Does silver tarnish? If you're thinking of investing in silver jewelry, this is an important question. After all, you don't want to spend hard-earned money on something that will end up looking dark, tarnished, and different than it did the day you bought it. How quickly does silver tarnish? That's another question we'll answer.
First of all, what is sterling silver? You may even be wondering, is sterling silver real?
Sterling silver is a durable, high-quality metal used in fine jewelry, made up of 92.5% pure silver. Yes, sterling silver is real—it is just mixed with a harder metal, like copper, for durability. 100% pure silver is too soft for making jewelry. The jewelry would be prone to bending, denting, and scratching without the presence of a harder metal in the mix.
Known for its brilliant shine and timeless appeal, sterling silver is perfect for rings, necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. Affordable yet luxurious, it complements any style, from classic to modern, making it ideal for everyday wear and special occasions. We especially love the look of sterling silver for a classic, coastal vibe.
Does sterling silver tarnish?
Yes, sterling silver can tarnish over time due to exposure to air, moisture, and chemicals. Tarnishing occurs when the copper in the alloy reacts with sulfur or oxygen.
However, with proper care, you can keep your sterling silver jewelry looking shiny and new.
How can I prevent sterling silver from tarnishing?
Regular cleaning and storing your jewelry in a dry, cool place can help prevent sterling silver from tarnishing. Storing silver jewelry in an airtight container, such as a high-quality jewelry box or a sealed plastic baggie, can do wonders for keeping your jewelry bright for longer. To maintain its brilliance over time, consider using a microfiber jewelry polishing cloth or a gentle sterling silver cleaner.
Investing in high-quality, genuine sterling silver jewelry (like the Jane bracelet, above, which our customers love) ensures long-lasting beauty with minimal upkeep.
How quickly does silver tarnish?
Sterling silver may begin to show signs of tarnishing within a few weeks to a few months. When silver jewelry is exposed to the chemicals present in perfume, lotions, and chlorinated water, tarnishing can occur more quickly. However, with proper care—as detailed above—you can slow down the tarnishing process and keep your silver looking its best for longer.
Does wearing silver jewelry keep it from tarnishing?
A little-known fact is that sterling silver is happier being worn than being stored. The natural oils from your skin can help preserve its beautiful shine. For this reason, it's best to invest in sterling silver jewelry that you intend to wear as your everyday jewelry. The longer sterling silver jewelry is stored and not worn, the more likely it will oxidize and ultimately tarnish.
Actually, I can prove that it is best to wear your sterling silver jewelry daily. Recently, I went on vacation and made a mistake. I wore my gold filled and sterling silver Jane bracelet in a chlorinated hot tub. As a jewelry designer, of course I knew better. But I wanted to observe how the jewelry reacted to have a better understanding of potential customer concerns.
The bracelet's gold filled components held up. Gold filled jewelry is composed of at least a 1/20 ratio of pure gold coating over a stronger metal. It appeared unaffected after a quick dip in chlorinated water. (I do not advise doing this repeatedly.)
The sterling silver beads were also relatively unaffected... especially in the areas where the beads touch my skin. Since the Jane bracelet uses round beads, the center of each sterling silver bead was protected from the oil of my skin. However, the sides of the bead, closest to where the bead is strung, reacted poorly to the chlorine and started to tarnish.
I used a jeweler's grade ionic cleaner to remove the tarnishing.
To avoid this, I should have followed the proper care protocol: Store sterling silver in a cool, dry place; avoid harsh chemicals found in perfumes, lotions, and hair products; and keep jewelry dry as much as possible.
Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of how to keep sterling silver from tarnishing.
For more information about caring for your jewelry and how to prevent tarnishing, check out our article on how to care for different kinds of metals, or feel free to contact me with your question.
This article addresses how to keep sterling silver from tarnishing, sterling silver jewelry care, how to prevent sterling silver from tarnishing, and answers the question: why does sterling silver tarnish? It also covers how to store sterling silver, how to stop sterling silver from tarnishing, and how to clean sterling silver jewelry. Hopefully, you've learned all about caring for sterling silver jewelry and can proceed to shop with confidence!
Comments