Jewelry Care from Brown's

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Caring for Silver Jewelry

Sorority Jewelry | Catalog | Silver Care | Free Engraving

The timeless beauty of sterling silver is part of this metal’s ageless appeal. The universal fineness mark for sterling silver is ".925" stamped somewhere on the item for authenticity. This mark identifies your piece as true, pure sterling silver & designates the precious metal content of the jewelry, and under federal law, must be accompanied by a maker's mark or registered trademark. Look for the fineness mark and the maker's mark on the underside of the silver item you are considering to ensure the quality.

Properly caring for your silver collection is a sure way to keep sterling looking its shining best.

Use only silver polishing cloths for the best shine!
Never use toothpaste as it is very abrasive!
Avoid ammonia-based cleaners as they will eventually eat away the finish on the metal!
Sterling jewelry with the antique finish should occasionally be wiped clean by using a polishing cloth. Never dip this style of jewelry into a cleaner, for it will remove the oxidized antique look that is applied to give it the ageless appeal.

Cleaning Silver

Care should also be taken to prevent silver tarnish build-up, a dulling that naturally occurs when silver reacts with sulfur or hydrogen sulfide in the ambient air. Tarnish is easiest to remove when it first becomes visible. To clean your silver, use products formulated specifically to remove tarnish on sterling silver or a treated polishing cloth intended for use on silver. Or you may simply wash the silver with warm water and a little mild soap, rinsing and then patting dry with a fine, soft cloth.

Keeping its Splendor

Do not use tissue paper or paper towels as they can scratch the silver. Avoid exposing your silver to household chemicals when cleaning with bleach or ammonia, or when swimming in chlorinated water, as these chemicals can damage silver. Your professional jeweler should be able to provide you with silver-cleaning materials as well as directions for their proper use.

Storing Silver

Sterling silver, like other precious metals, can oxidize with time. It is best to store silver in a tarnish-proof cloth pouch or in drawers lined with tarnish-resistant strips. As with any fine jewelry or gift item, each piece of sterling silver should be stored individually, either in its own pouch or in a separate compartment in a jewelry or storage box. If you toss your jewelry into a dresser drawer and allow pieces to rub against each other, scratches will result, therefore, harming the finish of the metal.