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Caring for vintage sterling

Tarnish, storage and when not to polish.

Vintage Italian Sterling Silver Snake Chain Bracelet
In this guide
  1. Tarnish is normal
  2. Store it dry and apart
  3. When not to polish

Tarnish is normal

Silver darkens when it meets sulphur in the air. A soft silver cloth lifts light tarnish without scratching. Wearing your silver often keeps it bright.

Store it dry and apart

Keep each piece in its own pouch, away from rubber bands and damp bathrooms. A small anti-tarnish strip in the box helps.

When not to polish

Don’t polish niello, oxidised detail or stones with silver dip. Some of the dark in old silver is deliberate, and it’s what makes the detail readable.

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