Jewellery Care

Oxidisation is the process whereby the metal alloys within 925 Sterling Silver react with the natural air around us, it is much like tarnishing.  .

Why Does Silver Tarnish?

Every piece of silver jewelry develops a black coating on its surface after some time. This tarnish is a result of a chemical reaction that occurs when silver comes into contact with air and various substances.

The color change or tarnishing of your Sterling Silver item is a natural occurrence and not a manufacturing or quality defect. It can be due to the pH levels of the wearer’s skin which varies in all people. The second most common reason for tarnishing is exposure to soap, chlorine, saltwater, perfumes and lotions even in tiny amounts.

Some can wear items and never experience tarnishing, while others experience it almost instantaneously.

Tarnishing and Oxidisation appears as discoloration on the Silver. It can look like dark marks or even have a “yellowish” tint to it.  Patches can appear or it can look as if the Silver is coming off. Tarnishing and Oxidisation are reversible and easily treated.

How Can You Prevent Silver from Tarnishing?

There is no way to protect your silver jewelry from turning black because silver reacts with so many materials found in everyday life.

For instance, tarnishing can be accelerated by contact with tap water (because it contains chlorine), a number of foods (e.g., salad dressings), your perfume and hair spray, and even wool clothing.

While tarnishing is a natural process that cannot be prevented, it can be slowed down, but you will still need to clean the tarnished layer at some point.

It is advised that when storing jewellery over long periods of time it is best to do so in an airtight jewellery box or container to prevent this natural process from happening

How to Clean Silver Tarnish

If you prefer to clean your silver jewelry at home, you can use a silver cleaning dip, which you can find on our accessories page.  After dipping your jewellery in die cleaning dip, rinse your jewellery with water and dry it using a soft cloth.

You can also take your silver items to a jewellery shop to have your pieces professionally cleaned.