This one goes out to all of the cool tones lovers. Your pieces have arrived and now you're wondering: how do you keep them shining for as long as possible? When it comes to cleaning sterling silver, we've got you covered with our go-to advice. Let's get into it.
What is Sterling Silver vs Silver-Plated?
925 sterling silver is an alloy made of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% copper. We plate our silver jewellery in rhodium, which gives it extra shine and durability. Rhodium is one of the costliest precious metals due to its rarity. All of our sterling silver pieces are stamped with ‘925’ to certify their authenticity.
Our sterling-silver plated pieces are plated with sterling silver on brass with a layer of anti-tarnish on top. These pieces are still incredibly durable and plated with exactly the same process as our sterling silver, however they are not marked with a '925' stamp as they are not 92.5% pure silver.
Does Sterling Silver Tarnish?
Sterling silver can in fact tarnish – it’s a natural reaction of silver when exposed to elements like oxygen and sulphur compounds in the air, forming a dark layer on the surface and diminishing its shine. It’s never permanent though, and sterling silver jewellery can be easily restored to its original incredible-ness. Our sterling silver jewellery is rhodium-plated which protects it and helps reduce long-term tarnishing.
Sterling silver can also tarnish when exposed to chemicals present in perfume, hairspray, make-up, nail polish remover, body oils, sun tan lotion and deodorant. Our number one rule is to keep away the chemicals.
Regular cleaning and proper storage can help prevent tarnish from occurring. Additionally, wearing your sterling silver jewellery frequently can also help minimise tarnishing as the natural oils in your skin can act as a protective barrier.