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Sterling silver is one brand of silver that you can’t afford to ignore. This is because it has a bright appearance, lustre and brilliance which add up to give it a sparkling effect. Therefore jewellery made of this brand of silver is considered very valuable.
Its constituents are mainly silver with 92.5% composition and other metals such as copper and nickel with 7.5% composition. While the added copper or nickel gives it strength, the silver maintains its ductility and alluring appearance.
Often times, you can find people drawing comparison between it and the white gold jewellery because their difference in appearance is not so conspicuous. However, your sterling silver requires a bit more care and attention because of its tendency to tarnish.
Your sterling silver jewellery is no different from your other personal effect that you consider valuable. You cherish those valuables and care for them because you want to preserve their exquisiteness and to make them last longer.
Therefore, if you have more of this silver type in your ‘treasure trove,’ don’t allow them to just tarnish away. Discover the different ways to care for them, so you can keep enjoying your beautiful piece of adornment.
Essentially, there are two broad ways involved in caring for your sterling silver: preventive care and corrective care.
Preventive care includes the manner of use and every measure aimed at avoiding tarnish or damage.
1. Wear it frequently
Tarnish is less likely to form on your sterling silver if you wear it frequently. This is because the oil on your will keep rubbing on it, thus making it look shiny all the time. Again, avoid storing it in airtight containers that are prone to corrosion. This also helps to prevent tarnish or corrosion.
2. Provide safe storage
Put your sterling silver jewellery in anti-tarnish papers and bags. If they’re kept in a wardrobe, place silica gel bags close to them. Generally, they should be kept in cool, dry places away from moisture. In addition, you should avoid keeping them in the same containers with other sharp metals to prevent scratches on their surfaces.
3. Avoid exposure to chemical substances
Ensure that you take off your silver jewellery while swimming, sunbathing or applying makeup. Also, you shouldn’t expose them to chemical substances such as chlorinated water, sulphuric contents and spray.
On the other hand, corrective measures are only used whenever preventive measures have failed, thus leaving your precious piece of jewellery soiled or damaged.
4. Polishing
Sterling silver jewellery should be polished when there are traces of tarnish on them or when they have slight scratches. This should be done with special silver clothes or other items with soft surfaces to avoid removal of plates. This will add some more sparkle to your silver.
5. Cleaning
Cleaning your silver jewellery is as easy as using some chemically treated clothes to remove the tarnish on it. However, there are some home-made cleaning substances you can prepare, that are also very effective. They include soap and water, baking powder and water, olive oil and lemon juice, vinegar and baking soda etc.
However, you must be careful in applying the home-made remedy because they could be harsh if not mixed in the right proportion.