What should you pay attention to when cleaning silver jewelry? All tips and tricks

When it comes to men's jewelry, no metal can match the warm white of real silver. However, it can sometimes happen that sterling silver jewelry discolors and tarnishes over time due to environmental influences! We have therefore put together a few tips on how to avoid tarnishing of silver bracelets, rings, etc. You will also learn everything you need to know about cleaning silver jewelry and how to remove the dark surface caused by tarnishing of silver jewelry.

Why does sterling silver jewelry tarnish in the first place?

Silver is a precious metal that does not oxidize so quickly. But it has a weak point: sulfur. Silver reacts with sulfur to form dark silver sulfide - and that's exactly what happens when silver jewelry tarnishes. Sulfur is found in small amounts in the air, but sometimes also in skin sweat. In addition, 925 sterling silver as an alloy also contains a small proportion (5/1000) of copper, which makes the silver more robust and scratch-resistant - but can also react with air and make the piece of jewelry appear darker.

To avoid tarnishing, you should avoid wearing your 925 sterling silver jewelry while exercising or during sweaty activities. Furthermore, for the long-lasting durability of men's silver jewelry, it is advisable to take it off at night, not to wear it while showering or cleaning (to avoid contact with chemicals), and to store it as airtight as possible or in a closed box. However, it should not remain unworn in there for too long: Because frequent wearing of the silver jewelry literally wears away the silver sulfide - but if the jewelry lies unused for a long time, more silver sulfide can form undisturbed over time, and your jewelry will tarnish.

Home remedies for cleaning silver jewelry

Small home remedies often help to remove the dark surface caused by tarnishing on silver jewelry. For example, baking powder and toothpaste contain the finest abrasives, so that you can use them and a small (tooth) brush to specifically remove the silver sulfide layer from your jewelry.

A very efficient method for removing silver sulfide is the aluminum salt method: Here, you bring 500 ml of water to a boil and dissolve about 50-100g of salt in it. While the water is heating up, you carefully wrap your jewelry in aluminum foil and place it in a (plastic) bowl. Then, you pour the hot salt solution over it and let it sit for about 2-4 minutes before removing your jewelry, rinsing it thoroughly, and gently drying it with a clean, soft cloth (preferably with the care cloth provided free of charge by us). There is a chemical process behind this: The less noble metal, aluminum, releases electrons and, enhanced by the hot, conductive saltwater, absorbs the sulfur from the silver sulfide layer on the silver, which then dissolves.

Cleaning silver jewelry

You can of course find cleaning aids for silver jewelry in specialized stores: There are so-called silver baths, silver polishing cloths (also available in our shop) and ultrasonic cleaning devices at jewelers, goldsmiths, or online retailers, which can help you get your silver jewelry clean again. Ultrasonic cleaning devices can primarily remove skin oils and surface dirt to bring your jewelry back to shine. Tarnished surfaces, on the other hand, can be better removed with a chemical silver bath, as this can specifically attack and remove silver sulfide (be careful with oxidized silver jewelry, see below). For more delicate signet rings or necklaces with gemstones (e.g. tiger's eye or coral) or pearls, caution is advised here - a silver bath or cleaning agent can quickly attack the surface and make it dull. A prolonged ultrasonic cleaning can also have similarly damaging effects.

Polish or matt silver jewelry (have it polished)

One way to care for your men's jewelry as beautiful as new is to simply remove the tarnished surface by having the silver jewelry polished or re-matted by a professional (at a goldsmith or jeweler). For shiny silver necklaces, rings or silver bangles, polishing has the advantage that even smaller scratches that often arise from daily wear can be removed at the same time. This means your 925 sterling silver jewelry will look like new again!

With dull silver jewelry for men, you can sometimes take matters into your own hands to refresh the matte finish and clean the silver jewelry. The best way to do this is with a piece of matting fleece from the hardware store or a rough kitchen sponge. Or, of course, with our offered "Scratch Remover." This works particularly well on chains as well as smooth bangles or rings. Here you can apply the fleece or sponge directly and evenly (!) around the rings for men or the bangle. This light sanding creates a matte finish like a brush stroke over the surface. The steadier your hand and the more precise the movement, the neater the result will be. For silver jewelry with an ice-matte surface, it is a bit easier: here you can even use coarse sandpaper (40 or 80 grit) and, with circular motions, remove the tarnished layer and let it shine anew as an ice-matte surface. Especially - by finally treating your ring with our silver polishing cloth.

Be careful when cleaning blackened silver jewelry!

There are pieces of jewelry where "tarnishing" is part of the design - specifically in blackened or intentionally oxidized silver jewelry. These are intentionally treated with a chemical process to form silver sulfide on the surface, creating a beautiful contrast between the white metal and dark recesses. This design form is particularly popular in men's silver jewelry. An example is our "Helix" vintage bracelet. However, since the black coloring is literally superficial, you should avoid cleaning it as much as possible. Blackened bracelets, necklaces, or rings for men should definitely not be cleaned with the aluminum salt method or placed in a silver bath, but rather just wiped with a silver polishing cloth or gently brushed with a matting cloth.

5 tips for cleaning silver jewelry

• If possible, do not wear your 925 sterling silver jewelry during sports or sweaty work to avoid tarnishing.
• Avoid exposure to chemicals by not wearing your silver jewelry while showering or cleaning.
• Store your silver jewelry airtight or in a sealed box to reduce the formation of silver sulfide.
• Use home remedies such as baking soda, toothpaste, or the aluminum salt method to remove tarnish from dark surfaces.
• Use professional cleaning methods such as silver baths, silver cleaning cloths or ultrasonic cleaning devices to make your silver jewelry shine again, but pay attention to material compatibility, especially with blackened silver jewelry.