| Silver is a soft metal compared to gold alloys. The | | | | Wash your silver jewellery with a very mild detergent |
| downside of being soft is that your silver ring will get | | | | and rub in smooth up and down lines after drying it |
| pushed out of shape whereas this rarely will happen | | | | with a soft cloth. Buy a silver polishing cloth from a |
| with a gold ring. It also scratches very, very easily. | | | | jewellery shop. For a few dollars you will have the |
| The other disadvantage of silver is that it tarnishes | | | | polishing cloth that is used by the experts. Forget about |
| easily. Let's look at these two problems one at a time. | | | | toothbrushes and all the rest of it if you wash it |
| Scratches. | | | | occasionally and polish with the proper cloth. If you |
| 1. Take care of your silver jewellery by taking it off | | | | have let it go and not cleaned it for a good while then |
| when you are going to do anything where it is going to | | | | you might need to use a soft brush and a stronger |
| rub against virtually anything. So take it off when you | | | | detergent and warm water, but remember these are |
| do the gardening, washing the dishes etc. | | | | clearing away the grime but they are abrasive too. |
| 2. Don't wear it alongside another ring as it will rub and | | | | You can buy tarnish absorbing strips and cloths to |
| scratch. | | | | place in the jewellery box and these work quite well. |
| 3. Store your silver jewellery items individually in small | | | | Today a lot of jewellery is being made with a tarnish- |
| boxes with soft material around them. | | | | resistant silver and this will overcome the tarnish |
| 4. If your item gets light scratches you can polish the | | | | problem almost entirely. Some jewellery is rhodium |
| item as best you can but you are not likely to remove | | | | plated and this is also tarnish resistant. The less you |
| these but a good polish will disguise them. Heavy | | | | pay the less chance that the item will be tarnish |
| scratches will require a jeweller to sand them out and | | | | resistant. |
| repolish your item. He won't charge the earth for that | | | | You can use electrochemical methods which you will |
| so get it done. | | | | see in flea markets, and you can use pastes and |
| Tarnish. | | | | solutions which you can buy from a hardware store |
| Tarnish is produced by so many sources that you | | | | and other silver polishes but just remember that there |
| would have to avoid nearly everything in life to prevent | | | | is a small downside to all of these. Over time pitting |
| it totally. Certain foods, salts such as body salts, oils, | | | | might develop, scratches might occur from polishing |
| materials such as rubber, wool and felt will tarnish silver | | | | and pastes might build up in hard to get to places. So |
| but so will the air we live in. | | | | use all of these sparingly. |
| So what do we do about it? Just be sensible and | | | | Appreciate that your silver jewellery is soft and will, |
| avoid allowing hairsprays, foods and chemicals from | | | | without doubt, scratch and become a little dull. Care for |
| coming in contact with it. The best prevention is early | | | | it by proper washing, sensible wearing and proper |
| cleaning and proper storage. I have found that storage | | | | storage. Take it to your jeweller for a buffing and |
| in a plastic airtight bad will keep silver very well and | | | | polish occasionally to keep it at its peak. Jewellery is |
| tarnish free. | | | | for wearing so enjoy it by wearing it. |