I've always loved the elegant look of sterling silver jewelry. There's something timeless and classic about it. However, I've also learned the hard way that keeping silver looking its best requires a little effort. Plus, the jewelry market can be tricky, and you have to be careful not to overpay. I'm sharing my experiences and tips to help you navigate both cleaning and buying sterling silver.
Recently, I noticed my favorite sterling silver chain had turned almost completely black! It was so frustrating. I'd worn it a lot, and I guess I hadn't been diligent enough about cleaning it. I tried a few things I'd read online, but nothing seemed to work well enough. I needed an efficient solution to restore its shine without damaging the silver.
After some research and experimentation, I stumbled upon a method that worked wonders. It's surprisingly simple! Here's what I did:
It started bubbling immediately! I just added a little more baking soda if it seemed to slow down. After a few minutes, the tarnish started to disappear. I rinsed the chain with cool water and dried it thoroughly with a soft cloth. It looked almost brand new!
Of course, for light tarnish, a simple polishing cloth often works. But for heavily tarnished pieces or larger collections, I found the baking soda and aluminum foil method to be a game-changer. It's inexpensive and effective.
I also learned that sometimes, the blackening (tarnish) is only in one spot. That made me wonder about the quality of the silver. It’s important to check for a hallmark stamp that indicates the silver content. If the tarnish is localized, it might suggest an issue with the silver itself or with how it was manufactured.
Some people actually prefer the look of tarnished silver, calling it "patina." It gives the jewelry an antique or vintage feel. But I personally prefer my silver to be bright and shiny, so cleaning is a must for me.
I also came across the suggestion of using a "pickle bath" followed by polishing. This seems like a more professional approach, but the baking soda method worked so well for me that I haven't needed to try it yet.
Cleaning silver is one thing, but buying it is a whole different ballgame. I once almost made a huge mistake when purchasing a sterling silver rope chain. I was about to pay nearly $700 for it! Luckily, a little voice inside my head told me to double-check the price. And boy, am I glad I did!
I quickly realized that $700 was an outrageous price. It was equivalent to the cost of almost 30 ounces of silver at the time! I felt so foolish for almost falling for it. The time to ask questions about pricing is before you buy anything.
I felt completely ripped off, and honestly, a bit embarrassed. Someone could have bought a gold chain for that price! I later learned that someone with wholesale connections could have likely sold me ten of those chains for the same price and still made a profit.