Jewelry Pearls

Silver is a soft metal even when alloyed, and the finest silver articles can be bent or dented by careless handling. It is a proven fact that polishing abrasives or friction of any kind used on silver remove infinitesmal amounts of the metal. In time, polishing, rubbing or buffing will completely obliterate crests, monograms, etchings, and worse, render valuable identifying hallmarks indiscernible.

Silver in the home should be used. Daily washing by the natural means of soap and warm water will deter tarnish, maintain brilliance, and in time, create a beautiful patina. But when silver becomes dull or tarnished, it is important to know what to use to restore its luster, and how to use it. Before discussing what to use to clean silver, let’s know what not to do, for the don’ts are more important that the do’s.

1. Don’t allow a jeweler. or silversmith, to polish your silver by machine-buffing)’ the friction created can wear holes in the metal.
2. Don’t rub silver to create a polished surface; an efficient silver cream does the work without rubbing.
3. Don’t use silrer-dip as a short cut to polishing silver; it leaves an unnatural white finish on the silver, and destroys any oxidation put there by the silversmith.
4. Do not use the electrolytic method of cleaning silver. It is frowned on by all experts and connoisseurs. This method may be quick and easy, but leaves the surface dull, white, and lusterless, and removes all the beautiful oxidation from the embossing.
5. Never lacquer silver. To begin with, lacquer is poisonous and must not touch food or beverages. Furthermore, if lacquer “wears” on silverware or cracks, the exposed silver areas tarnish, and cleaning becomes almost impossible. Lacquer is difficult and expensive to remove, and in the doing, the process steals silver from the surface.