I bring this up because it is a common question and because I recently noticed that my jewelry was tarnishing, or more appropriately, oxidizing, more quickly than usual. Before I answer the question, I want to give you a little background on metals and their alloys that will give you a better understanding of why jewelry oxidizes.
Pure metals like 24K gold and 99.9% silver tend to oxidize very slowly. However, jewelry is rarely made from pure metals because they tend to be too soft to stand up to everyday ware and tare. Consequently, metals like gold and silver are alloyed to make them stronger. For example, sterling silver jewelry is made up of 92.5% fine or pure silver and 7.5% copper. When sterling silver is exposed to the air, it will oxidize over time. The rate at which it oxidizes depends on many different factors, which I address below.
Cosmetics and Cleaning Products: What we put on our skin affects our jewelry if it is in contact with these substances. Some products are more acidic than others and can cause jewelry to tarnish. Cleaning products, like chlorine and ammonia, accelerate oxidation and should be avoided. Remove your jewelry before cleaning or wear gloves if at all possible. It is better for your jewelry and your health.
Sweat: Sweat often contains sulphur. The more you sweat, the more likely your jewelry is to tarnish. Take off your jewelry when you exercise to help minimize oxidation.
Hormones/Prescription Drugs/Body Chemistry: Changes in hormones, like during menopause, can affect the rate of oxidation of your jewelry. Prescription drugs, like sulphur drugs, antibiotics, anti-depressants and some other drugs may also have the same affect. Additionally, some of us have more acidic skin than others, due to diet or other mitigating factors. The range of skin’s acidity, in general, tends to be very small. However, it can be a possible factor in why your jewelry oxidizes more quickly than your friend’s jewelry.
What to do when your jewelry oxidizes…
There is no one-size-fits-all solution for jewelry oxidation. There are several factors that go into deciding the best method. First of all, did your jewelry already have a patina that was applied by the jewelry designer? If so, dipping it in the cleaning solutions you can buy from your local jewelry store won’t be your best choice. They tend to strip off most of the patina, leaving the jewelry looking worse than before you tried to clean it. Additionally, that solution is far too caustic for gemstones, pearls and other inclusions. I only use this to clean bright silver jewelry when it begins to tarnish.
Sunshine Cloths and Pro Polish Pads are my go-to for cleaning up everyday tarnish on jewelry. They work on bright silver or silver that was given a chemical patina. They also work on other metals as well. I am currently working on a cleaning instruction card to include with all jewelry purchases, as well an anti-tarnish strip with each jewelry purchase. These help to keep your shiny, new jewelry from oxidizing quickly. Just pop your jewelry in the little plastic bag supplied with the anti-tarnish strip when you aren’t wearing it. Click here for a short little video from Beaducation that explains the difference between Sunshine Cloths, Prop Polish Pads and anti-tarnish strips.
Please let me know if you have any questions. I’m always happy to respond!