Silver Harmoni

We pride ourselves on the beautiful pieces we have for sale in our web store.

Following a few simple tips you can keep your jewellery looking its best and ensure you will cherish it for many years to come.

STORAGE
Silver naturally tarnishes/oxidises when exposed to oxygen. This is a natural process and to be expected. The good news is it is easy to remove and you can even slow this process so your jewellery needs cleaning less often.

Leaving your jewellery out exposed to the air (on a dresser for example) will lead to the item oxidating. Storing your jewellery in an airtight location (such as a jewellery box or jewellery pouch) will slow the oxidation process. Your jewellery will not need cleaning as often.

Never leave silver jewellery lying against bare wood. Wood, especially oak, contains an acid that will mar the surface of the silver. Paper and cardboard, since they are wood pulp products, will have the same effect, so avoid storing silver in envelopes or small cardboard boxes also.

The more you wear your jewellery, the less you will have to clean it. Most jewellery tarnishes very slowly whilst you are wearing it.

CLEANING
It only takes a few minutes to restore your jewellery to its original radiance.

Silver jewellery can be given a variety of finishes to enhance its design. Different finishes respond best to different cleaning methods. Use the guide below to determine which method you should use to keep your purchase in optimum condition.

For chains and other plain silver items with grooves
Use a silver liquid cleaning dip (available at most supermarkets). If not available then use instructions for “For all other silver items” below.

For jewellery which has been specially oxidised
Do not use liquid silver dips, just rub lightly with a silver polishing cloth. As these pieces have been specially oxidised, they do not need to be cleaned as frequently as polished jewellery.

Polished jewellery with a matt finish
A clean jewellery polishing cloth with no black oxidation is crucial to cleaning silver jewellery with a matt finish. A couple of other handy hints are a pencil eraser which is good to remove any dark areas from the matt surface. The other is after considerable use, it can occasionally be lightly rubbed with a kitchen scour to remove debris and dirt and restore the matt finish.

Gold Plated Items
Wash in plain water and dry with a clean soft cloth for best results.

It is important not to spray perfume, insect repellent or any other chemical that will cause the varnish and subsequently the gold plating to erode. With proper care, the gold plating will last for many years.

Items with gold alloy, bronze or copper
If the gold alloy appears tarnished or changes colour in any way, then buff with a polishing cloth and silver polishing cream. Ensure to rub vigorously until the original radiance has been restored, taking care not to rub any stones.

For all other silver items
Use a soft polishing cloth which is already impregnated with a silver cleaner or use in conjunction with a silver polishing cream.

For items with stones which have places that are hard to reach with the polishing cloth, they may be submerged in water and lightly brushed with a soft toothbrush to remove any dirt or debris. Dry with a soft polishing cloth.

Ultrasonic Cleaners
These are certainly one of the best ways to clean jewellery. However be careful not to use jewellery containing very porous stones (such as amber) in ultrasonic machines. Also frequent submersion of jewellery containing stones in the ultrasonic machine can loosen them and make them susceptible to falling out. They are best used for plain silver items or occasionally if the cleaning methods listed above have not had the desired effect.

Additionally we recommend the following tips:
• Remove your jewellery before sleeping.
• We do not recommend wearing jewellery with stones in any water. Water can loosen the stones and make them susceptible to fall out at a later date.
• Regularly check fastenings and earring backs to ensure they are secure
• When getting ready, put your jewels on last! After you have applied your make-up, hair products and perfume then put on your jewels. The chemicals contained in perfumes, hairsprays and the like can damage jewellery.
• Remove your jewellery if you are going to do any heavy lifting. Silver is a soft metal and can bend under pressure.

If you have any questions about the care of your jewellery, please do not hesitate to contact us