Sterling silver is a hard metal that will stand the test of time but it tend to tarnish or darken over time and when comes in contact with the oils of your skin. So aged or darkened metal is a natural process and it really depends on each individual person as to how long it will take before your piece tarnishes. Tarnish is the superficial oxidation caused by the contact of the silver with the sulfur of the atmosphere. Stains created by this process, at an early stage can be removed easily by rubbing with a soft piece of cloth. At a later stage, when the jewels are too tarnished, you need to use one of the many liquid cleansers for silver items that are widely available in the market.
Like all jewelry, in order for your silver ones to remain as shiny and beautiful as new, you have to follow some rules:
*Store your jewelry in a clean and dry place or in a plastic zip-bag.
*Try to avoid perfume, lotion, chlorine, and other chemicals or cosmetics, to maintain the beauty of the jewelry.
*Clean your sterling silver pieces regularly. The safest and most effective way to polish sterling silver is to wipe it gently with a soft cloth. If you want to remove silver tarnish, you can try adding a small amount of mild detergent to the piece, and then use a soft cloth.
