Many times, we find that our jewelry tarnish. The reason is due the chemical reaction of the metal being oxidized by sulfur present in the air. This leads to discolouration of the jewelry. Other factors like heat and humidity (think sweat too), also accelerates the tarnishing effect. In our sunny island Singapore, we have all the right ingredients to make jewelry tarnish. This is a sad fact, unless of course, your jewelry is made of solid, pure GOLD (think goldsmith shops), which can keep its lustre for a very very long time.
Here, I will share some knowledge about jewelry tarnishing and metals with you.
What can I do to slow down tarnishing?
DOs
- Keep jewelry dry, in a dust-free environment. Try keeping them in a ziplock bag, with air pressed out.
- Humidity is the enemy! Keep packets of silica gel together with your jewelry, to suck out the humidity.
- Wipe it with a soft cloth to remove dirt and sweat, after each wear. Sweat speeds up the tarnishing process.
DON'Ts
- Avoid wearing it in the shower and swimming pool
- Avoid spraying perfume after putting on the jewellery. Spray your perfume first, then put on the jewellery.
What are the common types of metals used in jewelry and their rate of tarnishing?
Silver and Gold Plated
A very very thin layer of real gold/silver is coated onto a base metal (e.g. copper) to make the item look like it's made of gold. Depending on the thickness of the plating, the thicker it is, the slower the rate of tarnishing. The plated layer (if thin) can be scratched away, hence exposing the base metal which will oxidize with the air. Items listed as "14K Gold Plated" means there is a higher amount of gold used in the plating. The higher the karat, the slower the rate of tarnishing.
*Note: Slow tarnishing doesn't mean no tarnishing.
925 Sterling Silver
Contains 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% Copper/other alloys. The added Copper/alloys helps to strengthen the Silver as Pure Silver on its own is quite soft. People with sensitive skin tend to stick to sterling silver. SILVER WILL ALWAYS TARNISH, sterling or pure. But this tarnish is removable, unless it is silver/gold plated like the above point. Just use a jewelry polishing cloth with a silver polish or heat the silver jewelry in a mixture of water and baking soda (you can find more info on this technique online).
Gold Filled
This has been said to match up against real solid gold, in terms of tarnishing. Gold filled items are made by bonding layers of gold onto a base metal, like brass or copper. This results in a thick layer of gold, which even when scratched, would most likely not reveal the base metal. It is durable and suitable for people with sensitive skin. This is a pricey material, so don't be surprised by the price tag of jewelry which uses it. As a measure, think of Gold karats in 24 units.
24K = 100% pure gold. 14K= 58% pure gold. PURE GOLD WILL NOT TARNISH.
Credits:
http://www.jewelry-secrets.com/Metals/Silver/Why-Does-Silver-Tarnish/What-Makes-Sterling-Silver-Tarnish.html
http://craft.ontheinternet.com.au/beads/gold-filled.htm
http://www.newsletter.kaijewels.com/silver-tarnish.htm
Silver and Gold Plated
A very very thin layer of real gold/silver is coated onto a base metal (e.g. copper) to make the item look like it's made of gold. Depending on the thickness of the plating, the thicker it is, the slower the rate of tarnishing. The plated layer (if thin) can be scratched away, hence exposing the base metal which will oxidize with the air. Items listed as "14K Gold Plated" means there is a higher amount of gold used in the plating. The higher the karat, the slower the rate of tarnishing.
*Note: Slow tarnishing doesn't mean no tarnishing.
925 Sterling Silver
Contains 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% Copper/other alloys. The added Copper/alloys helps to strengthen the Silver as Pure Silver on its own is quite soft. People with sensitive skin tend to stick to sterling silver. SILVER WILL ALWAYS TARNISH, sterling or pure. But this tarnish is removable, unless it is silver/gold plated like the above point. Just use a jewelry polishing cloth with a silver polish or heat the silver jewelry in a mixture of water and baking soda (you can find more info on this technique online).
Gold Filled
This has been said to match up against real solid gold, in terms of tarnishing. Gold filled items are made by bonding layers of gold onto a base metal, like brass or copper. This results in a thick layer of gold, which even when scratched, would most likely not reveal the base metal. It is durable and suitable for people with sensitive skin. This is a pricey material, so don't be surprised by the price tag of jewelry which uses it. As a measure, think of Gold karats in 24 units.
24K = 100% pure gold. 14K= 58% pure gold. PURE GOLD WILL NOT TARNISH.
Credits:
http://www.jewelry-secrets.com/Metals/Silver/Why-Does-Silver-Tarnish/What-Makes-Sterling-Silver-Tarnish.html
http://craft.ontheinternet.com.au/beads/gold-filled.htm
http://www.newsletter.kaijewels.com/silver-tarnish.htm
