Caring for Silver Jewellery

Silver is a soft, beautiful metal that tarnishes when it meets sulphur in the air. Fine jewellery in gold, platinum and pearl needs care of its own. This page explains how to keep your pieces in good order.

Preventing tarnish

• Store silver in anti-tarnish bags or closed boxes, away from the air.
• Keep silver away from rubber bands, wool and some papers, which contain sulphur.
• Wear silver often. Gentle wear helps to keep tarnish at bay.

Cleaning silver

• Polish with a soft silver cloth, working gently along the surface.
• Many designer silver pieces have deliberately blackened recesses that give depth to the design. Avoid dips and pastes, which remove this finish.
• Pieces set with stones, pearls or enamel should never be dipped.

Wearing jewellery

• Put jewellery on after perfume, cosmetics and hair spray.
• Remove it before swimming, bathing, exercise and housework. Chlorine and household chemicals harm both metal and stones.
• Store each piece separately so that harder stones and metals cannot scratch softer ones.

Pearls

• Pearls are soft and sensitive to acids. Wipe them with a soft cloth after wearing.
• Store pearl strands flat rather than hanging, to protect the silk thread.
• Have strands restrung every few years if they are worn often.

Gold and platinum

• Clean with lukewarm water, mild soap and a soft brush, then rinse and dry.
• Avoid this method for pieces set with pearls, opal, turquoise, coral or emerald.

When to see a jeweller

Have clasps, prongs and settings checked once a year, especially on rings worn every day. Resizing and repairs to signed pieces are best done by the brand or a jeweller experienced with fine jewellery.

Related references

• Japanese Ring Sizes
• Glossary of Pre-owned Luxury Terms
• Mikimoto and Akoya pearls
• Japanese gold and platinum hallmarks