That’s right, your new piece of Laska jewelry may need some tender love and upkeep from time to time. I know this because I am not the person who perfectly takes care of my many silver pieces and I don’t always follow the rules when it comes to cleaning and storing jewelry. If this sounds like you don’t worry, I have your solution. But first, I’ll lay out the things that a responsible human should do to care for their sterling silver jewerly.

The sterling silver that I use is 92.5 percent silver (this is why you often see work stamped with a 925 to note its purity) and the other 7.5 percent is a combination of other metals that form an alloy. Some of these additional metals, often copper, will tarnish over time. So, here are some general tips.

Avoid Moisture, if you can

This one is hard for me, I get it. I’m the person who leaves their jewelry by the sink in the bathroom when I’m showering or wears every damn piece into some hot springs (note: the sulfur in hot springs is what oxidizes jewelry and how most jewelers add that “patina” look to begin with). Exposing pieces to humidity and moisture is a sure fire way to add some tarnish. So, try to remember to hang your pieces up outside of the bathroom or take your rings off before you do any dishes or don’t cannonball into the clothing optional hot springs with all your Laska jewels on. Up to you.

Store Properly

Ideally, you would store your pieces in a cool and dry place, away from moisture and heat. A dry dedicated place to hang your pieces or a nice enclosed jewelry box are some good options. Even thinking ahead when traveling and bringing along a closable, padded little case is a smart plan. Again, I fail at this.

Stones are breakable

That’s right, the stone that is set in your sterling silver jewelry is unfortunately destructible. Be careful where you’re swinging those things! Some stone profiles may be higher and set a bit above the outside bezel wrapping. Be especially careful with these pieces and don’t wear your jewels when you’re chopping wood or interpretive dancing. They will crack if hit too hard.

natural face oils and beauty products

This one is hard to control but just keep in mind that our natural body oils and chemistries are different and can also interact with and speed up sterling silver tarnishing. Not to mention any actual chemicals that may exist in beauty products that will come into contact with our pieces. Lot’s of different factors here.

Ok my piece is tarnished,
now what?

I feel the need to note that this is what has worked for me throughout my relationship with silversmithing. This is also what I believe specifically works for the type of pieces I create and the finishes/techniques I aim to achieve. There are many different articles and ideas out there for how to care for sterling silver but this very simple technique is what works for me. I do the following with my pieces very often and I’m always pleased with the results.

The Manual polish

Basically, you’re just going to lightly brush/polish the tarnish off of the sterling silver, doing your best to avoid scratching the stone. It’s that simple. You just need to pick what you’d like to polish with. Here are a few suggestions:

Super fine steel wool - this is best when you’d like a nice smooth satin finish.

3M Scuff Pad or Sanding Pad - this can be used if you’re looking for more of a rough matte finish, which often matches the finishes of my Laska pieces.

Polishing clothes - you can finish up either of the top two options with a polishing cloth if you’d like a super shiny finish.