Unsightly metal tarnish is one of those annoying and persistent problems which can become the bane of a jeweller’s life if not addressed correctly. Fortunately, there are many products on the market today which will effectively help with removing and preventing metal tarnish on jewellery, and alleviate the development of the dreaded black bloom.

So what is metal tarnish?

Tarnish occurs gradually when the surface of metal is exposed to air and moisture. A chemical reaction begins to take place (known as oxidation), as the metal reacts with sulphur in the air which in turn, starts to form a dark layer all over the items in question. In simple terms, the surface of the metal is beginning to corrode. This process is often exacerbated by the presence of other everyday chemicals that jewellery can be exposed to such as perfume, hairspray and household cleaning products. Silver and copper are particularly susceptible to tarnish, but other metals such as brass, aluminium and magnesium can also be affected.

How can tarnish be prevented and removed?

There are two groups of products to treat tarnish: there are those which remove tarnish from jewellery once it has formed, and there are those which help to prevent tarnish from forming on jewellery in the first place.

How to prevent tarnish on jewellery

Silver Anti-Tarnish Solution
Silver Anti-Tarnish Solution (997 445)

The anti-tarnish solution below falls firmly into the first category, as it is intended as a preventative measure which inhibits the initial development of tarnish on silver jewellery. It can be used on both silver and silver plate, and works by forming a protective coating over the surface of the metal. The product needs to be heated to work, and items need to be fully immersed in the solution for between 3 and 5mins. An alternative is also available for gold and gold plated jewellery.

Anti-Tarnish Static Intercept Non-abrasive Tabs
Anti-Tarnish Static Intercept Non-Abrasive Tabs (963 070X)

Another way to stop tarnish developing is to incorporate preventative measures into your jewellery storage or packaging. One of our most popular anti-tarnish systems comes in the form of static intercept non-abrasive tabs, which can be simply placed into an airtight jewellery box to slow down tarnish growth.

Obviously these are not going to work as effectively if your storage box is continually opened, but for a long-term solution, these are relatively inexpensive considering there are 100 in a box. They also work on a wide range of metals including silver, gold, brass, copper and bronze to name but a few.

How to remove tarnish from jewellery

If it’s too late to prevent the tarnish from forming and you require something to remove it from jewellery, fear not as again there are lots of options out there. If you are dealing with a build up of dirt as well as tarnish, then your first step is either an ultrasonic cleaner, or a long soak in a mild detergent (washing up liquid works well) and hot water followed by a gentle scrub with a soft toothbrush. Just make sure you take extra care with jewellery pieces containing stones, and always check their hardness/porosity before placing them into an ultrasonic cleaner – if in any doubt, don’t clean them in this way.

Town Talk Anti-tarnish Silver Foam
Town Talk Anti-Tarnish Silver Foam (997 410)

To bring back the shine to your jewellery you can choose from polishing cloths impregnated with polish, or polishing solutions which generally work as a dip to remove unwanted tarnish with ease. The liquid solutions will get into all those difficult to reach areas, whereas cloths are more suitable for larger pieces with smoother surface areas.

However bad the metal tarnish is, there is always a solution to deal with it so don’t despair if it is getting on top of you. Simply kit out your workspace with a few simple and inexpensive anti-tarnish tools and anti-tarnish storage and packaging solutions, and dull tarnished jewellery will soon become a thing of the past.

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Author: Cooksongold
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Cooksongold