Reversible Pendant with Buffalo Image and Turquoise with Antiques Silver Patina Finish
Wondering how to best protect and maintain a custom finish on your unique one-of-a-kind silver jewelry piece? Maybe you have something old that has gotten dark and tarnished and has lost that original luster and shine that it once had. Silver is a gorgeous precious metal used for many fine hand-crafted pieces including silver jewelry, but it does have a down side… it requires a little care and maintenance to keep it looking its best.
How to prevent tarnishing in the first place:
STORE JEWELRY STORED IN AN AIRTIGHT CONTAINER OR BAG. Its not as sexy as a pretty box or sink purse, but it will stay shinier longer. Sterling silver tarnishes due to the small amount of copper alloy in it. It reacts to sulpher and other gases in the air.
KEEP JEWELRY OUT OF DIRECT SUNLIGHT AND HEAT. Heat increases the rate of tarnishing process. Another words, of course wear your pieces during the day, but don’t display them on your window sill in the sunlight for example.
OWN AND USE A JEWELRY POLISHING CLOTH REGULARLY: If you give your jewelry piece a little love with a polishing cloth every couple of times you wear it, you will definitely prevent deep tarnishing and keep you piece glowing and free of finger prints too!
What to do if your Silver Jewelry is already badly tarnished:
#1: DO NOT use liquid Silver Cleaner Solution that people use for cleaning silverware etc. Its likely that your silver jewelry design has an intentional patina or finish and you will RUIN it if you use this kind of polishing solution. Don’t do it! For example, when I do an “antiqued” patina on my one-of-a-kind jewelry, the black gets into the “crevices” and impressions of the design and makes the whole design pop. It what gives silver jewelry such dimensionality and shadowing really.
#2: If your piece is very deeply tarnished, the easiest thing to do it take it to jeweler. Most any jeweler whoi works in metal has a buffing wheel and can do it easily in just a few minutes, give or take. Then refer to preventative measures above to keep it maintained over the years of enjoyment to come.
Custom Pendant with silver balls, Labradorite and Antique Finish
