Even the best-loved pieces gather a little shadow over time.
A smudge here, a dulling there. It’s nothing to be embarrassed about - silver is a living metal in its own quiet way, and it changes with us.
Silver will always carry a little memory of where it’s been. The trick is knowing how to keep it bright without scrubbing away its story.
Why silver tarnishes
In some old stories, silver was a mirror for the moon. But in the everyday, it has copper woven into it for strength, and copper has a mind of its own. When it meets the air, it darkens - a slow spell called oxidisation. Fine silver resists it a little better, but is softer, less suited to daily wear.
Some things hasten the change: the salt air at the coast, a splash in a chlorinated pool, an afternoon in a hot tub. Even your own skin can tip the balance - diet, medication, or simply body chemistry. Imagine someone whose rings would shadow within a day, as though their hands held thunderstorms.
Slowing the spell
A cool, dry resting place works wonders. Keep your pieces tucked in the box or cloth bag they arrived in, away from perfume, sprays, and cleaning potions. An anti-tarnish strip in the bag will keep the shadows at bay a little longer.
When the darkening has already happened
First, if there’s obvious muck, a little mud from the garden, a smear of cake batter from a particularly enthusiastic bake - give it a soft brushing with a small toothbrush in warm, soapy water. Often, that’s enough to bring the light back.
For stubborn tarnish, line a dish with tinfoil (aluminium foil/cooking foil), dissolve a tablespoon of bicarbonate of soda in a cup of warm water. Drop the piece in, let it sit for a few minutes, then rinse and dry. A polishing cloth will coax the shine to return fully.
If you’re tending to a whole hoard, an ultrasonic cleaner can be useful - a small device that warms the water and shakes out the grime. Rather like a mechanical stream.
A word on gemstones
Most plain silver and harder stones like diamonds will manage just fine with these methods. Pearls, opals, and softer gems need more care. For them, make a paste of bicarbonate and water and apply it gently to the silver parts only, keeping well clear of the stones. A polishing cloth is usually safe - but I’ll not make any sweeping promises.
For a printable guide to cleaning jewellery at home you can download my guide here.
