How to Avoid Tarnish on Sterling Silver Necklaces?

Silver Necklaces

A rich collection of jewelry is a must-have for every woman. Women always need accessories that go well with their outfits and enhance their beauty. But since pure gold and silver items are expensive and too heavy for daily use, sterling silver is highly favored among a wide range of customers owing to its affordability and glitter.

Let’s discuss how sterling silver is different from pure silver.

Difference between Pure Silver and Sterling Silver

Fine silver contains 99.99% of pure silver and thus is too soft to make jewelry with. It tends to bend or break easily. So, other metals are often added to harden it.

On the other hand, sterling silver is an alloy made of silver and some other metal (mostly copper) where pure silver concentration is 92.5% and copper is 7.5%. This is why the hallmark of all authentic sterling silver items is .925. The inclusion of another metal is to amplify its strength and hardness and check the natural tarnishing of pure silver.

Types of Sterling Silver Necklaces

Sterling silver jewelry items are the perfect blend of glamour and simplicity. The unique designs and styles available in sterling silver necklaces at wholesale prices are perfect to make a great style statement and go well with all kinds of clothing- ethnic to glam to casual. Some of the popular designs include:

• Studded Sterling Silver Chokers: Chokers are very popular with chic fashion these days. Choose a favorite pattern of sterling silver chokers and live up to the ‘uptown image’.
• Shimmery Sterling Silver Chains: If you like to keep it classy and light, this is the best choice for you.
• Sterling Silver Beaded Neckpieces: These could work great with formal wears or casual clothing.
• Sterling Silver Pendant Sets: Attractive sterling silver pendants are the best way to add the glitter touch to your party dress!
• Swarovski Sterling Silver Necklaces: To add some extra ‘bling’ to your ethnic attire, this is your best choice.

Apart from these popular designs, there are many chain styles you can choose from. Snake, box, bead, Figaro, thick rolo and thin rolo chains are some examples. Build your own personalized sterling silver necklace by selecting your preferred pattern and adding a favorite phrase, name or date.

What Causes Tarnishing in Sterling Silver Jewelry?

In most sterling silver, the copper or nickel alloy undergoes oxidative reactions on its own. This corrosion of silver combined with sulfur (Hydrogen Sulfide in the air) creates the darkening called ‘tarnish’.

Thus, make sure your jewelry is dry and clean before storing it since any contact with oils, moisture or dirt will accelerate the tarnishing.

How to Avoid Tarnish on Sterling Silver Necklaces?

Sterling silver though much harder than pure silver, is still quite smooth and soft as compared to other metals. As a result, it is prone to scratches and dents. Consequently, your favorite jewelry tends to lose its initial shine after a while due to factors like corrosion or tarnish. Worry no more here’s a list of to-dos to keep your jewelry long-lasting and dazzling.

Precautionary Care

One of the major reasons behind tarnishing of sterling silver is under usage. Wear them often to preserve their shine. Keep the following things in mind to keep your jewelry in the best condition.

• Avoid wearing silver jewelry while doing household chores since chlorinated water, perspiration, wool, household chemicals or any substances containing sulfur can cause tarnish.
• Cosmetic products, body lotions, perfumes, hair spray, etc. also accelerates corrosion.
• Direct sunlight can cause corrosion too so make sure you take off your jewelry before going for a swim or sunbathe.

Storage:

• Since silver is essentially a soft metal, make sure none of the jewelry items bump into each other to prevent scratches.
• Do not keep jewelry directly on wooden counter tops or any such chemically treated surface, since they can accelerate corrosion when kept in direct contact with sterling silver.
• Ziplock plastic bags with anti-tarnish strips or anti-tarnish cloths are a great measure since they absorb humidity and minimize exposure to air which tarnishes silver.
• Placing a sachet of activated charcoal, silica gel or a piece of chalk in the storage area can also help minimize tarnish by absorbing moisture and chemical deposit in the air.

Polish

Avoid tissues or paper towels. Use a soft non-abrasive cloth (microfiber or 100% cotton) to polish your items in long back-and-forth motions.

Professional and Commercial Care

If your jewelry pieces are heavily tarnished or extremely valuable or fragile, take help of a professional silver cleaner. You can opt for commercial silver cleaners too, although they have more drawbacks than benefits for your pieces in the long run.

Homemade Cleaners

If polishing isn’t enough, opt for eco-friendly and inexpensive homemade cleaners. However, do not use them for oxidized jewelry.

Water and Soap

A mild phosphate and ammonia-free dishwashing soap and some lukewarm water should be enough to clean minor glitches and tarnish.

Water and Baking Soda

Make a paste of water and baking soda. Apply a small amount to a clean cloth and polish the silver. For more detailed items, use a soft and clean toothbrush and add more water to the paste to thin it. Afterwards, run the items under running lukewarm water and dry them with a clean cloth.

Lemon Juice and Olive Oil

Mix 1 tsp. olive oil with half cup lemon juice in a bowl. Dip a small microfiber cloth in the cleaning solution, polish the silver and then rinse and dry.

Baking Soda and White Vinegar

This is very effective in removing heavy tarnish. Mix 2 tsp. baking soda with half cup white vinegar to form a solution. Soak the tarnished item in it for 2-3 hours; rinse and dry.

With these easy steps, preserve your sterling silver necklaces wholesale and give them a fresh start before tarnish makes you forget about their existence!

Source: http://www.sooperarticles.com/shopping-articles/jewelry-articles/how-avoid-tarnish-sterling-silver-necklaces-1609333.html