Silver Jewelry Care & Maintenance

SESSION. Jewelry is made from high quality 925 Sterling Silver and with proper care and maintenance it will last a lifetime.

Sterling silver is prone to tarnishing. Use our SESSION. silver polishing cloth regularly to prevent tarnish from forming. Store your jewelry in it’s pouch as this will prevent scratches and tarnishing when your jewelry is not being worn. Remove your jewelry when showering, swimming, surfing and Skating or applying perfumes and lotions – this will also prevent tarnishing.

Polishing

Sterling silver is prone to tarnishing; a dulling that naturally occurs when silver reacts with sulphur or hydrogen sulphide in the ambient air, and care should be taken to avoid the build-up of tarnish. Polishing the sterling silver regularly with a silver polishing cloth will prevent the tarnish from forming and keep the high shine of the sterling silver intact. However, it will not remove scratches

Cleaning the jewelry 

A safe way to clean most jewelry is to pour a small amount of a mild liquid soap in warm water and use a small, soft brush. Toothbrushes are ideal for cleaning jewelry which can otherwise be difficult to clean. If the jewelry is very dirty, leave it to soak for about 10 minutes. Rinse with clean water and pat dry with a soft, clean cloth.

Silver polishing liquid and silver dip

Silver polishing liquid and silver dips are not recommended as they may destroy the oxidised details. Silver dip can also be a problem with necklaces and bracelets; if the silver dip is not rinsed away completely, the remains will stay in clasps and chains and may eventually destroy the jewelry piece.

Oxidised sterling silver

Oxidised details (darker areas on the design) are found on some SESSION. sterling silver pieces. To preserve the oxidation, do not polish the jewelry aggressively as it will wear away the oxidised finish. Oxidised sterling silver and sterling silver with oxidised details should not be subjected to silver polishing liquids, silver dips and ultrasonic cleaning.

The oxidised finish will disappear with time and this is not considered a defect, but a natural result of wear and tear. The oxidised finish can be reapplied by a silversmith.

Plated jewelry

For daily care, wipe the jewellery gently with a soft cloth. Do not polish the item aggressively as it will only serve to wear away the plating. Avoid contact with abrasive or rough surfaces as a scratch may cut through the plated surface. Do not expose to silver polishing liquids and ultrasonic cleaning.

The plated finish will wear away over time. This is considered normal wear and tear rather than a defect. It is possible for a goldsmith to replate the jewelry item.

Protecting the jewelry

Corrosion of jewelry occurs under moist or wet conditions, especially when also exposed to warmth and air. Perspiration from jewelry wear is a common cause of corrosion. Jewelry should never be worn in the bath, while swimming, in the sauna or when participating in sports such as surfing, skateboarding, longboarding.

Do not expose the jewelry to contact with make-up, hairsprays, creams and perfumes as they can speed up the tarnishing process. Avoid exposing your jewelry to household chemicals including bleach and ammonia as they can damage the metals.

A good rule of thumb is to let the jewelry be the last thing you put on in the morning and the first thing you remove in the evening.

Storage

To minimise scratches and other damage, store the jewelry separately in our tarnish-resistant pouch, or in a separate compartment in a protective box. It will minimise scratches and other damage and prevent tarnish.

It is recommended that SESSION. jewelry is either put in a small pouch inside the box provided with that silica gel packets or anti-tarnish strips are added to the box, as they will absorb the moisture from the air and slow down the tarnishing process.