Whether it's Sterling Silver or Silver Plated your new jewelry will tarnish over time. Simple exposure to the air tarnishes the silver faster than you might think. My best secert is to keep it covered. Store your jewelry in a cool, dry place. A sealed ziplock bag will slow tarnishing and prevent scratching by other pieces in your jewelry box.
You will get some tarnishing over time and it will start to look a little old and dated so just follow these instuction for cleaning you jewelry and it will stay beautiful for years.
How should I care for my jewelry on a day-to-day basis?
Make your jewelry the last thing you put on in the morning, and the first thing you take off at night.
Remove when sleeping. Movement during sleep can cause stress.
Wipe your jewelry clean with a soft cloth before returning it to storage to remove any body oils and dirt.
A jewelry designer's best friend, every one should have these in their jewelry box. 3M Anti-Tarnish Tabs are a special absorbent paper that protects gold, silver, copper, nickel, bronze, tin, and brass articles from unsightly discoloration, tarnish, and dulling during storage and shipping. They prevent tarnish by absorbing and trapping the sulfides and other pollutants in the air. Simply place the tabs in a well sealed enclosure along with your Jewelry, and Tabs will prevent tarnish for approximately six months. No polishing or Cleaning. 3M Anti-Tarnish Tabs are completely safe and non-toxic. They do not emit anything and will not leave a residue on your Jewelry.
To keep your jewelry looking its best, periodically clean it in a very gentle Jewelry cleaner or mild soapy water mixture and a SOFT toothbrush. Rinse thoroughly with water and dry completely with a soft cloth. Never use paper towels or tissues to dry your jewelry as they contain fibers that can scratch.
Never let your jewelry soak in water, as it could corrode the wire the jewelry is strung on. If it does get wet, make sure you dry it completely.
A simple polishing cloth will do wonders for everything.
Will my sterling silver jewelry tarnish?
Yes, all sterling silver jewelry will tarnish. Sterling silver is an alloy of silver containing 92.5% by mass of pure silver and 7.5% by mass of other metals, usually copper. Which is why you still get the tarnishing effect.