| Caring For Your Sterling Silver Jewellery. | | | | traces of hydrogen sulfide. The tarnish substance |
| Precious metals, like silver, gold and platinum are | | | | itself is called 'Black silver sulfide', most high quality, |
| actually very soft. The higher the precious metal | | | | jewellery cleaning cloths act by removing this |
| purity, the softer the alloy will be. | | | | sulfur element, whilst leaving the metal surface |
| For this reason Sterling Silver, the silver alloy | | | | undamaged. |
| grade most commonly and suitably used for | | | | Tarnishing also occurs as a result of the other |
| jewellery, is an alloy of 92.5% pure silver and | | | | metals in the sterling alloy. Copper does react with |
| 7.5% copper or other metals, which creates | | | | oxygen and this is why silver sometimes develops |
| strength. | | | | a 'coppery' hue corrosion. |
| Sterling therefore preserves the high precious | | | | - Salt will corrode most metals. Avoid wearing |
| metal content and the inherent aesthetic benefits | | | | your jewellery in the sea and when doing tasks |
| of silver, but also has the added 'hardness' | | | | that include exposure to household chemicals. |
| bestowed as an alloy with copper. All silver will | | | | - Clean sweat from your jewellery, as the salt it |
| tarnish over time, it's therefore important to | | | | contains will build up and can react with metal. |
| polish regularly to avoid excessive tarnishing. | | | | - Remove jewellery before swimming - chlorine is |
| Heavy tarnish is far harder to remove than a light | | | | not kind to silver! |
| oxidation, so establish a regular cleaning routine to | | | | - Exposure to sunlight will increase the rate at |
| avoid heavy tarnish build-up. | | | | which tarnishing occurs, so it's always a good idea |
| Silver Jewellery, should be cleaned using a high | | | | to clean jewellery after sun exposure. |
| quality cloth. Don't use a 'silver dip' product or any | | | | - It is also advisable to avoid storing you jewellery |
| heavy scouring agent. You may get a bright polish | | | | in areas of variable temperature or constant |
| effect to begin with but these will damage the | | | | bright light. |
| metal and depending on design and finish of your | | | | - Wearing your jewellery regularly will slow |
| jewellery, may actually remove the finish! | | | | tarnishing. As a soft precious metal, silver will |
| Black Silver Sulfide - Tarnish: | | | | scratch easily. It's important to always store your |
| Silver itself, is mostly resistant to corrosion, water | | | | jewellery away from other hard items. |
| and oxygen will not cause a reaction at normal | | | | - Avoid jumbled jewellery boxes crammed full of |
| temperatures and pressures. But it will tarnish with | | | | different items. The best place to store your |
| exposure to air, in reaction with atmospheric | | | | Jewellery is in the box that it came in. |