Sterling silver is a beautiful precious metal, but it can naturally tarnish and develop surface marks over time.
Tarnishing is a reaction that can occur when silver is exposed to air, moisture, skin oils, cosmetics and other substances. It may cause the surface to appear darker or duller and does not necessarily indicate a fault with the jewellery.
Helping to care for your silver
Alongside our general jewellery care advice, we recommend:
- keeping silver jewellery clean and dry when not being worn;
- avoiding prolonged contact with water, chlorine and household chemicals;
- applying perfume, skincare and cosmetics before putting your jewellery on;
- storing pieces separately to help reduce scratching; and
- avoiding unnecessary friction with harder jewellery or gemstones.
How quickly silver tarnishes can vary from person to person depending on wear, storage and environmental conditions.
Cleaning
Light tarnishing can usually be removed using a soft polishing cloth suitable for sterling silver.
Polish gently and avoid abrasive cleaners, rough cloths or household cleaning products, as these can scratch the surface or affect decorative finishes.
If your silver jewellery also contains gemstones, pearls, plating or another delicate material, always follow the care advice for the most sensitive part of the piece.
A note on wear
Fine scratches, surface marks and tarnishing can naturally develop through normal wear.
If your jewellery becomes heavily tarnished, damaged or you are unsure how best to clean it, please contact us or bring it into store and we’ll be happy to advise you.
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