Real silver jewelry

Real silver jewelry – it is important to take care of it

Does real silver jewelry tarnish? How do you clean silver jewelry? What is 925 silver? How do you prevent jewelry from tarnishing? And more… We at the Israel Gifts website will try to answer your questions.

As the owner of a company that specializes in the development, production and marketing of real silver jewelry, and a website that also markets to consumers – I encounter this question all the time from customers – “Is this real silver jewelry?” “Will it turn black on me”? Or disappointed customers when they discover that the jewelry has turned black.
So I'm here to answer the question once and for all.

It should be understood that the darkening of silver jewelry is a natural and normal process of this metal. If the jewelry were not darkening, then it might not have been made of silver. The darkening of silver results from the oxidation of the metal with air. More on this topic later in the article.

925 silver is the global standard used in the jewelry industry and goldsmithing .
Since pure silver (symbol 999) is a soft metal for ordinary silversmithing, a little copper, a hardening agent, is added to it, which gives it the required strength.

925 Sterling Silver contains :
925 units of silver (which is 92.5% silver) and 75 units of copper and other metals (which is 7.5%). 

When does real silver jewelry turn black?

Indeed, silver tends to oxidize and darken in the following cases :
A. Upon contact with air (due to the natural moisture present in it) or upon contact with harsh substances such as chlorine, acids, sulfur, chlorine, and seawater, an oxidation process begins, which manifests itself in the blackening of the jewelry.

B. In contact with the body, especially in the summer when the humidity is high . Our body contains and emits sweat, moisture and acidity. Each at different levels. Therefore, the same piece of jewelry will turn black on one person and not on another.

How to prevent silver jewelry from tarnishing as much as possible:

As mentioned, there are 2 main factors for the darkening of 925 silver: the acidity level of the skin And the place of storage.
The cause of the blackening is a chemical reaction in which silver atoms react with sulfur atoms found in gases in the air, such as hydrogen sulfide ( _H2S ).

The outer layer of the metal, the one exposed to air, combines with the sulfur to form a substance called silver sulfide, whose chemical formula is Ag ₂ S.

In addition, there is remove Wash your silver jewelry before immersing it in a pool (chlorine), in hot baths containing sulfur (such as Hamat Gader), and in the Dead Sea.
– It is advisable to keep the jewelry in its original packaging or in a jewelry box to prevent tearing, breaking, falling stones, or tarnishing.

– It is recommended to clean the jewelry occasionally with a delicate cotton cloth or a special cloth for cleaning silver. Therefore, it is recommended to keep silver jewelry clean by wiping the jewelry regularly with a delicate cloth and not waiting for the jewelry to turn black.

Silver in contact with water :

You can shower with real silver jewelry. Water does not cause the jewelry to turn black; on the contrary, it cleans and renews the silver (except for jewelry that incorporates special gemstones (turquoise, pearl, and obsidian) which lose their beauty and quality in contact with water).

Therefore, even It is recommended to bathe with the jewelry. Soap and water clean the surface, thus neutralizing the effects that cause darkening.
In addition, it is advisable not to store silver jewelry with other metals, but separately and in a closed place.

How to clean tarnished real silver jewelry:

There are several products that can be purchased in jewelry stores or online:

– Polishing cloth: Comes in several sizes and colors. With a substance that helps with polishing. – Silver cleaning solution: Comes in a plastic container. Simply put the jewelry in (several pieces of jewelry can be placed together), wait 10-20 seconds and take out a new piece of jewelry. Not recommended for jewelry with inlays or tarnish.

If you are interested in trying to clean your jewelry without purchasing products, there are several ways to clean at home:

You can also treat tarnished silver jewelry simply at home.

1. Carefully apply a small amount of toothpaste to the jewelry, do not rub, wait about a minute and remove the paste with a soft cloth. If the jewelry has not yet returned to its original shine, you can repeat the process again.

After removing the paste, rinse the jewelry with running water and dry it with a soft cloth.

2. Fill a bowl with very hot water (important! Do not boil the jewelry). Then add washing powder (1 teaspoon per cup) and soak the jewelry for ten minutes. You can stir a little.

If the jewelry is set with stones or crystals, you can use an old toothbrush and brush well between the grooves.
Rinse with clean water and dry thoroughly.

3. Place the jewelry(s) you want to clean in a sock or any cotton garment. Tie the sock tightly to prevent the jewelry from falling out, and put it in the washing machine with other clothes. After running it with other clothes, the jewelry will come out shiny and sparkling.

On our website you can find products for cleaning silver jewelry that we recommend.