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You may notice over time your silver jewellery changes colour. The first thing you’ll observe is a yellowish tinge, which may change to a subtle purple before eventually becoming brown, then black.
What you’re observing is a process known as tarnishing, a natural and inevitable chemical reaction between the silver and other chemicals in close proximity. Thankfully, tarnish can be easily removed from silver, restoring it to its original white luster.
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The Causes of Tarnishing
There are a number of chemicals that will react with silver to cause tarnish, and by far the most common culprits are sulfur compounds that are present in many forms in our environment. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) exist in the air around us, particularly in urban or industrial areas.
Hydrogen sulfide, which is known for its “rotting egg” odor, reacts with silver to form silver sulfide, the substance that tarnish is made of.
Even when hydrogen sulfide occurs in low concentrations, this chemical reaction can occur.
There are many other possible points of contact with sulfur in daily life.
Bore-water, for example, can be very high in sulfates or sulfides.
Many soaps, facial cleansers, shampoos, detergents, perfumes and foods such as onions and eggs also contain sulfur compounds.
Consequently, washing in sulfur tainted water or using skin products, soaps or detergents made with sulfur can all lead to the quick tarnishing of silver. Even eating foods containing sulfur may cause silver to blacken, as the sulfur is secreted through the skin.
It is often reported by people on medication or people who work in hospitals such as nurses, that their silver tends to tarnish at a fast rate.
Another factor that will accelerate tarnishing in silver is the presence of moisture in the air. In fact, in dry air, silver will not tarnish.
The higher the level of humidity, the faster the rate of tarnish. This is further compounded in warm conditions.
Other than sulfur, another common chemical that will react with silver is chlorine. Pool water, the air around an indoor pool, bleaches and fabrics washed with bleach will all contain traces of chlorine, which will react with silver to produce a black layer of silver chloride.
Sterling silver is usually a mixture of silver with a little bit of copper (7.5%). The copper content itself will also tarnish through the process of oxidation. Copper reacts with oxygen to form black copper oxide. This may also blacken the surface of your silver.
Various acids will also cause silver to tarnish. People often report that when their silver is wrapped in tissue it quickly blackens. This is because tissue paper often contains acids. Another consideration is the acidity levels of the skin. Some people report silver blackening on them overnight, whereas others can wear it for years without a reaction. Different skin PH levels will result in different rates of tarnish.
In a nutshell, there are many things in daily life that can cause your silver to tarnish, and the speed at which it tarnishes will vary depending on the specific conditions: the sulfur content of the water in your area, the amount of industrial pollution, the chemicals you’re exposed to at home or work, including detergents, shampoos and soaps, some skin cleansers, foods…the list goes on.
Removing Tarnish
There are dips, cloths and other techniques for removing tarnish from the surface of silver.
Perhaps the simplest method is to use a microfiber silver polishing cloth, available from most jewellers or jeweller supply shops. These are usually impregnated with a silver-polishing compound and are a must for any silver jewellery owner. Simply rub the silver surface with the cloth by hand to remove the layer of tarnish and bring the jewellery back to its original shine - you’ll notice that the cloth itself will be covered with black residue – this is the tarnish you’ve just removed from the silver. This method is very good for maintaining clean silver, but may be hard work for heavily tarnished pieces. What’s more, if the silver is somehow textured, it won’t be able to remove all of the tarnish. Brushed silver, for example, has many tiny grooves, which are inaccessible to a cloth.
An alternative is to use silver polish paste or liquid. The paste is rubbed on the silver piece, or the silver item is immersed in the liquid.
A very effective method is to use an ionic cleaner, which uses the process of electrolysis. Jeweller supply shops carry these electrolysis kits specifically for the purpose of cleaning silver. These are easy to use and within seconds traces of tarnish disappear. Note that for jewellery with oxidized black surfaces, this method will render them white.
Preventing Tarnish
Though it may be impossible to totally prevent the natural occurrence of tarnish, there are things you can do to slow the process down considerably:
- Put your jewellery on after applying perfume, deodorant, cosmetics, hairspray, aftershave or cologne, not before.
- Avoid wearing silver when swimming and showering, as both chlorine and seawater will react with it.
- Avoid exposure to household or industrial cleaning chemicals when possible.
- When removing your silver jewellery, ensure it is dry and wipe with a silver polishing cloth.
- Store your jewellery wrapped in a cloth or a sealed cellophane plastic bag and keep in a dry place.
- The bathroom is not a suitable place to store your jewellery.
- Don’t wrap your stored jewellery in tissue paper or in contact with rubber, unless you can confirm these are acid free.
- Use silica gel sachets in your jewellery storage area to remove excess moisture.
- Keep jewellery out of direct sunlight.
If you believe your jewellery requires a more thorough cleaning, you can wash it in a mixture of warm water (not hot) and a gentle detergent (phosphate free), using a soft cloth or a brush with soft bristles.
Dishwashing liquid is suitable, but NOT for pearls. Ensure that you use a soft, non-abrasive cloth or brush, as silver is a soft metal and prone to scratching.
For oxidized surfaces be mindful of not brushing out the black oxidation.
Ensure your silver is dry before storing.
Above all, monitor your silver jewellery, and be prepared to regularly polish or clean it with any or a combination of the methods described above.