Silver Care Guide

Silver darkens. That is not a fault.

Sterling silver reacts with sulphur in the air and forms a thin layer of tarnish. It is chemistry, not poor quality, and it is completely reversible. Pieces worn often tarnish less, because skin contact polishes them.

Daily habits that matter

Put jewellery on last. After perfume, lotion, hairspray and make-up. These are the fastest way to dull a finish.
Take it off for water. Swimming pools especially — chlorine attacks silver and can damage some stones. Showers and washing up are less dramatic but add up.
Take it off to sleep. Prongs catch on bedding and bend. Most stone losses we repair start this way.
Take it off at the gym. Sweat is mildly acidic, and weights bend bands.

Storing it

Air and humidity cause tarnish, so store pieces in the pouch or box they came in, separately — silver scratches silver. Karachi humidity is hard on jewellery; a small silica sachet in the box helps more than people expect.

Cleaning it yourself

For light tarnish, the polishing cloth in your box is enough. Rub gently along the metal, not in circles.

For a fuller clean: warm water, a drop of mild dish soap, a soft toothbrush. Brush gently, rinse properly, dry completely with a soft cloth. Water left in a setting is what causes staining behind a stone.

What not to do

No chemical dips on pieces with stones. They strip tarnish fast and can eat into settings and dull softer stones.
No toothpaste. It is abrasive and leaves fine scratches you cannot undo.
No baking soda and foil on gemstone pieces. It works on plain silver and damages everything else.
No ultrasonic cleaner on emerald, opal, pearl or any treated stone.

Stone by stone

Moissanite: very hard, very forgiving. Soap and water. It attracts skin oils and looks dull long before it is dirty — a wipe restores it.
Sapphire and ruby: hard and robust. Soap and water is fine.
Emerald: the fragile one. Almost all emeralds are oil-treated; heat, solvents and ultrasonics strip the oil and make inclusions show. Wipe with a damp cloth only.
Pearl: wipe after wearing, never submerge.

Bring it back to us

Replating is free for as long as you own the piece. When a piece looks tired, send it in — we clean, polish, replate and check the stone settings while it is with us. Most people do this once a year.