925 silver, popularly known as sterling silver, is known for its timeless appeal and long-lasting shine. Its key features, such as durability and versatility, make it ideal for everyday occasions. However, you must understand that maintaining the lustre takes a lot of care and attention to details. In this detailed guide, we will help you understand the essential tips for maintaining 925 silver. Whether you are a collector of silver jewellery or a newcomer to silver jewellery, these given tips will help you get the shine back as the day you bought.
What Is 925 Silver?
Before diving into the essential care tips, it is crucial to understand what is 925 Silver and what makes it unique. 925 Silver consists of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals, which are usually copper. This combination provides both strength and a polished finish. Unlike pure silver, which is too soft to wear daily, 925 silver is sturdy and suitable for a wide range of intricate jewellery designs. However, the alloy does have a tendency to tarnish over time due to its interaction with moisture.
Read more on: Things You Must Know About 925 Silver
What Are the Common Issues With 925 Silver?
There are several common issues that you might face as a silver jewellery owner:
- Tarnishing: The most common issue with sterling silver jewellery is tarnishing. This occurs when silver reacts with sulphur compounds, forming a darker layer on the surface. This dulls the shine of your jewellery and is left unchecked for a longer time; the jewellery may require intensive cleaning.
- Scratches: Despite its durability, wearing silver jewellery daily can leave marks on the metal. Over time, these scratches can accumulate, diminishing the smoothness of the surface.
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Discolouration: Silver can sometimes get discoloured due to exposure to certain pollutants and chemicals or skincare products.
Silver losing its shine
Understand the Basic Care of 925 Silver
In this part, we have discussed two basic cleaning steps that you must know if you are a silver jewellery owner.
- Regular maintenance: Cleaning the silver jewellery regularly helps to prevent tarnish and keeps your accessories looking at their best. Regular cleaning removes the chances of getting tarnished and helps to maintain the shiny appearance of the silver jewellery.
How to Clean the 925 Silver Jewellery?
Homemade solution: If you plan to avoid cleaning solutions on the market, try homemade products. Mix a small amount of baking soda with water to form a paste, then apply it to the tarnished silver jewellery. Rub the paste over the tarnished areas, then clean it thoroughly and dry it properly.
Routine polishing: Use a soft, lint-free cloth designed for silver to gently polish your jewellery. Microfiber cloths are perfect and effective at removing surface tarnish without scratching the metal.
Avoid using harsh tools: Never use tools such as scrubbing brushes or abrasive materials to clean your silver accessories. They can scratch and damage the surface of your silver jewellery.
Read more on: caring for your 925 silver jewellery
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Storing the silver jewellery right: Proper storage is vital to prevent your silver jewellery from getting tarnished. Exposure to moisture and air can increase the chances, so storing your 925 silver accessories correctly can significantly extend their lifespan.
Regularly Polish Silver Jewellery
Effective Storage Solutions
Jewellery boxes: A jewellery box with compartments can help keep your 925 silver. This will help to protect from getting the moisture and keep the silver jewellery. Look for boxes with anti-tarnish lining for added protection. Anti-tarnish boxes are useful for long-term storage to keep your jewellery shiny for years to come.
Silica gel packs: Keep silica gel packs into your silver jewellery box. These gel packs help to absorb excess moisture and further reduce the risk of tarnishing.
Avoid humidity: Store your silver jewellery in a cool and dry place. Since humidity accelerates tarnishing, try to keep your jewellery away from areas where the moisture levels are higher.
Store Your 925 Jewels Carefully
What Are the Advanced Care Techniques?
For those seeking to go beyond basic care, these are some of the tips that may come in handy to keep your 925 silver jewellery in top condition.
When to Seek Professional Help?
If your silver jewellery has significant tarnish buildup that homemade methods cannot address, it is better to take professional help. Intricate pieces may also require proper cleaning to avoid serious damage.
How Do I Find a Good Professional?
Look for jewellers with experience in cleaning and restoring sterling silver jewellery. Make sure the professionals are certified and use safe cleaning methods.
Before and After of Regular Cleaning
GIVA Offers a Lifetime Plating Service!
GIVA is now excited to announce our customer support offering, i.e., lifetime plating service. This innovative approach demonstrates our dedication to make sure your cherished silver jewellery pieces (including rose-gold plated and gold-plated) are well maintained. You can enjoy the service even if you have covered your warranty period. The easy way to claim the service is from the app or executive brand outlets. But you can avail the service 180 days after the delivery date of the product.
Caring for your 925 silver accessories is vital to preserving their shine and timeless beauty. By following the above-mentioned tips, understanding the common issues and tips to maintenance can help keep your silver jewellery in good condition for years to come. Whether you are a huge lover of silver jewellery or just started investing in 925 silver, these practices will help to maintain the glamour of your precious pieces.
