How to Care for Silver Jewellery
Silver jewellery is timeless, and it’s easy to see why – with its trademark shine, versatile colour, and sheer wearability, it’s clearly a classic for a reason! That’s why it’s so incredibly important to take great care of your silver jewellery, too – well-cared for silver pieces can last several lifetimes, so making sure you know how to best look after yours is likely to increase its lifespan significantly!
We’re sharing our five best tips to keep your silver jewellery looking as good as it did the day you bought it – so yours will remain timeless, too!
1. Take it off!
This might sound counterproductive when we’re discussing silver jewellery, particularly if you have a sterling silver ring or earrings, but hear us out; some substances and chemicals have been known to damage silver, or increase its likelihood of tarnishing, so it’s important that you try to avoid exposing your silver jewellery to any situations in which it could undergo this kind of damage – after all, preventative care is far more effective than trying to undo damage that’s already been done!
Lots of things can impact even sterling silver jewellery, such as heavy perspiration, some household cleaners, too much harsh sunlight, and even some lotions and body washes. That’s why it’s a good rule of thumb to take your jewellery off when you’re playing sports or working out (especially when swimming, as chlorine can be very damaging to even fine silver), when doing household chores or cleaning, and whilst showering – and, if you’re heading off somewhere hot, you might want to take a break from wearing your jewellery every once in a while, so that the sunlight doesn’t cause any damage, too!
2. But also, wear it
Okay, okay, we know we sound like we’re contradicting ourselves, here, but do hear us out: wearing your jewellery regularly can keep it looking shiny and tarnish-free, as the natural oils that occur in your skin can keep the jewellery itself from tarnishing! Basically, this means that the more you wear your jewellery, the less you have to worry about your jewellery tarnishing – that sounds like a win/win, to us!
Just make sure to wipe down your jewellery after wearing it – keeping sterling silver pieces, in particular, dry has a huge impact on whether or not it’s likely to tarnish.
3. Know your jewellery
If you’re not sure how much actual silver content your jewellery has, now’s the time to find out! Check the hallmarks on your pieces to find out how much of your jewellery contains pure silver, as this is a great indicator of how much polishing it may need. You should see a number stamped on your silver pieces, which reveals how much silver content is in each; for example, all of our pieces at Simply Silver use either 999 or 925 sterling silver, which means they contain 99.9% silver and 92.5% silver, respectively.
So, then, as a rule, our 999 sterling silver pieces will need slightly more care and polishing than our 925 sterling silver pieces, as pure silver will require a little more TLC. This rule applies to all types of silver, so it’s a good one to keep in mind for all of your pieces.
4. Store, store, store
One of the most important things you can do, when it comes to your silver jewellery, is store it appropriately. Ideally, and if possible, the best way to store your silver is in a tarnish-free pouch, as not only will this serve as a preventative measure against tarnishing, but it will also help you to avoid the damage which air exposure can cause your pieces, like dulling their brilliance.
Aside from ensuring your jewellery is kept in anti-tarnish bags, it’s also a good idea to unclasp and unhook any jewellery that needs it, as this will prevent it from getting scratched whilst being stored.
5. Polish off that tarnish!
Tarnishing isn’t always completely avoidable, so if you do notice some tarnishing on your jewellery, fear not – it’s not the end of the world! Your jewellery likely just needs a little TLC, which is easy enough to do. Using either a micro-fibre cloth or a cotton bud, depending on the size of your piece, wipe away tarnish with a side-to-side motion over the tarnished areas. Once the tarnish is gone, don’t be tempted to over polish – this can do more harm than good, and may end up actually damaging your jewellery.
We hope you’ve found this information on the best possible ways to care for and look after your silver jewellery and pieces helpful – stick with these handy tips, and you should be able to enjoy your jewellery for a long time to come.
