It's one of the conversations we have most often at the market. Someone tells us about a favourite necklace sitting at home that's gone dull, dark or, worse, a little bit green, and they want to know why. Here's the reassuring part. Tarnish isn't bad luck and it isn't always a sign you bought badly. It's simply metal reacting with the air around it, a bit like a cut apple turning brown on the kitchen bench. Once you know what speeds that reaction up, you can slow it right down and often stop it before it starts. Whether you wear sterling silver, gold vermeil or gold plated pieces, the principle is the same even if the details differ. So let's walk through it together: how to store your pieces, the small daily habits that make the biggest difference, why the metal itself matters, and how to clean each one properly.
What actually causes tarnish
So what's actually happening? Sterling silver reacts with tiny amounts of sulphur in the air, forming a thin dark layer on the surface called silver sulphide. Think of an old sterling silver tea set passed down through the family, or a silver photo frame that's sat on the sideboard for years. Left alone, they slowly darken from bright silver to brown and eventually black. Nothing has gone wrong with the silver. It's simply been reacting with the air the whole time. Jewellery does exactly the same thing, just on a smaller scale. Copper and brass react a little differently, oxidising when they meet air and moisture. Gold itself barely reacts at all, which is why tarnish on solid gold usually comes from the other metals mixed into it.
What speeds it up
A few everyday things speed this reaction up considerably. Humidity, sweat and the natural oils on your skin are the biggest. Then there's everything we put on our skin and hair. Perfume, hairspray, sunscreen and moisturiser all leave a fine film behind, much like the one that builds up on your sunglasses over a day. That film then sits against the metal for hours. Chlorine from pools, spas and cleaning products is one of the harshest of all, because it reacts strongly with silver and with the other metals mixed into gold. And it isn't only cheaper pieces that are affected. Solid sterling silver and well made gold vermeil will tarnish faster too when they're regularly exposed to these things.
Store it somewhere sealed
Storage is where you can make the biggest difference with the least effort. A lot of tarnish happens while a piece is sitting on a dish or in a drawer between wears, exposed to the same air and moisture we talked about above. Think back to that cut apple. Wrap it tightly and it stays fresh much longer, simply because less air can reach it. Jewellery works the same way. An airtight container, a small resealable bag or an anti-tarnish pouch will slow tarnish considerably, especially for pieces you don't wear every day. An open dish or a jewellery box with the lid left up offers very little protection at all.
Anti-tarnish tabs and silica gel
If you'd like to go a step further, anti-tarnish tabs and silica gel sachets are both worth having. They each do a different job. Anti-tarnish tabs soak up the sulphur inside a container before it can reach your jewellery. Silica gel sachets, the little 'do not eat' packets you find tucked into a new handbag or shoebox, absorb moisture instead. Used together inside an airtight container, they cover both sides of the problem. Just keep in mind that neither does much in an open jewellery box. They need a sealed space to work.
Jewellery last on, first off
If there's one habit worth building, it's this one: jewellery last on, first off. Put your pieces on after you've finished with moisturiser, perfume, sunscreen and hairspray, so the metal isn't sitting in that film all day. Then take them off before you shower, swim, head to the gym or start cleaning the bathroom. That simple routine cuts out a lot of the moisture and chemicals that speed tarnish up. It takes a few seconds, costs nothing and, done consistently, will do more to keep your jewellery looking good than almost anything else in this guide.
A quick wipe before it goes away
Before a piece goes back in its pouch, give it a quick wipe with a soft, plain cloth. Microfibre works well. Think of it like taking your makeup off before bed. It only takes a moment, but it means the sweat, skin oils and product residue from the day aren't left sitting on the metal overnight. It's especially worth doing for the pieces that sit closest to your skin all day, like rings, bracelets and chains.
Sterling silver and tarnish
Sterling silver contains 92.5% pure silver. It will tarnish over time, but it's also one of the most forgiving metals you can own. Think of a good copper pan. It darkens with use, then comes back beautifully with a little care. Sterling silver is the same. The tarnish sits on the surface, so it can be polished away again and again without harming the piece underneath.
Gold jewellery: tarnish or wear?
Gold jewellery is a slightly different story, because pure gold doesn't tarnish. Solid gold jewellery, though, is almost always mixed with other metals such as copper to make it strong enough to wear. It's the other metals that oxidise, not the gold. The lower the carat, the more of them there are, which is why a 9ct piece is more likely to tarnish over time than an 18ct piece.
Gold vermeil, gold plated and gold filled pieces are worth separating out here, because what often gets called tarnish on these pieces usually isn't tarnish at all. Over time, the gold layer gradually wears away where the piece rubs most, like the underside of a ring band. Think of the soles of a good pair of shoes. They wear where you use them most. It isn't a fault. It's simply use and how long that takes depends on how thick the gold layer is and how it's been applied or bonded. Once the layer wears through, the sterling silver or brass underneath is exposed and that can then tarnish in the usual way. That's why it's worth knowing exactly what you're buying. If a description only says "gold tone" or "alloy" with nothing more specific, it's worth asking what's actually underneath.
Tarnish is simply chemistry
So where does all of that leave you? 30 years inside the jewellery industry taught us exactly what customers deserve to know. When it comes to tarnish, it really comes down to three things. Know what your piece is made of because sterling silver, solid gold and gold layered pieces all behave differently. Know how to store it, so it isn't sitting out in the air between wears. Finally, know how to clean it properly, because the right method for one metal can do real damage to another. Tarnish isn't a mystery or a fault. It's simply chemistry. Get those three things right and it becomes something you can manage with a little care.
How to clean each metal
Cleaning is where the right method really matters. For sterling silver, start with a little mild soap in warm water and a soft cloth to lift away everyday grime. Rinse well and dry it completely, because any moisture left behind will only speed tarnish up again. Soap and water won't shift tarnish itself, though. For that you need a sterling silver polishing cloth, which lifts the dark surface layer and brings back the shine. The same cloth works on solid gold too, so if you have a solid 9ct ring that's started to tarnish, it's worth reaching for. Gold vermeil, gold plated and gold filled pieces are a different matter. A soft, plain cloth and a little mild soapy water are all they need. Keep polishing cloths well away from them because the polish that brings back sterling silver and solid gold will slowly wear away a gold layer. Think of using a scourer on a non-stick pan. It might look like it's working at first, but you're taking the surface off with it. The same goes for the home remedies you'll see online. Toothpaste and vinegar can both scratch softer metals or damage gold layers, even when they seem to work in the short term.
Prevent it or polish it?
Is it better to prevent tarnish or to remove it? Really, it's a bit of both. Good habits will slow tarnish right down, but on sterling silver it will still appear eventually. That's completely normal. When it does, a polishing cloth lifts it away without the harsh chemicals or abrasives of the home remedies. Just reach for it when you notice the colour starting to change.
Keep a polishing cloth close by
If you'd like to make caring for your sterling silver a little easier, our sterling silver polishing cloth is a good place to start. It's the same thing we'd tell you at the market. Keep one in your jewellery drawer and a gentle polish will bring your pieces back to their best whenever they need it. It works on solid gold too. Just keep it away from gold vermeil, gold plated and gold filled pieces, which only ever need a soft, plain cloth. And if you're ever unsure what a piece is made of or how to look after it, get in touch. We're always happy to talk jewellery.
Frequently asked questions
Is it normal for sterling silver to tarnish?
Yes. It's completely normal and nothing to worry about. Sterling silver contains 92.5% pure silver, with the remaining 7.5% made up of other metals, mostly copper, to make it strong enough to wear. That copper reacts readily with sulphur and moisture in the air, which is a big part of why sterling silver tarnishes the way it does. It isn't a sign of poor quality or a fault in the piece. It's simply chemistry. The good news is that the tarnish sits on the surface, so a sterling silver polishing cloth will lift it away and bring back the shine.
How do I get tarnish off sterling silver?
The simplest way is a sterling silver polishing cloth. If the piece has everyday grime on it too, give it a quick wash in mild soapy water first and dry it completely. Then rub it gently with the cloth and you'll see the shine start to come back. Don't worry if the cloth turns black as you go. That's the tarnish coming off. Steer clear of toothpaste and vinegar. They might seem to work at first, but they can damage the surface. Once it's looking its best again, store it in an airtight pouch with an anti-tarnish tab to slow the tarnish from coming back.
Can I use the sterling silver polishing cloth on gold jewellery?
On solid gold, yes. If you have a solid gold piece that's started to tarnish, particularly a lower carat one like 9ct, the same cloth will bring it back beautifully. Gold vermeil, gold plated and gold filled pieces are a different matter. The polish in the cloth will gradually wear away the gold layer, so these pieces only ever need a soft, plain cloth and a little mild soapy water. If you're not sure which you have, check the product description or get in touch and we'll help you work it out.
Does solid gold tarnish?
It can, depending on the carat. Pure gold doesn't tarnish. Solid gold jewellery, though, is almost always mixed with other metals such as copper to make it strong enough to wear. It's the other metals that react with the air, not the gold. The lower the carat, the more of them there are, so a 9ct piece is more likely to tarnish over time than an 18ct piece. The good news is that a sterling silver polishing cloth works on solid gold too.
Why has my gold vermeil or gold-plated jewellery changed colour?
Usually it's wear rather than tarnish. Gold vermeil, gold plated and gold filled pieces all have a layer of gold over a base metal. Over time, that layer gradually wears away where the piece rubs most, like the underside of a ring band. Once it wears through, the sterling silver or brass underneath starts to show and can then tarnish. It isn't a fault. It's simply wear over time, much like the soles of a good pair of shoes wearing where you use them most. How long it takes depends on how thick the gold layer is, how it's been applied or bonded and how often the piece is worn. To slow it down, put your jewellery on last and take it off first, give it a wipe after wearing and keep polishing cloths well away from it.
What's the best way to store jewellery to prevent tarnish?
Keep it somewhere sealed. An airtight container, a small resealable bag or an anti-tarnish pouch will slow tarnish considerably, especially for pieces you don't wear every day. Adding an anti-tarnish tab and a silica gel sachet inside helps even more because together they deal with both the sulphur and the moisture in the air. Give each piece its own pouch or compartment so they don't scratch each other. Finally, before anything goes away, give it a quick wipe with a soft cloth.
