How to Care for Sterling Silver Jewelry

Sterling silver is durable, but it's a living metal — it reacts to air, moisture, and skin oils. With minimal care, your piece will keep its depth and shine for decades.

Daily Wear

Put your jewelry on last, after perfume, lotion, and hairspray have dried. These products speed up tarnishing. Sweat and chlorine are silver's biggest enemies — remove pieces before swimming, showering, or intense exercise.

Cleaning

For light tarnish, a soft polishing cloth is usually enough. For deeper cleaning, warm water with a drop of mild dish soap and a soft-bristled brush works well. Rinse thoroughly and dry completely before storing — moisture left on silver accelerates tarnishing.

Avoid toothpaste, baking soda, and harsh commercial dips. They're abrasive and can wear down fine detail work, especially on sculptural pieces with intricate engraving.

Storage

Store each piece separately in a soft pouch or lined box, away from direct sunlight and humidity. Anti-tarnish strips inside your jewelry box make a real difference if you live somewhere humid.

When to Professionally Clean

If a piece has heavy tarnish in recessed detail, or if a stone setting feels loose, reach out to us directly. Some of our sculptural pieces have fine undercuts that are best cleaned by hand rather than with commercial polish.

Questions about a specific piece? Contact us — we're happy to help.