| Silver jewelry is as popular as it's ever been. | | | | while you have the box that you want, need and |
| Storing and how to care for these pieces can be | | | | do not need to compromise at all. |
| daunting but, here I'll try to clear up confusion and | | | | Create an "anti tarnish/ tarnish resistant" storage |
| clarify the truth about silver storage and jewelry | | | | environment |
| boxes. | | | | Follow the guidelines above and use 1 or 2 of the |
| Causes of tarnish and corrosion | | | | ideas below for storage. All are inexpensive, easily |
| Humidity, naturally emitted sulfur from jewelry, | | | | available on the Internet, from a local jeweler, |
| chemicals in clothing, food (onion, egg, oil based | | | | hobby shop and even free. Also all are safe and |
| products, salt, milk, vinegar, acidic foods) wool, | | | | do not emit fumes, gases or vapors. |
| felt, rubber based products(rubber bands), latex, | | | | |
| skin oils, makeup, perfume and hair products(gel, | | | | 1. Tarnish absorbing cloths "Pacific Silver |
| hair spray, hair color) and more. | | | | Cloth"(Pacific Cloth) or a Tarnish Inhibiting Cloths |
| Boxes and Storage | | | | are great to wrap silver in before storing or lay |
| How you store and protect your silver is very | | | | the cloths inside box with silver on top or next to |
| important. It must be stored in a dark, dry place | | | | the cloth. These cloths have minute particles of |
| away from sunlight and heat. Store where each | | | | silver to attract the sulfur to the cloth. It will |
| piece has space for itself without other items | | | | become saturated with the sulfur so you will need |
| under or on top of it. This allows for the air | | | | to change them but, some versions last up to 40 |
| circulation as well as protecting it from scratches | | | | years depending on the amount of silver in the |
| and other potential damage. Never wrap or store | | | | cloth. (Google it) Price average $15/yd. |
| your silver in paper, cotton, cardboard or plastic | | | | 2. Anti-tarnish strips "Hagerty Silver Strips" or "3M |
| as these contain compounds that will tarnish your | | | | Anti-Tarnish Strips" absorb the sulfuric gases that |
| jewelry quickly. Rubber of any sort even rubber | | | | cause tarnish. These are safe economical way to |
| bands will tarnish silver at a rapid pace. | | | | stay tarnish free. These paper strips contain |
| Contrary to popular belief, you do not need a | | | | activated charcoal that absorbs the gases and can |
| "tarnish proof" or "anti tarnish" jewelry box. | | | | just be laid within a drawer or cut them up for |
| Really?? | | | | compartments or smaller drawers. Items do not |
| Anti Tarnish or Tarnish Resistant Boxes | | | | need to be laid on them just placed in the drawer. |
| I will not own a box with a treated lining. Why? | | | | These strips last at least 6 months and you can |
| Anti tarnish fabrics used in jewelry boxes are | | | | label/date them so you know when to replace |
| usually chemically coated. Like all treated surfaces, | | | | them. You can find them online, at jewelry stores |
| these coatings wear, erode or evaporate over | | | | and even hardware stores. A box is roughly $8 - |
| time. What concerns me is that chemical is up | | | | $12 for a pk. of 8. Not bad, huh? |
| against jewelry you wear in your ears, around | | | | 3. Silica Gel Granules Do not throw away those |
| your neck or on your hand and some of that | | | | little packs of that come in your jewelry box, |
| coating is sure to be transmitted. That coating is | | | | new purse, shoes or medicine bottles! These |
| then transferred to your skin. Even if minute | | | | absorb moisture in the air and retard tarnish. Add |
| particles are transferred, who is to say that you | | | | one to each drawer to help keep the jewelry box |
| are not allergic to this chemical or have a | | | | interior dry. Lack of air movement can cause a |
| sensitivity to it. For flatware and cooking/serving | | | | moist environment. This is why the gel packs are |
| items these treated linings are fine as you wash | | | | in leather products and more when you purchase |
| the residue away before use. On the flip side, | | | | them. Since we all throw them away and they |
| some linings can actually cause tarnish. They | | | | come with most everything, you're sure to have |
| contain sulfur and chloride elements within them. | | | | quite a few around to save. Store them sealed in |
| Most don't but, how you store and care for your | | | | a plastic bag and keep them in a dark cool place |
| jewelry makes a difference. | | | | for future use. This will keep them from absorbing |
| So where does that leave you? Read On..... | | | | moisture before you need them. Change them |
| Well, not all anti tarnish lined boxes are chemically | | | | every few months. A must in humid climates. |
| treated. There are a few materials that contain | | | | 4. Chalk Even standard blackboard or sidewalk |
| minute specks of silver in them that absorb the | | | | chalk can be used in a jewelry box. It has |
| sulfur gases and will protect silver for a lifetime. If | | | | amazing absorption qualities and a little piece will |
| you know that the lining is not chemically treated | | | | work for months to control moisture/humidity. |
| but still anti tarnish, then great. Don't know? Then | | | | Follow these simple ideas and guidelines and you'll |
| there are other options that most people are not | | | | enjoy your silver with little maintenance for years |
| aware of and the greatest part is you are not | | | | and even have the jewelry box of your choice. |
| limited to style, color or make of a box to use | | | | For cleaning and care of silver jewelry, please see |
| these products. Your jewelry can be protected | | | | our article Silver Care Basics. |