Product Care
How should I care for my Sterling Silver jewellery and findings?
Silverly products aren’t made from normal plated silver, instead we use 925 sterling silver which is known for its property to resist against oxidation longer. Overtime, oxidation will occur to your ring, and this is totally normal! This is where your jewellery tends to turn darker and lose its shine. All our jewelleries are Hypo-allergenic, Nickel & Lead Free and Tarnish resistant.
IMPORTANT: Traces of copper will be found in our Gold/Rose Gold plating as this contributes to the colouring of the metal. In some extreme cases of sensitive, highly acidic skin, you may experience some slight greening. The other main cause of is chemicals found in hand creams. This is in fact a common trait in even the finest of jewellery.
We take no responsibility or liability for any reactions that may take place; It is the responsibility of the customer to ensure all precautions are taken as we are unable to know each individual’s allergies and sensitivities.
With any piece of jewellery, no matter the price, proper care is required to ensure your jewellery remains sparkly, and immaculate for as long as possible.
Cleaning Sterling Silver Jewellery:
1) Simply just pour a teaspoon of dish soap/detergent in a little bowl, with about ½ cup of warm water (as long as your Jewellery is completely covered by the water) and mix the solution.
2) Place your Jewellery inside and leave it for about 5-10 minutes. For any stubborn dirt/oils, simply use a soft bristle brush, coated in the solution to gently brush the stones before soaking in just water.
3) Once you’ve let it sit in the solution, transfer the jewellery into another bowl, but with just warm water, no detergent. Then lay on a towel to try.
Preventing Tarnish on Sterling Silver:
1. The best way to prevent tarnishing is to store clean, dry sterling silver in a dry airtight container, like a zip lock bag.
2. An anti-tarnish strip with the silver jewellery in a zip lock bag will help fight against tarnish.
3. Don’t leave silver jewellery in the bathroom. Humidity can speed up the oxidation process that produces tarnish.
4. Minimize sterling silver’s contact to chemicals (hairspray, perfume, body lotion, bleach, etc.) and do not wear it the shower, swimming pool or hot tub.
5. After taking off silver jewellery, clean it with a dry soft cloth before putting it back into an airtight container.
6. A general rule of thumb for silver jewellery: it should be the last thing put on before leaving the house, and the first thing removed when returning home. This will help minimize your jewellery’s contact with perfumes, lotions, and other chemicals.
Cleaning tarnished Sterling Silver:
1. Always remove jewellery before showering or cleaning. A film can form if soap or cleaning agents are not washed off completely. This film will become a magnet for dirt, dust and other contaminants.
2. Use a silver polishing cloth to remove oxidation from silver. Tissues and paper towels can cause scratches. We recommend using a Sunshine Cloth. Be sure to use fresh cloths since the dirt and grit left on the cloth from a previous use can leave scrapes and pits. Use light pressure and allow the cloth to do the work for you. If your arm starts to ache, you’re probably pressing too hard.
3. Commercial cleaners can be purchased at jewellery stores. Always remember to read the instructions on the commercial cleaners first before you attempt cleaning. Most commercial cleaners are very strong and will remove all oxidation! Many of our designs are purposely oxidized then polished, so that crevices are darkened to bring out the depth and beauty of a piece. Take care not to remove this design element. Do not go overboard!
4. If you’d like to avoid harsh commercial cleaners and the polishing cloth doesn’t work, wash silver jewellery (without gemstones or pearls) in warm water containing a few drops of mild dishwashing liquid. Immerse the sterling silver in the water and gently hand wash. Use a cotton swab for tight corners. A soft baby toothbrush can be used for more abrasive cleaning when needed. Thoroughly rinse and completely dry the sterling silver before storing, as moisture is one of the factors that contribute to tarnishing!
5. Never clean your jewellery in bleach! Doing this will literally breakdown your jewellery. Bleach is an oxidizing agent that will react to the metal, causing it to become very brittle. Remember to remove your jewellery before swimming or soaking in a hot tub too!
6. If the jewellery contains gemstones or pearls, do not submerge the entire piece into water. Instead, use a cotton swab with mild dishwashing liquid to wash only the silver. Again, thoroughly rinse and completely dry the sterling silver before storing, as moisture is one of the factors that contribute to tarnishing! Chlorine bleach, denatured alcohol, turpentine, acetone, and ammonia are all harmful to gemstones and pearls. These chemicals can dull or even pit the surface on softer gemstones, like amber, turquoise, lapis, and more.
7. Never use toothpaste or other abrasives to clean metal or stones. Some websites recommend toothpaste as a cleaner, but this is not an accepted practice by fine jewellers. The abrasives in toothpaste can damage the surface of the metal. Toothpaste will also abrade the surface on amber, lapis, turquoise and other soft stones.
8. If this steps do not remove the tarnish on the sterling silver, it may require a visit to a professional jeweller who will either clean the sterling silver with an ultrasonic cleaner, or buff it with stages of abrasive paper.