It's a fact that silver tarnishes to black as it oxidizes on exposure to air. Silver is also a relatively soft metal that can easily scratch or dent, even with the pressure of a firm fingernail. Maintaining the look of silver jewelry is a balancing act between polishing and preserving an unblemished surface finish. Wearing your jewelry is a simple way to keep your silver jewelry clean. The contact with your skin and clothing will gently polish the silver to a lustrous glow. To remove light tarnish, sweat and finger marks, wash your silver jewelry in lukewarm soapy water, then rinse with (distilled water preferably) and dry immediately with a soft 100% cotton nub-free cloth. A liquid "jewelry cleaner” can also clean your jewelry, although not necessarily any better than the warm soapy water. Moreover, over-rubbing it may affect the texturized surface over time.

Heavily tarnished silver requires more work. A jeweler’s polishing cloth is a good option, as they are made especially for this purpose and are infused with material that leaves a protective coating on the jewelry to retard further tarnishing.

When a polishing cloth becomes dirty, replace it - never wash and attempt to reuse it. Keep a spare for use on your travels - at a pinch, it can double as a storage cloth. When using your cloth, rub the item gently in one direction rather than in a circular pattern, using only the pressure of your finger pads. Any dust particles, grit or dirt should first be removed by rinsing or washing with the lukewarm procedure described above; otherwise, they will grind into the surface of the jewelry, leaving unsightly scratches behind. Refrain from using silver-cleaning products meant for silverware and the "lifehack" toothpaste method as both these ways are extremely abrasive and will lead to serious scratching your jewelry. Also avoid using bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) and water, or even the bicarbonate powder on its own as it will eventually damage the finish. If you are uncertain or have any questions, please feel free to contact us through our website and we’d be more than happy to assist. 

Silver can technically be worn in both freshwater (i.e. the shower) and seawater, however salt water will speed the tarnishing process and is not recommended for any high-quality silver or any jewelry with a high-quality finish, as the salt crystals can potentially scratch the jewelry. Keep in mind that jewelry should never be worn in swimming pools as the chlorine will corrode metals and stones.