Silver jewelry, whether rings, chains or bracelets, is a precious item that we'd like to keep looking its best for a long time to come. Unfortunately, silver is a metal that tends to darken over time: rest assured, this process is completely reversible, and here you'll discover how to clean your silver jewelry and restore it to its former glory.
How often should you clean your silver jewelry?
To preserve the brilliance of your silver jewelry, we recommend regular cleaning. In general, monthly cleaning is sufficient to prevent dirt build-up and oxidation. However, if you wear your silver jewelry daily, it may be beneficial to clean it every two weeks. In addition, a light preventive cleaning after each use, such as a simple wipe with a soft cloth, will help maintain their shine and extend their life.
WHY HAS MY SILVER JEWELRY TURNED BLACK?
After a few months or a few years, your silver jewelry, your 925 silver ring or bracelet, may have lost its lustre. Worse still, it may have taken on a dull, gray or even almost black hue. This is the natural process of oxidation. When silver comes into contact with air, water, sweat or various other substances in our environment, it chemically bonds with molecules present in small quantities, in particular hydrogen sulfide or sulfur. By creating this chemical bond, the surface layer of your silver ring or silver chain becomes silver sulfide, a matte black oxide.
At first, your jewelry just loses its shine, but as long as it remains exposed to air, the oxidation process continues and the silver surface is increasingly covered with silver sulfide: your silver necklace or bracelet turns darker and darker gray. Don't panic though: this process is easily reversible, and here you'll discover how to clean your blackened silver jewelry to restore its shine!
HOW TO CLEAN SILVER JEWELRY PROPERLY?
Remember that your blackened silver jewelry is just covered with a very thin layer of oxide, silver sulfide. Cleaning it therefore consists in removing this thin, unwanted film. In this respect, grandma's tricks are still the best way to go!
To clean your silver ring or bracelet, soak it in lukewarm water to which you can add lemon juice, salt, baking soda, white vinegar or Marseille soap. After a few minutes (15 to 20), the oxide layer should have disappeared without further intervention. Rinse with plenty of water and dry immediately with a soft cloth or paper towel.
Another tip for cleaning your silver chain or other silver jewelry is to rub it with a suitable product: toothpaste is the most commonly used. Put a little toothpaste on a used toothbrush, without adding water, then gently scrub the jewel. Note that pearls and other jewelry items are not affected by toothpaste, so this method is suitable for all types of silver jewelry. If you have an insert or wood-burning stove, you can also apply the same procedure with fine ash. In both cases, rinse your silver ring or silver chain with clear water, then dry thoroughly.
Other products will also give very good results, such as Blanc de Meudon to dilute in lukewarm water, breadcrumbs or aluminum foil to scrub oxidized parts, and beer or a cola-type soda to soak in.
These relatively simple procedures must, however, be accompanied by a few precautions. What should you avoid when cleaning your silver jewelry? If you choose to scrub your silver jewelry with toothpaste or ash, avoid overly hard brushes or rough cloths, which could scratch the smooth, flat parts of your jewelry. If you choose to dip your silver chain or bracelet, avoid chemical products from drugstores, which are often too aggressive for silver, may encourage the return of oxidation and won't give the best results anyway!
Silver jewelry oxidizes on contact with air, water or sweat. It is therefore difficult to protect them in all circumstances, especially over the long term. Nevertheless, a few precautions can significantly prolong their beautiful shine.
First of all, be sure to store them in a suitable box: a padded or velvet jewelry box will offer the best protection, while also enhancing your storage. Next, avoid wearing your 925 silver jewelry when you plan to get your hands wet or use chemicals. Take them off before applying make-up, doing the dishes or cleaning!
Finally, don't wait until your silver chain or bracelet is really dull or gray to take care of it: by giving it a little preventive cleaning from time to time, such as soaking it for a few minutes in one of the products suggested above, you'll eliminate oxides before their effects are even visible, and your silver jewelry will always be perfectly shiny.
How do you remove a scratch from silver jewelry?
Silver is a more ductile metal than iron or steel, which means that scratches can occur quite easily. Unluckily, jewelry is often subjected to light shocks or rubbing that can scratch it: rings are the most affected.
If a scratch has appeared on your silver ring, bracelet or necklace, how do you get rid of it? It's difficult to do this yourself, as brushes or cloths aren't abrasive enough to remove a scratch. We recommend that you visit your jeweller, who has the right tools to remove scratches from your silver jewelry.
Whether you want to remove a scratch or clean your silver jewelry (if none of the above methods has worked or if you don't dare to do it yourself), call on MATY jewellers who will be able to offer you the right services or tools!
MATY
Duo wedding ring half-turn solitaire silver 925 zirconias
69 €
MATY
925 silver zirconia heart earrings
19 €
