Maintaining silver rings isn’t easy, especially the ones with stones or gems. Try these tips and tricks to clean silver rings with stones.
Silver jewelry often loses its original luster and shine due to the oxidation process. But it’s a reversible process as you can restore their original shines easily. You can visit a jeweler and ask them to fix it for you, which can cost you a little too much than needed. Alternatively, you can clean silver rings with stone to restore their shine without spending money. Check out our list of handpicked DIYs to clean your silver rings with stones.
Why Does Silver Oxidise?
Pure silver cannot be used to make jewelry articles as it is very soft and can be easily molded or de-shaped. As a result, silver is mixed with alloys such as copper and zinc. The most common variant is sterling silver which contains 92.5% of pure silver and an alloy.
When the alloys in the silver are exposed to oxygen, moisture, sulfur, etc. they react with the alloy and form a black, yellow, or even green coating on the silver. However, this oxidizing only affects the top layer of the silver and the inner layers are almost free from the tarnishing.
But the good news is that you can clean your silver and get rid of the tarnish easily. Moreover, if you properly care for your silver rings, you can save them from the tarnishing phase.
Precautions:
- Don’t use silver cleaners unless you are absolutely sure that the cleaner will not dissolve the glue that is holding the stones.
- Don’t rub the stones too much as they can lose their shine.
- Always use soft brushes and cloths to clean your jewelry.
- Don’t use harsh chemicals on the stones that have the potential to wipe the glue.
- Be gentle with your ring and scrub the tarnish with soft movements.
How To Clean Silver Rings With Stones
#1 DIY
What You Need
- 2 Bowls
- Water
- Gentle Toothbrush
- Mild Dishwashing Liquid
- Clean Towel
What To Do
- Heat up a cup of water and transfer half of it to each bowl.
- Add 2-3 drops of mild dishwashing liquid in one bowl and make soapy water out of it.
- Dip a soft-bristled toothbrush into the soapy water and gently scrub the silver ring.
- Remember to be extra cautious near the stone or gem.
- Once clean, wash the ring in the other bowl with clean lukewarm water and use a microfiber cloth to dry the ring.
- Repeat the process until you are satisfied with the results.
#2 DIY
What You Need
- Olive Oil
- Lemon Juice
- Microfibre Cloth
- Water
What To Do
- Take half a cup of olive oil and one tbsp lemon juice in a bowl.
- Dip the silver ring in the mixture.
- Now use a microfibre cloth to gently rub the tarnish off the ring.
- Wash the ring with warm water and dry with a clean towel.
#3 DIY
What You Need
- Baking Soda
- Water
- Soft Cloth
- Aluminum Foil
What To Do
- Mix one tablespoon of baking soda with 3-5 tbsp water to make a paste.
- Now use a soft cloth to rub the paste on the silver ring.
- Line up a bowl with aluminum foil and pour baking soda and warm water on it. Place the ring on the aluminum foil and wait for 2-5 minutes.
- Take out the ring and rinse it with water.
- Repeat the process until you get the desired results.
#4 DIY
What You Need
- Baking Soda
- White Vinegar
- Soft Cloth
What To Do
- Take half a cup of white vinegar and add 1-2 tablespoons of baking soda to it.
- Soak your silver ring in the mixture for up to 4 hours, depending on the condition of the ring.
- Once you take out the ring, make sure to completely dry it with a clean and soft cloth.
- You may repeat the process if you’re unsatisfied with the results.
How to Care for Silver Rings with Stones
Taking care of stone-studded silver rings is equally important as their cleaning. That’s why follow the below tips to increase their lifespan.
- Store your silver rings in an airtight ziplock bag as the air can cause discoloration due to oxidization.
- Make sure the silver rings and stones do not come in contact with drinks, lotions, and perfumes.
- Before storing the rings, dry them properly as water or sweat can damage them.
- Protect your silver rings from tarnishing by putting anti-tarnish pads in the base of the jewelry box.
- It’s better to take off your silver jewelry while bathing.
Conclusion
Cleaning and maintenance of stone-studded silver rings are not easy. However, using the above DIYs and tips to clean silver rings with stones, you can do it without any hassle.