“We get a lot of consumer calls and letters on how to ‘undo’ a damaged piece of silver,” said Alison J. Gutterman, COO of Jelmar, makers of Tarn-X Tarnish Remover and Silver Glaze. “The best advice that we can give consumers is to know what caused tarnish and to give their silver a consistent care program.”

The biggest myth among consumers, says Gutterman, is that tarnish is caused by exposure to air, and therefore silver should be hidden away in cupboards and sideboards until ready to use. “The opposite is true — the more frequently you use your silver, the less it will tarnish,” says Gutterman.

“Tarnish is actually the result of a chemical reaction between the silver and sulfur,” she explains, “and trace amounts of sulfur occur everywhere, including in the air.” Consumers might be surprised to learn that sulfur is a natural by-product of heating fuels and gas used for cooking — both of which have their heaviest usage during the winter months. Sulfur is also naturally present in many foods. The familiar dark spots that peas often leave in silver serving dishes, for example, are caused by the sulfur in peas. Although it’s harmless, tarnish gives silver a dark, unpleasant appearance.

Another threat to silver comes from flowers — silver reacts to the acids and sap from flowers. A silver piece used as a vase for a cut flower arrangement or to hold a plant needs protection.

While silver pieces that are actually in use are less likely to tarnish, Gutterman points out, they are exposed to greater risk of damage in handling. Silver pieces should always be washed individually by hand, and never in the dishwasher because the detergent film may build up. Here is the three-step care program recommended by the Tarn-X experts:

* First Step: Hot, Soap-and-water Wash.

The first line of defense with any silver piece, whether sterling or silver plate, is to remove dirt and grime by washing each piece in hot soapy water and drying it thoroughly immediately after each use. Frequent use and washing lessens the ability of tarnish to form. You need hot water and soap to remove dripped wax on a silver menorah, for example, or the dirt, dust and grease that build up on the surface of silver bells hung from the doorway. Don’t be alarmed if you see some tarnish developing on the tines of your silver forks, even though they are frequently washed. The points often tarnish because of their almost-constant contact with food.

* Second Step: Removing Tarnish.

This is actually the easy part. Simply apply Tarn-X with a soft cloth, wiping it on the clean piece of silver, and it will remove the tarnish; the mild “chemical” odor is actually from the sulfur coming off the silver. Don’t rub — rubbing is not necessary, and may be harmful to the silver. If the tarnish is extremely heavy, use a second application. Unlike silver polishes, Tarn-X is faster acting, less messy and less abrasive to silver. This is the key to preserving your silver — remove the tarnish, but limit the frequency of polishing silver, as all polishes remove some of the silver.

After the tarnish is removed, rinse the piece completely, this time in cold water, and immediately dry it thoroughly to avoid spots. Don’t use hot water for this wash, as it might cause some streaking. For larger pieces, Gutterman suggests applying tarnish remover and rinsing one section of the piece at a time.

* Final Step: Polish with Silver Glaze.

This finishing touch will show your silver at its best, and will help minimize the effect of wear spots and other mars. Be wary of products that combine tarnish remover and polish, as excessive rubbing and buffing can damage the silver.

“With this simple three-step process, you can bring your silver up to its finest appearance without a last-minute rush, and get the fullest enjoyment from it all through the year,” says Gutterman.

For more tips on caring for your silver, visit www.jelmar.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content

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Being ductile, they can be made into fine wires. Their malleability can turn them into thin sheets. Gold can be made into wires thinner than hair and hammered into sheets so transparent that it transmits light.  Silver and gold are important in electronics.

Jewelry makers depend on the size of the silver and gold nuggets given to them.  The bigger the size, the bigger the object they can mold out of it and the more valuable it becomes.  To make big objects, the metal needs to be melted and put into a mould.  To melt silver and gold the temperature has to reach 1000 degrees Celsius or what they called “white heat”.

Silver and gold are known as the currency metals because they were used as coins since the time money was invented.

Silver Explained

Silver is the white metal while gold is, of course, known for its familiar yellowish hue.  Silver is often used for tableware hence the name ’silverware’.  This was a predominant practiced in the past 

Silver is resistant to corrosion but tarnished by any material that has sulphur.  The tarnish can be removed by rubbing sodium bicarbonate paste to the item. 

The weight of Silver and gold used to be measured in troy. One troy pound is equal to 12 troy ounces or 240 pennyweights (pwt).  The prices of gold and silver are in dollars per troy ounce of .900 fine metal. 

Purity of silver is also measured by carat just like gold. The pure metal is 24 carat.  Those with 0.900 fine is equal to 21.6 carat.  Sterling silver is equal to 22.2 carat.

Gold

Gold is considered the first metal discovered and considered precious by man.  This is possible but evidence could not be furnished in this theory. Gold is rarer than copper and silver.  Alchemists associate the gold with the sun because of its bright yellow color.

Gold’s yellow is orange-yellow not cadmium yellow.  Gold is used for the most valuable jewelries.  God is among the heaviest metals, heavier than silver and lead.  Gold is not only beautiful to look at, it is also useful due to its appreciating value.

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