Jewellery Care
Your sterling silver jewellery will naturally tarnish (go darker) with exposure to the atmosphere, moisture and heat. To slow down tarnishing, prevent scratches and keep your jewellery looking beautiful for longer, I recommend the following tips:
- When you are not wearing it, store your jewellery in a box - ideally the one it came in - or an airtight bag. If storing it in a jewellery box, make sure it is separate from other pieces so that they do not tangle or scratch each other.
- Put your jewellery on after dressing to prevent it getting caught on clothes and after perfumes or lotion as these may accelerate tarnishing.
- Avoid getting your jewellery wet - take it off for washing, cleaning, showering and swimming, etc..
- Perspiration may also cause your silver jewellery to tarnish so remove it before you exercise.
- Keep your jewellery away from heat, so don't put it next to a radiator, on a bright sunlit windowsill, etc. The heat may speed up tarnish or affect the colour of dyed stones such as blue topaz.
- When your jewellery needs cleaning, you can wash it gently in warm soapy water. You can use a very soft toothbrush to remove any embedded dirt or dust if need be. Make sure you rinse your piece of jewellery in warm water afterwards, gently pat it dry on a soft cloth and let it air dry fully before storing it again - if you put it away damp, you can speed up tarnishing. NB: Do not put soft stones such as turquoise, pearls and opals into sopy water. Please feel free to contact me if you require individual advice.
- You can use a soft cotton cloth to gently wipe and polish the shiny parts or your jewellery.
- If your silver has tarnished, you can use a silver jewellery cloth or cleaning compound. Do not use these on stones though. Be aware of the chemicals in these products - you may wish to find a more environmentally friendly way to clean your jewellery.