How to Care for Your 925 Sterling Silver Jewelry

How to Care for Your 925 Sterling Silver Jewelry

925 sterling silver is one of the most beautiful and durable metals used in jewelry — but like all precious metals, it needs a little love to stay looking its best. Here are our top tips for keeping your KValeria pieces sparkling for years to come.

Why Does Sterling Silver Tarnish?

Sterling silver is an alloy made of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals (usually copper). That small percentage of copper is what causes tarnishing when exposed to air, moisture, and certain chemicals. The good news: tarnish is completely normal and very easy to prevent and reverse.

Daily Care Tips

✦ Put jewelry on last — Apply perfume, lotion, and hairspray before putting on your jewelry. Chemicals in these products accelerate tarnishing.

✦ Remove before swimming — Chlorine in pools and saltwater from the ocean can damage sterling silver and loosen stone settings over time.

✦ Remove before sleeping — This reduces friction and exposure to sweat, which can dull the finish.

✦ Remove before cleaning — Household cleaning products contain harsh chemicals that can damage silver.

How to Clean Your Sterling Silver

For regular cleaning, all you need is:

• A small bowl of warm water

• A few drops of mild dish soap

• A soft toothbrush or cloth

  
  

Gently scrub the piece, rinse with clean water, and pat dry immediately with a soft lint-free cloth. Never air-dry silver as moisture causes tarnishing.

For tarnish removal, a small amount of baking soda mixed with water into a paste works beautifully. Apply gently with a soft cloth, rinse, and dry.

Storage Tips

✦ Store each piece separately to avoid scratching — a small zip-lock bag or your KValeria gift box is perfect.

✦ Keep jewelry in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.

✦ Add a small anti-tarnish strip to your jewelry box — these absorb moisture and slow tarnishing significantly.

Caring for Moissanite Stones

Moissanite is one of the hardest gemstones available (9.25 Mohs), making it very resistant to scratching. Clean moissanite the same way as silver — warm soapy water and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners for prong-set stones as vibration can loosen settings over time.

When to Get Your Jewelry Professionally Cleaned

Once or twice a year, consider having your most-worn pieces professionally cleaned and inspected. A jeweler can check for loose prongs and restore that showroom sparkle.

With just a little care, your KValeria jewelry will stay as brilliant as the day it arrived — a reminder of the moment, the person, and the story behind it.

👉 Shop our Sterling Silver Collection