Looking after sterling silver

Tarnish is not dirt and it is not a defect. Silver reacts with sulphur compounds in air, in some foods, and on skin, forming a thin layer of silver sulphide that appears yellow, then brown, then black. Sterling silver is 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals, and it tarnishes somewhat faster than fine silver.

The rate depends enormously on the person. Body chemistry, medication, and even the local air quality make a large difference. Some people wear the same piece for a decade with no tarnish at all.

The cloth included with every MALALUNE order is impregnated with a mild abrasive and a tarnish inhibitor. It is all you need for routine care. Rub gently in one direction, use a clean part of the cloth each time, and do not wash it.

For pieces with oxidised recesses — the dragon cuff, the verse bracelet — polish only the raised areas. If you polish the dark recesses back to bright silver you will lose the design.

Hot springs and chlorinated pools: the sulphur and chlorine accelerate tarnishing dramatically, and can pit the surface permanently.

Perfume, hairspray, and sunscreen applied directly to the piece: the brushed and antiqued finishes hold residue, and it is difficult to remove from a matte surface.

Liquid silver dip on pieces with stones or oxidised finishes: it strips oxidation instantly and can damage the surface of porous stones.

Abrasive kitchen scourers — they leave permanent scratches.

Air and humidity are the enemies. Store pieces in the cotton pouch provided, in a closed drawer. If you own several pieces, keep them in separate pouches so they cannot scratch each other.

Anti-tarnish strips placed in the drawer genuinely work and cost very little. Replace them twice a year.

The natural oils on your skin form a light protective film, and the friction of wearing polishes silver gently. A piece you wear daily usually needs far less attention than one you keep in a box.

If you take a piece off for long periods — a seasonal necklace, a formal bracelet — that is exactly when it will need attention when you return to it.

A jeweller can re-polish and re-oxidise any of our pieces for a small fee, usually under $15. This restores the finish completely, including the darkened recesses. It is worth doing rather than replacing the piece — the silver itself does not degrade.