Can I Wear Sterling Silver Jewelry in the Shower
Can I shower with sterling silver jewelry?
Many people like sterling silver jewelry, but they don’t know much about the maintenance of sterling silver jewelry.
They believe that sterling silver has health benefits and even believe that wearing it in the shower can increase blood circulation and improve skin condition. However, this statement lacks a scientific basis and may have hidden risks.
What to worry about when showering with sterling silver jewelry?
Sterling silver itself does not produce any miraculous curative effects, but wearing sterling silver jewelry in the shower may cause the following problems.
Skin allergies:
Although sterling silver is a precious metal, some people may have allergic reactions to it, causing skin redness, itching, rashes, and other symptoms. In a humid bathroom environment, skin is more likely to come into contact with sterling silver, exacerbating allergic reactions.
Silver ion release:
When pure silver comes into contact with water, it will release trace amounts of silver ions, which may cause irritation to the skin and even cause burns. Especially when using shower gel or soap containing chemical ingredients, the interaction between silver ions and chemicals is more likely to aggravate skin damage.
Surface oxidation:
Toiletries such as shampoo and soap are often used when taking a bath. Although the chemicals in these products will not react with the silver in the necklace, their residual components will get into the small gaps where the necklace is connected, causing the silver necklace to become dull and dirty, affecting the brightness of the jewelry surface.
Chemical reaction:
The temperature of hot water during bathing is relatively high. Repeated exposure of sterling silver necklaces to hot water will cause chemical reactions with oxygen in the air more easily, causing oxidation and blackening. Some special toiletries, such as sulfur soap, can also cause a sulfide reaction with silver necklaces, causing them to turn black.
Jewelry damage:
Many people make big movements when taking a bath, such as scrubbing. What you may think is a very light movement may cause irreparable damage to the silver necklace, such as being stretched or broken. In addition, silver necklaces are relatively long. For some girls with long hair, wearing silver necklaces in the shower may cause their hair to get tangled easily when washing their hair.
Understanding sterling silver
Silver has long been considered a magical and precious metal because it is extremely durable, resistant to corrosion, and does not react easily with acids. Historically, silver has been closely associated with health and healing.
From a jewelry perspective, silver is less likely to react with the skin and the skin is less likely to react to it, making it an excellent choice for jewelry. Silver, meanwhile, has a beautiful luster and is the whitest and most reflective of all metals. It can be polished to an almost mirror-like condition and feels great in the hand.
Is sterling silver real silver?
You may be wondering: Is sterling silver real silver? The answer is yes. Sterling silver is simply an alloy form of silver that is more suitable for use in jewelry and other metal products.
Pure silver is very beautiful and does not tarnish easily, but is often too soft and malleable to be used for many purposes, including making most silver jewelry.
Instead, sterling silver is mixed with copper to create sterling silver, which is 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% copper. It’s because of this proportion of sterling silver that you’ll sometimes see sterling silver referred to as “925 silver” or bearing the 925 hallmark. Copper makes silver harder and more durable, making it more suitable for processing and use, without affecting color.
Sterling silver has many unique properties, such as:
Bright luster:
Sterling silver has a natural luster, showing a warm silvery white color, and exuding a noble and elegant temperament.
Soft and easy to mold:
Due to its high purity, sterling silver has excellent ductility and is easy to process into various exquisite shapes, making it suitable for making various exquisite silver jewelry.
Good antioxidant properties:
Although sterling silver will oxidize, sterling silver has relatively high antioxidant properties, is not easy to discolor, and can maintain a bright luster for a long time.
However, the water resistance of sterling silver is not absolute. Although sterling silver itself does not react chemically with water, impurities in the water, such as chlorine, sulfur, etc., may react with silver, causing silver jewelry to discolor or lose its luster.
Sterling silver and tarnishing
Will silver jewelry turn black? The answer is also yes, and it's to be expected and easily fixed.
The added copper in sterling silver causes it to tarnish more easily, causing the metal to turn dark brown or black over time, especially in humid environments. However, it is easy to clean, and even if it loses its luster, sterling silver remains intact: it will not rust or become damaged with normal use.
If you wear sterling silver jewelry every day, it's almost certain that it will tarnish, even slightly, over time. Exposure to moisture (such as in the shower) can speed up this process, which is why it's best not to bring sterling silver jewelry into the bathroom.
In most cases, sterling silver jewelry is an excellent, high-quality choice. This metal won't rust or rot, and if you take good care of your jewelry, it'll look great for a long time to come. You can even pass your silver jewelry on to future generations.
Can I wear sterling silver jewelry in the ocean?
So, what about wearing sterling silver jewelry in the saltwater? Is this okay? It is best not to wear sterling silver jewelry while swimming in the sea.
As we mentioned, water will not damage silver, but it will speed up the tarnishing process. There are a few other factors that can make beach swimming more damaging to your silver than you might think.
The high salt content in seawater can leave marks on jewelry and corrode and weaken precious metals like silver over time. This is no cause for alarm, as corrosion only occurs when silver is immersed in salt water for an extended period of time, and any salt marks can be cleaned afterward.
Sand in the water and on the beach can also cause minor scratches on your sterling silver jewelry. Silver itself is very strong and not easily scratched, but the rhodium plating on some sterling silver jewelry is prone to wear and scratches.
Although you may want to wear your gorgeous sterling silver jewelry all the time, it's crucial to remove it before swimming in the pool or ocean.
Can I wear sterling silver jewelry in the pool?
So at a pool party, can you wear silver jewelry in the pool?
Swimming pools contain large amounts of chlorine, which is very effective at killing bacteria and oxidizing dirt or harmful substances. But chlorine can also oxidize or tarnish sterling silver, which is not a good thing.
You've probably heard some horror stories about silver and chlorine, and yes, the chemicals found in almost all swimming pools can make your silver look dark and dull. However, like almost all rust, this one can be removed.
Heated pools such as Jacuzzis or spas also contain large amounts of chlorine, which combined with high temperatures can cause sterling silver jewelry to fade.
What to do if my sterling silver jewelry gets tarnished?
Don't worry if your silver jewelry changes color or loses its luster after showering. Tarnished silver jewelry is easy to clean, especially if you take action as soon as you notice it. The best way to restore its luster and prevent further tarnish is to polish your sterling silver jewelry.
How can I take care of my sterling silver jewelry?
Keep away from moisture
Your jewelry is more likely to tarnish when exposed to water and moisture. Therefore, sterling silver jewelry should be stored in a cool, dry place when not being worn, and please store it in a special jewelry storage box or sealed bag. Additionally, all air must be extracted before placing it in the packaging to prevent oxidation from occurring. Also, don't wear sterling silver jewelry in the ocean, hot tub, swimming pool, bathtub, or shower, as salt water, heat, or chlorine can damage your jewelry. While it may not damage your jewelry immediately, always keep your jewelry dry to extend its life.
polishing cloth
A polishing cloth is a specialized silver polishing cloth that contains cleaning agents that can remove rust from silver jewelry. It is not an ordinary household cleaning cloth, nor is it an eyeglass cleaning cloth. The polishing cloth should not be washed as the cleaning agent will run off and lose its effectiveness. Gently wipe the jewelry surface with a polishing cloth to remove rust. It is normal for clothes to have dark residue and eventually turn black, which is a sign that polishing clothes is doing a good job.
Conclusion
By understanding these risks and managing the care of your sterling silver jewelry, you can help preserve its beauty and longevity. Consider removing these items before bathing to preserve their quality and prevent unnecessary damage.
1 comment
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