Silver jewelry has won the favor of so many through its ageless beauty. Silver is normally lower priced, especially compared to the expense of gold, which means you are able to buy more pieces and coordinated sets. One minor disadvantage with silver is that it does tend to tarnish, meaning that it requires some care and luckily this is pretty straightforward to do.
What is tarnishing?
Jewelry tarnishing is the end result of oxidation, which happens when silver is exposed to airborne chemicals or reactive surfaces, including the surface of your skin. Sulfur compounds such as hydrogen sulfide vapors react with silver and cause a chemical change on the metal’s surface, causing the silver to get darker and lose its brilliance. You might not have high concentrations of sulfur at home, but may perhaps encounter it outside as you exercise, as you go to and from your work place, or in the vicinity of your work place. Everyday polution in municipal areas will often include surfur compounds.
More chemicals, or chemical combinations, that trigger tarnishing can develop from skin oils, salts, acids, skin treatment, sweat, makeup, purfume, hair products, rubber and water. Produce like onions, mustard and eggs, which include natural sulfur compounds, are also recognized to oxidize silver. Depending on the humidity, climate and other environmental factors, silver objects left out in typical conditions can oxidize in only weeks.
Our biggest enemy in the fight against silver jewelry tarnishing is our skin. Your skin’s natural oils with perspiration can discolor and turn your jewelry. Also, if you are using certain medications, they may produce changes in skin acidity and may trigger jewelry oxidizing. Put jewelry on after applying your anti-persprirant, lotion, make-up, hairspray and body spray to protect it from chemicals.
Don’t wash, go swimming, or clean your residence when you are wearing your sterling earrings. Everyday household chemicals found in housekeeping materials will wear and destroy materials used in the production of your rings, charms and earrings. Be aware that some ingredients and chemicals regularly used in everyday household routine could accelerate silver oxidizing. If your silver gets wet, dry it as soon as possible.
What variety of jewelry is most prone or unaffected by tarnishing?
Inexpensive jewelry might be more inclined to oxidizing. Companies who provide higher quality jewelry will take steps to offer oxidize-resistant materials by treating the surface to stop the tarnish formation.
Argentium silver is a non-tarnishing metal and is occasionally referred to as the “new white gold”. Instead of being alloyed with copper, which is the source of silver oxidizing, Argentium is alloyed or combined with an element called Germanium. Argentium silver does not oxidize when soldered and doesn’t require regular polishing.
Some companies apply a thin coating of lacquer to the jewelry surface to guard it. Although you will still need to have your silver jewelry cleaned, you’ll have less issue with your jewelry tarnishing so fast when you get pieces that have a lacquer coating.
Nearly all sterling silver sold today is plated with a thin layer of metal protection. This practice is called “flashing” and they use either silver or rhodium to coat the exterior of the bracelets or jewelry to make them appear whiter, brighter, and to keep the oxidizing down to a minimum. So, until that plating wears off, your silver jewelry will actually hold up quite nicely. A lot of people are concerned about their sterling silver oxidizing, but if you make use of it each day, it will actually tarnish less. Everyday use removes the requirement for polishing. Over time, your sterling items will develop a warm, rich tone called a “patina”. A slightly darker shading (oxidation) in the design will appear and enrich the definition of the design.
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Occasionally the cause of jewelry tarnishing is due to its storage or the place where it is kept on display. This is the main reason why women should use the suitable jewelry box. To prevent your silver from oxidizing when it’s not in use, stash it in a drawer lined with tarnish-resistant cloth that contains chemicals to discourage or slow the process. If you like, you can assemble your personal silver storage drawer by lining an existing dresser drawer with soft, tarnish-resistant material.
Three Useful Home Remedies For Discolored Silver:
Apply Toothpaste for Cleaning
Put on a light film of basic white toothpaste on the oxidized area. You can daub the toothpaste on a soft and clean cloth to start with, and after that coat the jewelry. Wait a few minutes to permit the toothpaste to do the job. After that, wash the piece with hot water and dry with a soft fresh dry cloth. Don’t use anti-tarter, anti-plaque or gel toothpaste, or you could scratch your silver.
Using a Milk Soak
Immerse the oxidized silver in milk. If you want to remove the tarnish at home, milk can work quite well. Arrange your earrings in a bowl, and cover the pieces with milk. Any type of milk will do. Ensure that you bury the tarnished pieces entirely. Following 10 to 20 minutes of soaking, rinse with fresh water and dry with a soft fresh dry cloth.
Baking Soda and Tin Foil
Silver can be cleaned by using tin foil, baking soda, and boiling water. When applying this process, you would first put the pieces to be cleaned on the aluminum foil. Then, add the salt and baking soda to boiling water and pour the solution over the jewelry.
This cleaning procedure creates a material reaction causing the dingy gray oxidized tarnish layer to transfer from your silver objects onto the tin foil. If the tarnishing is not bad, you may even be able to easily scrub it with baking soda and/or vinegar and water. However, if the tarnishing is drastic it might require numerous applications of the above-mentioned action.
If you prefer to immerse your silver pieces in the baking soda, salt, and water solution, be careful not to leave the baking soda sit on your precious jewelry for too long. Otherwise, the pieces could become permanently damaged.
We hope this advice is helpful in keeping your silver looking pristine for lots of years. Do not get disheartened when your silver begins to seem a little drab. Investing a few minutes to clean and restore your silver is well worthwhile.
Alex and Ani jewelry is now available at Purple Dragonfly Boutique in Ormond Beach, FL. Largest selection of Alex and Ani bangle bracelets, necklaces, earrings, and rings in the Daytona and Port Orange area.