Will My Silver Tarnish or Rust?

Links by Lena shops for quality metals and gemstones. Frequently we’re asked, “Will this tarnish?”. Here is a quick answer to that question:

Stainless steel is resistant to rust and corrosion and will rarely tarnish. Rhodium is a precious metal–a member of the platinum family–and helps protect and prevent tarnishing on the metals it’s applied to. Applying rhodium to sterling silver makes the silver look “brighter”. This technique is used on our “premium” chains.

Sterling silver is 90-95% fine silver and 5-10% other metals, predominantly copper. Our Sterling silver consists of 92.5% silver and the remaining part consists of mostly copper. This is the reason why Sterling Silver is popularly referred to as 925 Sterling Silver. It is the presence of the other metals that makes sterling strong and able to withstand general wear, but also what causes tarnish to form more readily. It is normal for Sterling silver to “patina” in time, that is, its color will take on an “antique” look. Links by Lena uses an anti-tarnish coating on their “standard” chains. Industry standards say that anti-tarnish coatings tend to last 12-18 months (we say to expect 6 months of everyday life).

Rust generally occurs to ferrous metals when oxygen and moisture are present in the atmosphere. Rust eventually penetrates the outer layers of metal and continues to corrode the underlying layers. Tarnish generally occurs from exposure to oxygen. Tarnish is a thin layer of corrosion that actually protects the underlying layers of metal from corroding. Both rust and tarnish are also caused by other naturally occurring sources including weather conditions, individual body chemistry, as well as cleaners, solvents and perfumes.

Extra measures include storing your jewelry in air-tight containers with anti-tarnish strips. This will help prevent tarnish from building and help sustain the luster and finish you first fell in love with. 

At some point in time, you’re probably going to see a small amount of tarnish form on your sterling silver jewelry. Don’t be alarmed!

If wiping your jewelry down with a cloth doesn’t remove it, there are a few steps you can take to get sterling silver clean again. Follow these steps to make your sterling silver jewelry sparkle:

1. Fill up a cup with warm water and a couple drops of a mild dishwashing soap
2. Place your sterling silver jewelry into the cup and gently handwash your jewelry to remove tarnish
3. Utilize a cotton swab to get deep into tight corners and clean them out
4. Use a baby toothbrush to clean away any tarnish that you can’t remove by hand
5. Remove your sterling silver jewelry from the cup, wipe it down, and then allow it to air dry before you place it back into storage for safekeeping

As long as you follow these steps and don’t allow any moisture to build upon your sterling silver jewelry before you store it, you should be able to safely remove all of the tarnish from it. Visit Links by Lena at their main studio location, 2437 Church Street, Byhalia, MS 38611.