Does Sterling Silver Tarnish or Rust Over Time?

Sterling silver is just so beautiful — it's elegant, gleaming, and accommodates literally anything. Whether one is referring to a delicate ring, a head-turner of a necklace, or those beautiful silver bangles that you just can't live without, sterling silver possesses this amazing power of giving any clothing. But if you've had a little bit of silver trinkets or something just lying around for a little while now, then you likely already know something weird happens: it tarnishes, blacks, or something smudgey-looking. And then the question starts going through your head:

"Do sterling silver jewelry tarnish? Do they rust? My best jewelry is all ruined now."

Chill out — we've got this! Sterling silver is gorgeous but just a little bit needy. It never rusts (thank goodness!) but, well, yeah, it gets tarnished. The silver lining? Tarnish isn't permanent, and if you show your silver some TLC, it'll be as new as can be for years to come.

In this master guide, we're going to cover all the facts you'd ever want to know about sterling silver — why it tarnishes, why it won't rust, how not to get tarnish on it, and how to clean and care for your silver pieces properly. Let's begin!

What Is Sterling Silver?

It’s important to know exactly what a sterling silver is because pure silver never tarnishes. Sterling silver is the perfect option for jewelry making but it is actually not a pure silver but a mixture of 92% around pure silver with the rest being other metals like copper, nickel, or zinc. Pure silver is very delicate and bends with the slightest touch and that is why it is not feasible to wear it on daily basis. Hence, sterling silver.

That's why sterling silver earrings are most often stamped "925" — it's an easy cut-short for ensuring that it's 92.5% silver. The mix gives sterling silver its durability and shine, though that does mean that the chance of tarnish is more likely since the introduced metals of the alloy are there.

Does Sterling Silver Tarnish?

Yes — but don't panic! Tarnish is completely natural and has nothing at all to do with harming your silver. It does this because silver is reacting to chemicals in the air — mainly sulfur — and forming a compound known as silver sulfide.

Since sterling silver rings includes copper, and copper responds to air and water even more rapidly, sterling silver will tarnish faster than simple old silver. But the quirk: tarnish is just on the surface and can be buffed off. Your silver is just as good beneath the tarnish.

Why Does Sterling Silver Tarnish?

Certain common items will accelerate the process of tarnishing:

• Air Exposure: Silver combines with air oxygen and sulfur and darkens gradually.
• Humidity: Water content in the air leads to immediate tarnishing, especially in moist conditions.
• Chemicals: Hair sprays, cosmetics, and perfumes and cleaning agents generally have chemicals which lead to tarnishing of silver.
• Skin Oils and Sweat: Your skin oils and sweat can come in contact with silver and cause heavy tarnishing.
• Chlorine: Don't even bring sterling silver within smelling distance of swimming pools — chlorine is just too corrosive for it and will tarnish it immediately.
• Sulfur-Rich Foods: Egg, onion, and mustard all have sulfur and will accelerate the tarnish on silverware.

Does Sterling Silver Rust?

Nope! Sterling silver necklaces never rusts — and isn't that great?!

It rusts only to iron-alloy metals when exposed to air and water, creating iron oxide (the red powder we commonly refer to as rust). Sterling silver consists of no iron and therefore cannot rust.

Other than that, however, if silver isn't cleaned up after an absolutely, positively forever-long period of time or is just left in a moist environment, it will tarnish and corrode horrendously — but that is not rust yet. It's simply extreme tarnish that can be scrubbed away in most cases by using the proper methods.

How to Prevent Tarnish on Sterling Silver

Though it is impossible to prevent silver from tarnishing, you can slow down the process. Here is how:

Restrict exposure to air:

Seal it in airtight containers or pouches to avoid exposure to the air.

Place anti-tarnish strips or packets of silica gel to absorb moisture.

Refuse to place sterling silver anklets in wet locations such as bathrooms.

Wear Your Silver Often: Yes, wear your silver jewelry daily. Wearing your silver jewelry prevents tarnish from hanging around. The oils in your skin naturally polish the silver and keep it shining.

Avoid Chemicals:

Take off your silver jewelry prior to using lotions, perfumes, or shampoos.

Take off silver before bathing or swimming with exfoliating soaps.

Dry It: Dry silver thoroughly if it does get wet — water speeds up tarnish.

Clean It Daily: Polish the silver with a gentle polishing cloth after having been removed from the skin to eliminate oils and dirt.

How to Clean Tarnished Sterling Silver

If your silver does tarnish, don't panic! Cleaning it and making it shine again is very easy.

For Light Tarnish:

Gently rub back-and-forth with a gentle silver polishing cloth.

Combine warm water and mild dish soap in a small bowl. Thin the dish soap if it is too thick.

Soak the silver for a few minutes and then brush the object gently with a soft toothbrush.

Gently wash and dry on a soft cloth.

For Heavy Tarnish:

Use a commercial silver polish or silver cleaner. Follow package instructions.

What Not to Use:

Toothpaste: It is too abrasive and may scratch the silver.

Baking Soda: Over time, it can ruin delicate pieces.

How Often To Clean Sterling Silver

How often you polish your silver will depend on how often you wear or use it. For everyday jewelry, just wipe an area a week and this keeps the tarnish from building up. For occasion pieces not worn often, check them every two months and just buff them up if they look dull.

Is Tarnished Silver Ruined?

Not at all! Tarnish is simply a surface reaction and doesn't damage the underlying silver. However, if heavy tarnish gets to get dirty for a very long time, it will cause corrosion, and cleaning becomes somewhat of a pain. That's why maintenance is required.

Sterling silver is elegant and refined but does need a little more TLC. It will never rust, but it will tarnish — but that's just a chemical reaction and fully reversible. Knowing what causes the tarnish and a few simple care and cleaning hints to heart, your silver will be like new for years to come.

Wear your silver so proudly, store it securely, and baby it a little as needed — and it will respond in kind forever with thoughtful kindness in the shape of its pretty shine.