June 29, 2020

Does Silver Tarnish? How to care for your jewellery

Jewellery Care. How to care for jewellery

We all need a little tender loving care at times and your jewellery is no exception.

What is sterling silver?

Here at Louy Magroos I use gold or sterling silver in all my designs, sterling silver is an alloy of pure silver and other metals, usually copper. I chose to use sterling silver rather than pure silver because silver alone is too soft for everyday wear and will easily scratch and dent. The copper added to the silver to create sterling silver gives it strength, whilst still maintaining its beautiful colour and qualities that have been adored for thousands of years.

British hallmark

Where appropriate all my jewellery is Hallmarked from Birmingham Assay Office alongside my unique makers mark, meaning you can buy in confidence with Louy Magroos.

Does silver tarnish?

Like most precious metals silver will tarnish, this means it dulls and turns grey/black in places, however all that is required is a clean to restore to all its former glory. Your silver jewellery turning a darker colour does not mean your jewellery is faulty, it just needs some love.

Does silver tarnish

A little wipe over with a silver polishing cloth is usually all it takes to bring back its sparkle, but if you would like to have your piece professionally cleaned, polished, and restored to all its glory, I can do so for a small fee of £10 to cover the work and return postage.
If you would like to take me up on this service click here to message me for more information.

How to stop jewellery tarnishing

  • General wear can cause little scratches to your jewellery, but do not worry, over time these little scratches will add to the character of your jewellery, show it has been worn and loved. However I recommend removing your jewellery if you intend on doing work such as gardening that may result in deeper scratches. If you do accidentally add deep scratches to your jewellery, get in touch and we can discuss removing them.
  • Exposure to solvents such as hand cream, perfumes, chlorine, even the natural oils in your skin, can speed up the tarnishing effect on your jewellery. Remove your jewellery before bathing, using hand cream or applying make up and perfumes.
  • Wearing your jewellery regularly will actually help slow down the tarnishing process, so enjoy your jewellery and wear it often.
  • Very occasionally there are people who have a slightly more acidic pH to their natural skin oils and sweat which can result in silver tarnishing almost immediately. In these cases there is little we can do other than recommending cleaning your jewellery with a cloth often and remove your jewellery if you are planning on strenuous activities.
Louy Magroos gift box

    Storing your jewellery

    • Humidity and direct sunlight can cause tarnish, so store your jewellery in a dry environment away from direct sunlight.
    • Whilst my gift boxes make wonderful presentation for gifts they are not intended for long term storage.
    • Avoid storing jewellery in pouches together, store jewellery separately so that pieces do not tangle or rub against each other causing scratches
    Looking for more advice about jewellery? Sign up to my newsletter for semi-regular updates from my workshop with styling tips, advice and exclusive discounts.

       - Laura