Much of our turquoise jewelry is made by American Indians. As we mentioned in Why Turquoise's Value Soars, the Navajo and other Native American Indians of the Southwest have been perfecting their unique jewelry styles and techniques since learning silverware from the Spanish. They have passed on this artistic tradition from generation to generation, and today, they are known for their unique jewelry style - the combination of turquoise and silver, symbolizing the fusion of the sacred and the mundane. South West Indian artists are so proud of their work that the quality of the materials used in each piece is a way of discerning the authenticity of jewelry! This means that if you own one of our turquoise jewelry, you will be dealing with real turquoise and sterling silver.
While sterling silver turquoise jewelry embodies the paradoxical beauty of luster and elegance, it cannot ignore the sad and annoying fact that silver tends to tarnish. When silver comes into contact with oxygen or certain environmental pollutants, such as sulfur, it chemically reacts with them and is dull or discolored. Heartbroken? Don't worry, we're here to help.
We think it makes more sense to try to prevent the stain from happening in the first place, rather than diving right into "fixing" the stain.
Wear carefully
Wear your jewelry often. The oils in your skin are jewelry's best friend, keeping it healthy and energized.
Remove jewelry before doing housework or swimming and sunbathing. Anything that contains sulfur can cause silver to corrode and tarnish, including household chemicals, sweat, rubber and latex, chlorinated water, wool, and foods like mayonnaise, mustard, eggs, and onions. Direct sunlight can also tarnish silver.
Keep your jewelry away from lotions, creams, makeup, fragrances, hairspray, and other beauty products, as they can tarnish faster. Now you know why it seems so natural for jewelry always to be the finishing touch to a woman's outfit.
Store properly
Air and moisture are silver's enemies. Store your jewelry in a resealable plastic bag in a cool, dark, and dry place. Expel as much air as possible before closing the seal. Put some chalk, camphor, activated charcoal, or silicone bags in the storage area to help reduce moisture. Make sure not to put multiple items in the same bag - they will scratch each other.
Even if you wear or store your silver jewelry ideally, it can still lose its luster over time or in accidents. That's not the end of the world. There are still ways to bring them back to life.
Polishing
If your jewelry is not too discolored, you can simply polish them with a special silver cloth, lint-free flannel, microfiber, or other soft, non-abrasive cloth. This is also the way to go when dealing with silver oxide.
Many of our turquoise jewelry is made of oxidized silver, which means that parts of the jewelry (usually small details) are deliberately darkened and stained by silversmiths to give them a three-dimensional look and stand out more. Over-polishing can damage these details. So when polishing, make sure to use long back-and-forth motions rather than rubbing in a circle to prevent amplifying any existing scratches. Change the new section of the cleaning cloth frequently to avoid tarnishing. Use a cotton swab to get into small areas.
Homemade Cleaner
When simple polishing isn't enough to remove rust, try these easy-to-use eco-friendly silver cleaners:
Soap and water: Mix some mild, phosphate- and ammonia-free dish soap with warm water and stir well. This should be your go-to method for more severe tarnish.
Ketchup: Put a small amount of ketchup on a cloth and dab the tarnished area. If that doesn't work, let the ketchup sit for 15 minutes before wiping it off.
Baking Soda Paste: Mix some baking soda with just enough water to make a paste. Use a clean cloth or a soft-bristled toothbrush to apply a pea-sized amount to the silver and polish.
Lemon Juice and Olive Oil: Whisk 1 teaspoon olive oil and 1/2 cup lemon juice in a bowl. Dip a cleaning cloth into the mixture, wring out the excess and polish your jewelry.
Remember to rinse your jewelry thoroughly with running water or preferably a clean damp cloth after using any cleaner to prevent it from sticking in small cracks and hardening. Dry with a clean cloth afterward.
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Never soak your turquoise jewelry in any cleaning solution, even homemade ones. Not only will it damage the oxidized details of the sterling silver, but it will also cause serious damage to the soft turquoise.
Treat your sterling silver turquoise jewelry with care, it will be a shining star among the rest of your collection for as long as you want.