It doesn’t need regular polishing, because tarnish is kept at bay by skin oils and regular washing. That means that an item worn against the skin, such as a cross on a chain, or a ring, tends to stay relatively tarnish-free. Except when it is exposed to some harsh chemicals which accelerate oxidation. For instance, if you wear a silver neck-cross and go swimming in a chlorinated pool, the cross will quickly turn black! But, swim in a lake or spring-fed pool (like our Barton Springs pool here in Austin!), and nothing happens. Silver is, as the chemists say, “highly reactive”. Some substances besides oxygen, especially sulfur and chlorine, will combine with the silver to form compounds which are black in color. So, if your water supply is high in sulfur (well water is sometimes this way), or is loaded with chlorine, you will have a problem with silver tarnish. And, some folks’ skin oils contain chemicals which can accelerate tarnishing, because of their particular body chemistry or diet.

So, how to clean the polish? Well, you could use silver polish, and that works great–some polishes leave behind a film which helps prevent tarnishing (but that quickly wears off of a piece of jewelry that gets handled). Or, you could do what I do–just put a little toothpaste on your fingers and rub it on the piece, then rinse with water. Quick, convenient and cheap. Remember, though: Don’t polish silver that is rhodium plated. If the silver item is something that is not in constant contact with your skin, such as earrings or a brooch, then you need to make sure you store the jewelry item in an air-tight container or in a tarnish-inhibiting cloth.

The best place to store a handmade gold ring or silver ring is in a re-sealable plastic bag or jewelry bags with a silica-gel sachet, as this will prevent tarnishing. Owners should also try to wipe down their handmade rings after wearing them to remove dirt and skin oils. Gold and silver rings can also be washed in warm soapy water providing they are dried carefully before storage. Then they should be rinsed carefully and patted dry with a soft non-abrasive cloth.

Handmade rings of silver and gold should generally be cared for very gently and carefully. Commercial silver and gold cleaners should only be used if any stones in the jewelry can withstand the chemicals in the cleaner. Some handmade rings with gemstones that can’t be placed in commercial cleaners include those with pearls, lapis lazuli, malachite, opals, coral and turquoise.

A handmade gold ring or silver ring can also be cleaned using a solution made of ammonia and water. Owners should use a light solution of ammonia and water on a toothbrush or soft cloth and then rinse thoroughly with water. The same can be said about using this solution on handmade rings with gemstones; it should be used with caution. Tarnish can be prevented by storing gold and silver rings in re-sealable plastic bags together with a sachet of silica gel. This will absorb any moisture on a handmade gold ring or silver ring. Handmade rings containing pearls and opals, however, should not be stored in plastic bags.

With a little care and preventative maintenance, hand made rings of silver and gold should be able to last for generations. Even silver rings that aren’t worth a lot of money often have sentimental value in the family, and they should be treated accordingly. The same can be said about a handmade gold ring that has been passed down for generations; it should be cared for so many more generations can enjoy it.

Store sterling silver earrings in plastic bags to avoid oxidation. Silver becomes black when it is exposed to air. This is due to the process of oxidation. When you store your silver jewelry in plastic, the air supply is cut off. Remove silver jewelry before washing your hands or having a bath.

Coating: Many jewelers recommend dipping sterling silver earrings to remove the black color of oxidized silver and bring back its sheen. But, dipping is not recommended because even the most careful hand can and will leave microscopic humps and bumps on the jewelry. A number of dips can seriously alter the shape and character of your jewelry.

Cloth: In most jewelry shops, you will get what is called the Sunshine Polishing Cloth. This is a soft cloth that can be used to clean both gold and silver jewelry. The cloth becomes black as you use it, but you can continue to use the cloth for a while. This cloth contains a number of chemical cleaners. If your sterling silver earrings lose their sheen, simply wipe the jewelry with this cloth.

Cleaning: Do not use water or soap to clean sterling silver earrings. Instead, clean silver jewelry with baking soda. Since you do not want to handle or inhale the powder directly, an easy way is to drop the sterling silver earrings into a plastic bag that contains baking powder and squish the bag so that the powder is rubbing against the jewelry. Any powder stuck to the crevices in the jewelry may be taken out using a toothbrush. You may rinse the jewelry with water and then use the toothbrush with a light hand. Rinse well and dry with a paper towel immediately.

Alternatively, you can also use a tarnish remover to clean silver jewelry. But make sure that the tarnish remover does not come into contact with pearls or opals. Or, use a tarnish remover that is safe for these.

In case your sterling silver earrings have a antique look and you feel you have polished it too bright, you can use a piece of steel wool to polish the places that need the matt look. Remember, this will leave tiny abrasive marks on the jewelry. Do not use steel wool on rhodium plated silver jewelry.

There! Now, you have no more excuse to wear silver jewelry that has gone black with age!

No matter what silver is worn with, it always looks its best when it is clean and shiny. What causes silver to look dull and aged is if the metal is dirty, and the process of oxidation. Oxidation is just the exposure to air. Harsh cleaning products such as bleach and chlorine are also very damaging to sterling silver. You can clean silver with a silver polish but that often gets stuck in intricate designs and be difficult to remove. Silver polish also wears away at the surface of the metal, as does a polishing cloth.

Care Tips for Your Silver:

* Remove your jewelry before cleaning with harsh cleaning products.
* Store jewelry when not worn in sealable plastic bags. This will help slow the oxidation process.
* No-tarnish strips can be put in the plastic bags and this will further slow the oxidation process. These strips can be purchased at a jewelry supply company, or possibly a fine jewelry store. It is best to periodically replace these strips.
* Basic kid blackboard chalk works similarly to the no-tarnish strips and may be easier to purchase. They work by absorbing any airborne impurities that may tarnish the silver. Place them in the plastic sealable bag and replace them monthly for best results. With a little extra care, your special piece of jewelry can look bright, brilliant and shiny for many years of wear.

To prevent oxidation, jewellery can be stored in tightly sealed plastic ziploc bags. However do not store pearls in plastic. Otherwise jewelry cases lined with fabric or acid free paper work well also. Contact with chemicals, including bleach should be avoided, as they can damage jewelry over time. Pearl necklaces and bracelets should be checked by a jeweller to decide whether they need re-stringing. All pieces should be cleaned periodically, with the appropriate cleaning agents. A soft child’s toothbrush is most effective for brushing or scrubbing jewelry. Paper towels should never be used for drying jewellery. Pearls need to be wiped after each wear.

Here are some additional guidelines for gemstone maintenance and precious metal care:

Turquoise, Lapis and Coral: Wipe often with a soft dry cloth, don’ t use anything on turquoise, such as soap or cleansers, as it will damage the stone.

Opals: Opals are prone to scratching and chipping, so store, wash and wear carefully. Use a soft mild soap on a cloth and rinse and air dry.

Pearls: pearls tend to lose their luster, quickly if not handled carefully, keep away from lotions and perfumes (generally applying them prior to donning the jewelry, helps to keep them pristine). Wipe with a clean, soft moist cloth after every wearing and lay flat to air dry. Occasionally they can be cleaned with a soft brush and mild soapy water, and then wiped with a wet cloth and dried.

Opals: Opals are prone to scratching and chipping, so store, wash and wear carefully. Use a soft mild soap on a cloth and rinse and air dry.

Sapphires, Peridots, Rubies and Amythyst: These stones can be washed in a mixture of warm water, and mild dishwashing liquid (check the soap label to make sure that it doesn’t contain softeners). Scrub the stones with a very soft brush, rinse with clean water and pat dry.

Emeralds: wash in clear room temperature water and brush gently. Air dry, do not wash in warm water or with soap.

Diamonds: diamonds must be stored separately, as they can scratch each other. They can be cleansed in a solution of 2 parts warm water to 1 part ammonia for 3-4 minutes and rinsed with warm clean water and patted dry with a soft clean cloth. Don’t clean diamond jewelry that has other stones set into it with ammonia, as some stones are considerably more delicate than diamonds.

Gold, White Gold, Platinum: dip in warm soapy water, rinse in clean water and pat dry, use a soft brush if more extensive cleansing is required.

Silver: Only use a commercial silver polish, or a silver polishing cloth, after polishing, ensure that all polish is removed and then softly buff to a shine. Never use paper towels and tissues as they will scratch soft metals.”