I've always loved the look of silver rings. There's something classic and timeless about them. But, like many others, I've been frustrated by how quickly they can lose their shine. It felt like I'd buy a beautiful, bright silver ring, and within weeks, it would look dull and tarnished. I was determined to figure out why this happened and, more importantly, what I could do about it. My journey led me to some interesting discoveries and practical solutions that I'm excited to share with you.
My initial frustration stemmed from noticing how differently my various silver rings behaved. Some seemed to stay shiny for ages, while others tarnished almost immediately, even when stored in the same jewelry box. I started to wonder if it was something I was doing wrong. Was I exposing them to something that was causing them to tarnish so quickly?
I discovered that the type of silver used plays a huge role. Most silver rings are made from sterling silver, which is 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals, usually copper. That copper is what causes the silver to tarnish. Pure silver (.999) is much less prone to tarnishing, but it's also very soft and not ideal for jewelry that needs to withstand daily wear and tear. So, the copper in sterling silver adds durability, but it also makes it susceptible to tarnishing.
One thing I realized is that I wasn't wearing some of my rings often enough. I found that the rings I wore regularly stayed much shinier than the ones I kept tucked away in my jewelry box. This led me to another interesting discovery: "silver likes to be worn."
It sounds a bit strange, but it's true! The constant rubbing from your skin, clothes, and even hand-washing helps to keep the tarnish off. The friction acts as a gentle polish, preventing the buildup of the compounds that cause tarnishing. I found that a ring I wore almost 24/7 looked significantly cleaner than one I only wore occasionally. It was like a self-cleaning mechanism! This made me think about diversifying my ring collection and getting more rings to wear daily. I started browsing Blingcharming's homepage for new pieces that would fit my everyday style.
However, even with regular wear, tarnish can still occur. That's because tarnishing is caused by oxidation, a chemical reaction between the silver and elements in the air, such as sulfur. This is why some rings tarnish faster than others, depending on the environment and the wearer's body chemistry.
I also considered the possibility of residue from the manufacturing process. Some jewelers add a patina to bring out the details in a ring's design. If this patina isn't wiped off thoroughly, it can leave a residue on your skin or contribute to tarnishing. It’s also possible that the 7.5% of other metals added to the silver alloy could be reacting with my skin.
So, what did I do to combat this tarnishing issue? Here's what I learned and what worked for me:
Beyond these general tips, I also experimented with different cleaning products. I discovered that some commercial silver cleaners can be quite harsh and can even damage delicate rings. I preferred using a gentle silver polishing cloth for most of my rings.
One thing that really caught my eye was the Nordic Mythology Crow Skull Retro Mens Rings Punk for Male Boyfriend Biker Jewelry Creativity Gift 11 / 1 I found on Blingcharming. I was looking for a statement piece that I could wear every day, and this ring fit the bill perfectly.