled boxes: These boxes may contain traces of sulfur which will contribute to tarnishing.

In Closing

To properly care for Sterling Silver Jewelry, consider how you store, wear, and polish it. Store your jewelry in a dry, airtight container. Wear it often, but remove it when working with certain chemicals or foods containing sulfur. As a rule of thumb, putting on your jewelry last when getting dressed is always best. Polishing your jewelry before it becomes too tarnished will minimize the work needed, but use the correct type of cloth and stroke pattern. This will help keep your Sterling Silver Jewelry looking brilliant for years.