I've always loved silver jewelry. There's just something classic and elegant about it. But, like many others, I've struggled with keeping my silver pieces looking their best. I noticed some of my favorite pieces started changing color, and I was determined to figure out why and how to fix it. Turns out, it's a common problem with some easy solutions!
I remember being so excited when I first got a beautiful silver necklace. I wore it almost every day. But after a while, I noticed it started to get darker, almost like it was changing color. I was worried I had done something wrong. I even wondered if it was real silver! After some research, I discovered that silver can change color depending on what it's exposed to. This is due to a process called oxidation, where silver reacts with sulfur compounds in the air and forms silver sulfide, which is that dark tarnish we all dread.
I had a few pieces that seemed more resistant to this darkening. It turns out that some sterling silver is treated to be more resistant to oxidation. This was a relief! I realized that not all my silver would necessarily tarnish at the same rate. I also noticed some pieces looked different in color than others. Some were bright and shiny, while others had a darker, almost antique look.
Then, I got some really cute Fashion BTS Earrings Korean Earrings Long Men Bangtan Boys Circle Earing For Women Men Album Accessories BTS Aros. I was particularly drawn to the designs, reminiscent of my favorite K-pop group.
At first, these earrings were incredibly shiny. But, after a few weeks, I realized that one earring was starting to look duller than the other. This led me down a path of discovery about different types of silver plating and how they react over time.
Seeing my jewelry tarnish was frustrating, but I was determined to find a solution. The first thing I learned was the importance of polishing. I realized that the darker pieces I had were simply older or had been worn more often. This meant they had been exposed to more of the elements that cause tarnish. The simple solution? Polish! I bought a good quality silver polishing cloth and started gently rubbing the tarnished areas. It took some elbow grease, but it made a noticeable difference.
I also discovered silver cleaner dips. These are solutions that you can soak your silver jewelry in to remove the oxidation. I was a little hesitant to try this at first, but I was amazed at how well it worked! The cleaner stripped away the tarnish, making the silver bright again. I always follow up with a Sun Sheen cloth to buff the jewelry and give it an extra shine. I found both the silver dip and the cloth to be essential in my silver cleaning arsenal. You can find these types of cloths at Blingcharming, where they have a great selection of jewelry and accessories.
I then started researching the different grades of silver. I learned that almost everything is .925, which is considered sterling silver. This means that it's 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals, usually copper. The addition of these other metals makes the silver more durable. I also learned that silver is relatively inexpensive, so there's really no need to reduce its purity.
I also suspected that some of my pieces were plated. I learned that many commercially sold silver items are rhodium plated. Rhodium is a silvery metal that's much more tarnish-resistant than silver. I now believe that the pieces that are still shiny are likely rhodium plated, while the ones that are tarnished are not.
Here are some practical tips I've learned along the way to keep your silver jewelry looking its best:
Here's a simple step-by-step guide I use to clean my tarnished silver jewelry: