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Post by buddysmom on Jan 23, 2024 17:39:11 GMT
I bought a few cute necklaces overseas last year (maybe about $20-ish) and they have turned blackish.
Not sure if these are silver or something less. They are real thin/delicate looking.
So if these aren't silver, will silver polish (or something else clean them up?)
And any experience with non-tarnish silver? I'm thinking of just replacing the chains with that.
Does it really remain silver-looking?
I keep some jewelry that I wear more often in a box in a drawer and they are fine.
But the ones "on display" (ha!) hanging in my closet are the ones that look icky.
Thanks!
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Post by papersilly on Jan 23, 2024 17:46:55 GMT
is there a "925" stamped on the clasp? that can be an indication that it's sterling silver. maybe the black residue is tarnish.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Jan 23, 2024 18:13:30 GMT
They’re probably real. Anything I have that’s real silver tarnishes pretty quickly if it’s out in open air. I keep my silver charms and things in a ziplock bag to keep it from happening so fast. You can clean it easily at home with baking soda, aluminum foil and boiling water. youtu.be/7NkmctayIMw?si=KSELrVIUBA7LNSzp |
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Jan 23, 2024 18:16:08 GMT
The sterling silver I wear 24/7 shines, particularly brightly after washing dishes. The silver sitting around tarnishes very quickly. The silver in a box tarnishes very slowly.
However years ago all silver on me or sitting tarnished.
Before that worn it stayed shiny.
If yours is not Sterling, a polishing cloth might take some of the black off, but will not bring it back looking new..
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,123 
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Post by iowgirl on Jan 23, 2024 19:34:39 GMT
you can get some inexpensive silver polish and dips to keep jewelry sparkling. I use silver plate silverware everyday for our meals, so I keep this stuff on hand to keep it looking nice. The silver dip will remove all tarnish in seconds, but it doesn't make it shine. So I keep a silver cloth on hand to polish it a bit. When you really want to make it look nice, get some silver polish cream and polish good. It only takes a small dab! Silver DipWrights Silver Cream with clothYou can get other brands, and from other places. An old soft towel works great as a silver polish cloth with some silver cream on it. I don't do the baking soda/aluminum foil/hot water trick, but it does work. Just to remove tarnish - it doesn't shine it up. |
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Post by librarylady on Jan 24, 2024 16:05:46 GMT
I have some black "paper" tabs that make silver "repel" the tarnish. It slows down the tarnish. I put my chains in a jewelry compartment withe the paper.
I can't remember where I found them, but probably at a local silver jewelry store.
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peppermintpatty
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea #1345
Posts: 3,838
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Post by peppermintpatty on Jan 24, 2024 20:33:43 GMT
They’re probably real. Anything I have that’s real silver tarnishes pretty quickly if it’s out in open air. I keep my silver charms and things in a ziplock bag to keep it from happening so fast. You can clean it easily at home with baking soda, aluminum foil and boiling water. youtu.be/7NkmctayIMw?si=KSELrVIUBA7LNSzpActually, putting silver in ziploc bags will only keep them tarnish free for a time, there are chemicals in the bags that actually will accelerate the tarnish process. If you go to jewelrysupply.com they sell the bags that I put all of my silver pieces that I make into. These have anti-tarnish properties. You can also buy the little black squares that you put into the bags but you have to replace them every once in a while. The same goes for the anti-tarnish bags. They don't last forever. As for anti-tarnish silver, there is ultrafine silver that is more anti-tarnish but it will still tarnish eventually. It is a chemical reaction with the air so unless you never wear your jewelry, it will eventually tarnish. As for the baking soda thing, it does work but you have to soak it for a really long time to make sure that the piece is completely clean because if you don't, it will not only tarnish again, it will actually tarnish faster than before. The only way to make sure your pieces never tarnish again is you would have to have them professionally sealed. |
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peppermintpatty
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea #1345
Posts: 3,838
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Post by peppermintpatty on Jan 24, 2024 20:34:17 GMT
I have some black "paper" tabs that make silver "repel" the tarnish. It slows down the tarnish. I put my chains in a jewelry compartment withe the paper. I can't remember where I found them, but probably at a local silver jewelry store. You can get them at jewelrysupply.com. You have to replace them every so often. |
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RedSquirrelUK
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,732
Location: The UK's beautiful West Country
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Post by RedSquirrelUK on Jan 24, 2024 22:15:58 GMT
You've got some good advice on cures which I hadn't known before. The only thing I did know is that tarnish/blackening can be prevented or slowed by keeping dry. Store with desiccants rather than on display, and definitely not in steamy bathrooms.
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Post by kristalina on Jan 24, 2024 22:39:24 GMT
I would try the dip before replacing the chain. I use Tarn-x from Home Depot! You can get anti-tarnish cloth by the yard to wrap your silver in or the squares of anti-tarnish paper if you put your jewelry in baggies. I've gotten both from Amazon. (I make sterling jewelry - @love.Mom.Designs on instagram) I've tried so many things, but always end up polishing for a full day before a show. The alum foil/baking soda method that crazy4scraps mentioned above also works in a pinch.
You mentioned anti-tarnish chain. If you're looking for anti tarnish sterling silver chain, it's been coated with rhodium to prevent air from oxidizing. It's a good option.
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