Your Guide to Sterling Silver Jewellery

What is sterling silver?

Sterling silver pros and cons

Sterling silver pros:

• Hypoallergenic (nickel, lead and cadmium free)
• Affordable and quality 
• Can last a lifetime and be passed down through generations

Sterling silver cons:

• Is not safe to wear in chlorinated or salt water (salt is corrosive and chlorine is a harsh chemical)
• Prone to oxidising (thankfully this is easy to fix, read on to learn how)
• Not as strong as gold or platinum metals

Sterling silver dos and don'ts

Sterling silver do’s

• Polish regularly using a jewellery, microfibre or silver polishing cloth. Use up and down motions (this helps to avoid scratches)
• Store in a jewellery bag to protect it from oxidising. Best stored in separate bags to prevent pieces from scratching each other)
• Clean regularly using easy at-home methods - we’ve listed some of these methods below 
• Wear your sterling silver pieces regularly to help slow down oxidising

Sterling silver don'ts

• Wear in chlorinated pools or spas or in the ocean
• Put on before applying perfume and moisturiser as the chemicals and oils can react with the metal - put your jewels once you’ve finished your beauty routine
• Wear when handling strong chemicals like bleach

How to clean tarnished or oxidised sterling silver jewellery

Materials

• Small bowl or container
• Mild dish liquid
• 1/2 - 1 cup of warm water

Method:

• Squeeze a few generous drops of dish liquid in your bowl
• Pour in warm water
• Mix to combine water and dish liquid
• Leave to soak for 1 to 2 hours
• Rinse in water
• Use a cotton cloth to dry
• Polish with a polishing cloth

Note: Please check the stones in your jewellery are safe to put in water before using any of these methods.