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There are a lot of factors in why Sterling Silver can begin to oxidize. Lucky it is only surface level and can be reversed with the right care and maintenance.

I will discuss the most common factors and reasons your jewellery can discolor -

Although showering with your pieces is absolutely fine as shower water has no corrosive chemicals, the products you use in the shower can - Mainly colour treatment shampoo's & conditioner's, tan removers, hair masks etc

Similarly products used daily like moisturizers, perfumes, spray tans, sanitizers can all contain harsh chemicals that can sit on the jewellery & mixed with oxygen will begin to oxidize.

A polishing cloth will help to remove & storing your pieces in a clean & dry place when not being worn.

That's okay! Oxidization is a natural process that can happen to Sterling Silver & just like your clothes need a wash, your jewellery does too.

For a small patch of discoloration will simply require a Sterling Silver polishing cloth that with easily rub away the oxidization exposing your shiny silver underneath!

Yes, absolutely!

If your piece has oxidized and you need more TLC than your polishing cloth. We have a simple at home method that can help you with this!

What you'll require is;

- A bowl

- Aluminum foil

- Baking Soda

- Water

> Line your bowl with the shiny side of the aluminum foil facing upwards

> Add a couple of teaspoons of baking soda to your bowl & then add your Sterling Silver

> Pour boiling water to your solution and watch it fizz

> Feel free to add some more baking soda is needed

> Leave for 5 - 10 minutes, carefully stirring occasionally

> You will see the the discoloration lift visibly from your jewellery

> Remove after 10 minutes and most importantly rinse your piece thoroughly to wash away any baking soda residue & pat dry with a microfiber or soft cloth.

A little sciency, but this is how this method works -

The aluminum (Al) and baking soda (NaHCO3) form a “bridge” between the silver and pulls the sulfur attached to the silver off because Aluminum loves to bond with Sulfur, creating Aluminum Sulfide (Al2S3). You can do this with cold water too, but the boiling water acts as a catalyst and causes the reactions to happen a lot faster. It’s important that the silver makes some contact with the aluminum to make sure the process of electrolysis happens. After after a while, the sulfur bonded to the silver is carried through the water/baking soda solution and will bond to the aluminum instead, leaving your silver to be alone.

Only use this method on Sterling Silver without gemstones & DO NOT use on gold jewellery, see our 18K gold vermeil cleaning instructions below

Jewellery with gemstones use a bowl of warm water with mild soap and scrub with a soft toothbrush and/or a smooth cloth like a glass cleaning cloth.

18K Gold Vermeil is less prone to oxidizing due to the Sterling Silver being coated in high quality 18K gold.

If your piece does experience any oxidization or dirty grime build up a simple solution of warm water with dish soap and use a soft cotton cloth or ideally a glasses cleaner cloth to dip in to the solution and softly buff your piece back to shine.

Yes! Your 18K Gold Vermeil piece can last for years & years! Tried and tested!

Avoiding exposure to harsh chemicals is the most important step to making your piece last.

We use a very thick 3 micron layer of 18K gold on your jewellery to insure you get the lasting beauty of your gold collection.

When your coating begins to slowly wear, you piece will fade to a lovely light & pale gold.

Being able to offer high quality jewellery at an affordable price for every budget is so important to us at The Gatherer's Grove.

18K Gold Vermeil is high quality, perfect for sensitive skin & is only a fraction of the cost of pure gold!