Taking care of your silver

WILL MY JEWELLERY TARNISH?

All fine metals tarnish with time (Brass will tarnish quickest, then sterling, then 9K gold and higher karat gold can last years). I recommend storing your jewellery in a dry area (not your bathroom). Your pieces are easy to maintain and clean. If you wish to polish your pieces we recommend using warm sudsy water and buffing with a scratch free cloth such as a silver polishing cloth. Earrings should be soaked in warm soapy water and cleaned at least twice a week. 

WHAT IS TARNISH?

Tarnish (your piece discolouring to black, grey, brown, blue) happens only on the surface and is easily cleaned or polished away. If you scratch it you will see that the discolouration is not going all the way through. Sterling silver undergoes a surface chemical reaction called oxidation that is caused by a reaction with either moisture, sulphur in the air and sometimes contact with oxidising elements such as perfume or even individual body chemistry.

TAKING CARE OF YOUR JEWELLERY:

***Where you wear it matters!:

You can greatly limit damage to your jewellery by not wearing it during the following activities: 

Showering or cleaning; Soap can leave a film and dull the appearance of your jewellery. The less this build-up, the less you will have to clean and maintain your jewellery's appearance.

Sleeping; Jewellery should be taken off and stored away safely when going to bed to deter potential damage to the jewellery and to the body. It is easy to pull a chain and snap it. 

Last On and First Off:Cosmetics, lotions, makeup, hairspray and perfume contain chemicals that can tarnish your silver or damage your gemstones. When getting ready, put on your jewellery last. 

Swimming, gym and spas; Silver can react to chlorinated or sea water resulting in colour changes. All metal including silver will bend or break if exposed to enough pressure. We see a a lot jewellery especially rings, structurally damaged at the gym. To avoid unnecessary repairs and to keep it clean avoid wearing jewellery while swimming, at the spa and at the gym.

Manual Tasks; Again, all jewellery is susceptible to physical damage due to everyday wear and tear. Chemical exposure or physical pressure during manual tasks like kitchen work, gardening or cleaning can also affect your jewellery. Remember even rubber gloves contain sulphur that can tarnish fine metals. Its best to remove your jewellery before any chores. Physical sports also increase the chance of your jewellery hitting hard surfaces, causing metal to distort, stone settings to loosen or gems to chip.

STORING YOUR JEWELLERY:

When storing your jewellery an airtight ziplock bag goes a long way. Placing in a much or box will help with inadvertent damage. Take care when storing several pieces together to make sure they do not scratch each other. 

Remember we offer professional cleaning, simply message if there is something you would like sorted out.