Caring for your Sterling Silver Jewellery

The Latin word for silver is Ag - Argentum meaning 'white and shining'.

Sterling silver is made of 92.5% and 7.5% copper. Combine silver with gemstones and you have a beautiful piece of jewellery.




Care is needed to keep your sterling silver jewellery looking good. Silver reacts with sulfur or hydrogen sulfide in the air. This creates a dull build up, robbing silver jewellery of its natural sheen. Keeping your silver jewellery in a cool dry place will help it avoid tarnishing. If you don’t plan on wearing your silver jewellery for a period of time store it away from direct exposure to sunlight or artificial light. Keep each piece separate as storing silver jewellery among other pieces of jewellery cause them to rub against each other creating scratches. Do not expose silver jewellery to chlorinated water or bleach and do not apply hair colours or permanent solutions while wearing your jewellery. A diluted solution of mild dishwashing liquid and water using a soft toothbrush is a quick effective way to clean your silver jewellery. Rinse well under running water and dry it thoroughly with a soft cloth.

A Silver Jewellery polishing cloth is useful for a quick rub after daily wearing.



For homemade polishing cloths check out tipnut.com

Gracie Jewellery uses Argentium sterling silver wire. Argentium Sterling Silver is sterling silver with less of the copper alloy. Argentium is 92.5% pure silver with the balance a mix of germanium and copper. This makes Argentium Sterling Silver harder, brighter and more highly tarnish resistant than traditional sterling silver.



If cared for properly, handcrafted pieces of Sterling Silver jewellery can become heirlooms for generations to come.