How To Look After Your Silver Handmade Jewellery

With gold and platinum at all-time price highs

, lots of women are opting to buy silver handmade jewellery instead. Silver is the whitest metal and can be used to make a variety of beautiful jewellery such as rings, necklaces and brooches. Unfortunately, silver tends to tarnish easily, as the silver combines with oxygen forming silver oxide which is black in colour. Silver handmade jewellery tends to tarnish in a very short time, and so owners of such jewellery should know how to look after silver jewellery easily. Here are a few tips and ideas to keep your silver handmade jewellery looking brand new.

When tarnish develops on silver, then it is time to polish it. Specially formulated silver polishes are your safest option for polishing silver, especially if you are dealing with an antique or a piece that has intricate designs etched into it. Follow the manufacturers directions carefully when polishing. It is best to use a cellulose sponge when polishing, because it will not scratch like the sponges that come supplied with some polishes. For areas that you cannot reach easily, try use cotton balls or flattened Q-tips. The silver should be rubbed only in straight lines in a back and forth motion, and not in circles. Avoid scrubbing and simply let the polish do the job.

If you are worried about rubbing polish on your delicate jewellery, then you should opt for commercial silver dips that can dissolve tarnish without rubbing the silver. However, this method is not advised as the chemicals in these dips are harmful and could do damage to you and your silver. An alternative to this method is using a gentle homemade silver bath, made by dissolving a large amount of table salt into hot water. Aluminium foil should be used to line a container, after which the hot salt water is then added. The jewellery should then be dipped in the hot salty water until the tarnish dissolves. This method should not be used for jewellery that has an oxidized finish, as it will remove all oxidation. Also, this cleaning method is not ideal for jewellery that has precious or semi-precious stones as there is a risk of damage to the stones.

After wearing silver handmade jewellery, it is important to keep them in plastic re-closeable bags when not being worn, as this will help keep them clean and shining. Continuous exposure to air and moisture causes the oxidation and the tarnish, therefore keeping your jewellery away from these elements will reduce tarnish. Although silver handmade jewellery is quick to tarnish, it is easy to clean and restore.

by: Jessica Rooney

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