In the last article we provided a brief introduction to silver jewelry, and also briefly touched upon how to clean your silver items. Here we will take this a step further, and have a more in-depth look at how to care for your silver jewelry.

Items of silver jewelry are often be some of our most prized possessions, particularly when it comes to wedding and engagement rings. As a result, knowing how to clean your silver jewelry is of paramount importance.

Wear Your Jewelry!

The first tip is to wear it! Although this sounds obvious, many people rarely wear their favorite silver jewelry items for fear of losing or damaging them - but this can actually do the jewelry more harm than good. Wearing your silver jewelry on a regular basis can keep it from tarnishing by slowing down the oxidation process - instead keeping it shiny and at its beautiful best. Remember, of course, not to wear your silver jewelry in situations where it could get damaged by chemicals, such as in a swimming pool or spa. These situations aside, you have no excuse not to wear your silver rings, necklaces and earrings now, so take them out of the jewelry box and show them off!

Store it Correctly

When it comes to storing it, make sure you are using a suitable container. This means a proper jewelry box, rather than any old plastic container. Some of the better jewelry boxes are constructed from tarnish-free materials, whilst it is also possible to buy separate sheets of tarnish-free paper to line your existing box, if yours does not have this. The best jewelry boxes have a number of different compartments, so you can store the items apart from each other and in their own designated sections.

Cleaning Your Silver

We mentioned cleaning methods in the previous article, and stressed the importance of an abrasive-free cleaner. ‘Ready to use’ products are generally the best, whilst ‘dipping’ products are not recommended. The product should be used in conjunction with a special polishing cloth, which can be purchased from a supermarket, jewelry store or hardware store, and will remove dust, dirty fingerprints and other types of grime quickly and easily.

The Annual Check-Up

It is also recommended that you take your items of best silver jewelry for an annual ‘check-up’. Wedding and engagement rings can be polished, and the setting of the attached gemstones can also be checked for any signs of looseness.

Silver jewelry has been popular for many years, and will be more many years to come. It can hold its value well, so look after it properly and you will reap the rewards in the future.