Does sterling silver jewelry tarnish?

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When buying silver jewelry, you might think that pure silver is the best material to choose. After all, a ‘pure’ metal is likely the highest quality, right? And that surely means it’ll be less likely to tarnish and turn black – correct? We want to gently break it to you that this misconception is all wrong.

Pure silver jewelry is high quality, not to mention expensive. But 925 sterling silver jewelry, an alloy of silver, contains 92.5% pure silver along with 7.5% copper, zinc, or steel. This makes 925 silver slightly harder and more durable, compared to pure silver, which is prone to dents and scratches. While pure silver oxidizes (read: turns black) very quickly, the other metals in 925 sterling silver protect the silver from oxidation. That means your sterling silver jewelry won’t tarnish for at least a few years – and when it does, it’s easy to clean.

 

925 sterling silver jewelry is great for everyday use

Great news – washing your hands, showering, and swimming while wearing your sterling silver jewelry won’t cause any problems. If you stay in the pool or ocean too long, your sterling silver jewelry might tarnish slightly, due to being submerged for a long time in saltwater or chlorine. But it’s not hard to clean these marks with one of our methods below.

If you have extremely sensitive skin, you may react to the 7.5% of other materials mixed into 925 sterling silver. If that’s the case, try hypoallergenic jewelry materials which won’t cause reactions. Having said that, at Maitea we only mix our 925 sterling silver with copper, which is better for sensitive skin than other materials. Our 925 sterling silver is 100% nickel-free, compared to other jewelry producers who often mix in zinc, nickel, and even other unknown materials to lower the costs.

 

If your sterling silver jewelry does tarnish, simply give it a clean

Wearing your sterling silver jewelry all day, every day might mean it begins tarnishing a little. But no need to panic – you’ll soon have your sterling silver jewelry looking as good as new again. Simply clean it using one of the following methods:

  • Place a layer of tinfoil in a small bowl. Add salt, place your jewelry on top, and add hot water. You’ll immediately see your silver jewelry becoming clean again.
  • Add four tablespoons of baking soda and one cup of vinegar to a bowl, then add your silver jewelry. In this case, you’ll have to wait one hour, then rinse the jewelry clean with water and dry it well with a clean cotton cloth. Sparkling results guaranteed!
  • If homemade cleaning methods aren’t for you, opt for a silver cleaning solution. Add a little solution to a cloth then polish your silver jewelry until it’s no longer tarnished.

 

Your gold jewelry might actually be made of silver

That gold ring you love to pieces may not be as pure gold as you think. A common material in jewelry production is vermeil, which is the name for gold-coated sterling silver. This is a great option for gold jewelry lovers looking for gold pieces with a more affordable price tag. Silver jewelry is turned gold via electroplating, where silver is dipped into a solution that attaches small gold particles to the silver. The longer the jewelry is submerged, the thicker the coating and the more long-lasting your vermeil jewelry will be.

 

Vermeil jewelry won’t stay gold forever – but there are ways to make it last

Vermeil jewelry is exactly that - coated in a layer of gold. Because vermeil jewelry is not fully waterproof, this layer will wear away throughout its lifetime and leave you with silver jewelry. 

So how long will your jewelry stay gold? That all depends on your skin’s pH levels, whether you keep your jewelry from getting wet – and how thick the gold coating is. That’s why it’s best to save your vermeil pieces for special occasions. For the jewelry you reach for every day, stainless steel is a perfect low-maintenance alternative.

You might be wondering, why bother with vermeil jewelry at all? After all, gold-coated stainless steel jewelry is 100% waterproof. While steel is a great material if you don’t like taking off your jewelry, it’s not possible to create delicate designs with steel. That’s why we still use vermeil for some of our very thin earring designs – and we make sure that our customers are informed about how to care for them.

 

What NOT to do if you want your vermeil jewelry to last

We’re here to tell you that vermeil jewelry is a little high maintenance. Because water will gently erode the gold coating over time, you should take this jewelry off when you shower, go swimming, or get sweaty (wearing it to the gym is a no-go!). Make sure you don’t accidentally smear makeup, body creams, or cosmetics on this jewelry. And store it away from sunlight and air when you’re not wearing it – yes, we’re giving you the perfect excuse to buy yourself a jewelry box!